The Duchess of Sussex released With, Love Meghan on Netflix this year
Have you ever got to the end of a series and wondered why you have wasted a significant amount of hours on a show? As someone whose job it is to tune into several shows a day, it's often a recurring thought. While 2025 has been another marvellous year of brilliant TV from Celebrity Traitors to Adolescence - there have also been some duds.
What were the biggest television disasters of the past year? We have ranked the worst on offer from Netflix to ITV as ranked by the biggest critics - the audience. From Rotten Tomatoes to IMDb we have collated the most mediocre shows of 2025, from bad to worst.
11. The Au Pair
With an impressive line-up of Poirot legend David Suchet, Beyond Paradise's Sally Bretton and Vera's Kenny Doughty, The Au Pair was poised to be a must watch for those who love a thriller. But critics panned the series as "nonsensical" and predicatable.
The whole plot hinges on a series of coincidences, with Zoe (Sally Bretton) and Chris (Kenny Doughty) the four-part Channel 5 British thriller about seamstress Zoe Dalton, whose seemingly perfect life with doctor husband Chris and stepkids unravels after she hires mysterious French au pair Sandrine to help with her diabetic father, George. However, her arrival reveals hidden agendas and family secrets putting Zoe in grave danger.
Rating: The series was given a score of 5.7 out of 10 on IMDb.
10. The Feud
The Channel 5 series had all the perfect ingredients for a bingeworthy series. From its leading ensemble cast with Jill Halfpenny as Emma Barnett and Rupert Penny-Jones as John Barnett. The married couple live on an idyllic suburban street.
In the six-part series, the neighbours have a falling-out over one family's plan to build an extension to their house as life-threatening secrets are exposed.
Critics suggested the thriller was less gripping with many viewers complaining about the lucklustre ending leaving some reviewers disappointed.
Rating: The Channel 5 show received a lowly IDMb score of 5.7 out of 10.
9. Victoria Beckham
From her heyday as a 90s pop icon as a member of the Spice Girls to pivoting career into fashion, Victoria gave fans a rare glimpse behind the scenes into the world of Lady Beckham. Following the release of her husband David Beckham's 2023 Netflix docu-series, the mum-of-four released her own documentary this year.
Reflecting on 90s nostalgia it was less about her own personal life and three hours spent discussing how hard it was for her to make it into the fashion industry which grew rather tiresome after just one episode.
While critics lauded Victoria for her frank honesty many suggested too much time was spent on the fashion, with one Rotten Tomatoes reviewer suggesting "the show lacked warmth" and "felt stiff".
Rating: The docu-series received a score of 47% on Rotten Tomatoes.
8. Celebrity Bear Hunt
Bear Grylls returned for a fun adventure with 12 British celebrities dropped in a Central American jungle. The big budget show premiered on Netflix in February. The programme, which was set in Costa Rica and was hosted by Holly Willoughby, featured twelve celebrities who are sent to a jungle in Costa Rica, where they were forced to avoid being hunted down by Grylls. Along the way, the celebrities faced various challenges and solve puzzles.
It was a big comeback for the former This Morning presenter, 44, who signed up for the show last year, but despite good ratings and a star-studded lineup, the reality show has been axed after just one season.
While some viewers branded the show "hilarious fun" others felt Holly's role was minimal.
Rating: The reality show received a score of 40% on Rotten Tomatoes.
7. The Abandons
Debuting in December after four years in development, this action-filled and female-led Western series from Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter is set in the Washington Territory in 1854. Starring Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey, a group of renegade families do battle with corrupt government forces and each other in an attempt to save their land and survive on the fringes of society.
Sutter himself abandoned production due to creative differences with Netflix. While an impressive set and interesting storyline, the plot seems to plod along. One critic suggested while the characters are well developed it's not a bingeworthy series.
Rating: The drama received a Rotten Tomatoes score of 40%.
6. Simon Cowell: The Next Act
The talent judge is on the lookout to discover the next biggest boy band. So by gathering 16 teen contestants on a Netflix reality series set in Miami and slowly whittling down the group until he find a chart-topping act would have been a hit show in the early 2000s.
The music executive is doing what he does best - finding talent. But the world of television and streaming has moved on from the days of Pop Idol and X Factor when those types of shows drew in millions every week. Unfortunately, those days are gone.
Rating: Despite being released three weeks ago the series has received a score of 29% on Rotten Tomatoes.
5. Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan centres on the real-life 1950s murderer and grave robber Ed Gein, played by Charlie Hunnam, also examines Gein's enduring influence on Hollywood horror films. The true story is based on Wisconsin recluse Ed Gein who commits crimes that leave the nation shocked.
But some audience reviewers claimed they found the miniseries "senseless" as Screen Rant's McArthur concluded, "This isn't just a completely botched series; it's senseless, perverse, and exists outside the realm of narrative entertainment because there's absolutely no one to root for and nothing for viewers to walk away with."
Rating: The thriller has received a score of 22% on Rotten Tomatoes.
4. The Baldwins
Following the wrongful death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021 and Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial for the fatal shooting was dismissed in July 2024, the next step was the release of his own reality show with his family on TLC.
The Baldwins featured Alec, his wife Hilaria, and their seven children go about their post-Rust lives in front of a camera crew.
But the reality series certainly missed the mark. Despite pulling back the curtain to reveal how a family moves forward following a tragic ending, seems less of a redemption arc and as a Rotten Tomatoes critic suggested "cringely inappropriate".
Rating: The series received a dismal rating of 20% on Rotten Tomatoes.
3. With Love, Meghan
The Duchess of Sussex returned this month with a Christmas special. While the first season brought in a lot of viewers for its January debut, according to reports the Netflix special was watched by 526,000 households. By comparison, the "Harry & Meghan" show drew in 2.1 million households in the same number of days.
Meghan's special used the episode to share tips with celebrity friends on how to make crackers, as well as wrapping different types of gifts and decorating a tree.
While everything looks aesthetically pleasing, I'm unconvinced the public are keen to know how to decorate a festive tree.
Rating: The second season has received a score of 14% on Rotten Tomatoes.
2. All's Fair
All's Fair is an American legal drama created by Ryan Murphy, and stars some big Hollywood names including Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, Matthew Noszka, Sarah Paulson, and Glenn Close. The series premiered in November and is available on Hulu.
Despite the series being panned by critics it became one of the most talked about shows of 2025. One audience reviewer, "This isn't a so-bad-it's-good series. It's not a high-camp romp. It's not a guilty pleasure. It's not even an effective hate-watch." While another added: "It takes a special talent to make something so fascinatingly dull, especially with a cast this strong."
Despite the criticism the show has been renewed for a second series.
Rating: All's Fair has received a record-breaking score of 6% on Rotten Tomatoes.
1. The Genius Game
The ITV game show aired in April and was hosted by David Tennant. The UK adaptation of a hugely popular Korean format didn't appear to resonate with British audiences. Despite a promising start, The Genius Game has struggled to find a core following with low ratings.
The show sees 11 strategically minded players participate in a host of never before seen games designed to test their intellect, while carefully and creatively using the art of manipulation to outfox their opponents and win a cash prize.
It tops our list having been axed in August due to low viewership. An ITV spokesperson said: "There are no current plans for more episodes of Genius Game, but the current series is still available for audiences to enjoy on ITVX."
Director, Media and Entertainment, Kevin Lygo admitted "it was a good try, but the audience didn't come".
While it has received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes the show scored a solid 6 out of 10 on IMDb.
