Sometimes on TV, the second time’s a charm. If the broadcasting stars align, a spin-off can breathe new life into familiar intellectual property and become beloved in its own right. Or else it can be Joanie Loves Chachi. Or HolbyBlue. Or Baywatch Nights. Or insert any number of best-forgotten flops.
Whether it’s a sequel or a prequel, creating something new from a previous hit is a risky business, but it can reap rewards. In the week that the BBC successfully launched Amandaland, an offshoot of Motherland, and the Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul celebrated its 10th anniversary, we’ve selected the 10 best TV spin-offs of all time.
There’s no room on the list for Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, which may still become a classic but has yet to truly catch fire. Fear the Walking Dead, The Colbert Report, Lou Grant, Holby City, Beyond Paradise, Mork & Mindy and Melrose Place can also consider themselves unlucky. Post-Friends stinker Joey, however, definitely can’t.
Can a small-screen spin-off ever improve on the original? These are the 10 shows that came closest – and, in a few rare cases, actually achieved it …
Amandaland (2025)
“I’m actually glad I took the kids out of private school. They’ve got way more chance of getting into Oxbridge from a bog-standard state.” The new sequel to parenting comedy Motherland is far better than many expected, mainly thanks to retaining the original’s bitingly sharp writing team, and lead Lucy Punch is a total hoot. We follow the awful Amanda as she downsizes post-divorce and desperately tries to cling on to alpha mum status. Joanna Lumley steals scenes as her posh, pass-agg mother. A giddy mix of slapstick, class satire and school-gates politics that’s almost as heartfelt as it is hilarious.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present)
At 566 episodes and counting, SVU has outlasted and outshone the original Law & Order. Ushered in by a banger of a theme tune, NYPD stalwarts Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson (terrifically played by Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay) attempt to bring sex offenders to justice. The grimly gripping NBC police procedural remains addictive and remarkably consistent in quality. It’s currently the longest-running live action show on US TV – and will soon overtake Lassie in the all-time list. Woof.
Angel (1999-2004)
After breaking Buffy’s heart and dodging death, 240-year-old vampire Angel (David Boreanaz) upped sticks to LA in search of redemption. Our brooding antihero became a private detective, hunting demons and “helping the helpless”. A sort of supernatural noir, it was grittier and more mature than its mothership show. A procession of guest stars from the original series provided a reminder of its Sunnydale roots – notably fan favourite Spike (James Marsters), who stayed for a whole series. When the show was unexpectedly axed after five seasons, creator Joss Whedon described it as “Healthy Guy Falls Dead From Heart Attack”.
Young Sheldon (2017-2024)
A prequel to The Big Bang Theory, this cutely retro sitcom follows Texas child prodigy Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage), with Jim Parsons, AKA adult Sheldon, on narration and executive-producing duties. The bow-tied brainiac tries to fit in, despite his precocious intellect and social ineptitude, against a nostalgic 1990s backdrop. Zoe Perry – lookalike daughter of the great Laurie Metcalf – shines as Sheldon’s sardonic mom. The spin-off recently spawned its own spin-off, Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage. “Bazinga!” indeed.
The Good Fight (2017-2022)
Who doesn’t need more Christine Baranski in their lives? Set a year after The Good Wife’s finale, this smart and slick CBS series saw Baranski’s wryly formidable Diane Lockhart rebuild her reputation at a new Chicago law firm. The gloriously magnetic star was joined by a stellar supporting cast including Rose Leslie, Cush Jumbo and Michael Sheen. It deftly mixed courtroom drama with social commentary and ripped-from-the-headlines political plots, gradually morphing into an audacious howl of protest against Trump’s America.
Endeavour (2012-2023)
The mighty Inspector Morse had already spawned one spin-off, the serviceable but plodding Lewis. This 60s-set prequel was far superior. Shaun Evans excelled as troubled young DC Endeavour Morse, teamed in Oxford CID with streetwise veteran DI Fred Thursday (the always superb Roger Allam). After being a classy, cosy crime treat for more than a decade, it bowed out with a glimpse of John Thaw’s trademark red Jaguar and a blast of Barrington Pheloung’s Morse theme.
Daria (1997-2002)
The Simpsons, to our mind, doesn’t quite qualify. Sure, it started as a recurring segment on The Tracey Ullman Show but it grew, rather than spun off. Instead, our animated choice is this MTV cult classic. It’s ironic that one of 90s comedy’s smartest female characters began as a foil to sniggering morons Beavis and Butthead. Daria Morgendorffer’s star vehicle saw the disaffected 16-year-old offer scathingly cynical observations about high school and family life. The New York Times called her “a blend of Dorothy Parker, Fran Lebowitz and Janeane Garofalo”. High praise.
Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
Nobody foresaw a prequel series about Walter White’s dodgy lawyer – let’s face it, a pretty left-field pitch – coming close to Breaking Bad. In the event, it arguably bettered it. Creator Vince Gilligan crafted a bold, beautiful tragicomedy about deeply flawed antihero Jimmy McGill, sublimely portrayed by Bob Odenkirk. His origin story traced his journey from slippery Chicago conman to aspiring Albuquerque attorney – ultimately becoming the flamboyant Saul Goodman, shady representative of drug cartels. Slower burning and more cinematic than BB, it was profound, immersive and exceeded all expectations.
Torchwood (2006-2011)
This anagrammatic Doctor Who spin-off was like “Buffy goes to Cardiff” – sexed-up, post-watershed sci-fi for a teen and twentysomething audience. It was led by John Barrowman as former Tardis companion Captain Jack Harkness. The immortal con artist from the future hired a crack team of bright young things to hunt aliens escaping from the space-time rift beneath the Welsh capital. It became a huge cult favourite (see the outcry when Ianto Jones was killed off) and broke BBC Three ratings records. Fans still hope for a revival, especially now that Torchwood creator Russell T Davies is back at the Whoniverse controls. C’mon, RTD, do it for Ianto.
Frasier (1993-present)
Pompous psychiatrist Dr Frasier Crane occupied a fairly lowly position in the Cheers ensemble. He was originally conceived as the third wheel in a love triangle with leads Sam and Diane. It proved a masterstroke to relocate him to Seattle for his own series, which blossomed into one of the all-time great network sitcoms. A dazzlingly witty, screwball-style comedy was built around the fizzing chemistry between Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce as Frasier’s equally snooty brother Niles. It gobbled up Emmy wins, tossed salads and scrambled eggs for 11 superlative seasons. The patchy 2023 reboot didn’t come close and was recently axed by Paramount+.
What have we criminally overlooked? What’s your own favourite TV spin-off? Let us know in the comments section below …
