Sometimes we just want to watch a show which helps us switch off from what’s going on in the rest of our lives. Comfort shows are such an important part of our TV diet and can provide a positive distraction, reduce anxiety, lower our cognitive load and even help us regulate our emotions. Some give us a hit of nostalgia, others provide the predictable format we crave when the world seems a chaotic place.
But what does your go to comfort show say about your personality? Let’s have a look!
The Cosy, Reliable Staple
There's a reason these feel-good, heart-warming shows, like The Great British Bake Off, Gogglebox and The Repair Shop have stood the test of time. They are like home to fans with their clear, simple premise, community spirit and the touching emotional investment of the contributors. We get to see people try - which in turn gives us courage in our own lives. They don’t just provide a feeling of community on screen, they give us safe, non-confrontational conversation starters in our own lives and social situations. We gain great comfort watching people do simple, relatable things in a personable way which elevates the importance of the tasks we take for granted in daily life.
If The Great British Bake-Off or something similar is your go-to comfort show: You value honesty and kindness above all else. You respect vulnerability and are everyone’s biggest cheerleader. You trust quickly and are always there with a hug when people need one. You want nothing but the best for those around you.
The Gossipy Reality Show
The likes of The Traitors, Love Island and Married at First Sight show the extremes of life and human behaviour – which is why we love a reality show which really pushes boundaries. These shows offer us an escape as we sit back and enjoy the dopamine-hit of low mental effort drama. As their lives explode on screen, we can feel happy that ours are a lot less dramatic. We love the chance to be included in information which one person has yet to reveal to another, making us feel we have exclusive info.
Research has found these shows fire up the reward centres of the brain which are also triggered by comfort food. They also offer a total brain break – especially at the more wild and trashy end of the spectrum!
If The Traitors or something similar is your go-to comfort show: You're the first person others turn to when they need to know the inside track on a situation as you have an incredible memory for names, stories and how they interweave. You handle stress with ease and feel confident in your own choices.
The Single Episode Procedural
Death in Paradise, Midsomer Murders and Patience are just a few of the single episode procedurals which offer immediate comfort as they don’t require a long-time commitment. Although there may be threads which run through the series, each episode neatly ties up a case and blends problem-solving, justice and characters we are familiar with all in less than an hour time investment. We get the chance to solve a puzzle - which is something our brains love - while the familiar patterns they tend to follow allow us to relax into the drama. It’s comforting seeing good win out in the end and enter a closed world, often picturesque, with experts who just want to keep people safe.
If Death in Paradise or something similar is your go-to comfort show: You value organisation and hate when jobs are left unfinished. You like to hear all the facts before you make a decision, value knowledge over emotions and are grounded and objective. You love to travel but prefer a package holiday and always take your own teabags.
The Ensemble Sitcom
Whether it's rewatching Friends for the millionth time when you know the words, or chuckling along to a ridiculous new situation in the second series of Amandaland, comedy provides an escape from our daily lives and a chance to release tension in a safe space. With their predictable plots and recurrent characters and themes they give viewers a sense of security and familiarity. Even more so when there's the added nostalgic element to the long running versions, like Open All Hours, which we have grown up with and shared with loved ones.
When we're watching a comedy which has a wider cast, we can usually find characters which we relate to either ourselves or in those we know. We all know a Julia in the school playground or have had to deal with a Gareth in the office.
If Open All Hours or something similar is your go-to comfort show: You relax when there’s familiarity and predictability, you protect yourself by not delving too deeply into the heavy side of life if you can. You’re in touch with your emotions and know how to lift your spirits to feel safe again.
The True Crime Documentary
The popularity of true crime documentaries like Trust Me: The False Prophet, Murder Trial and Catching a Killer grows so what is it people find comforting about violent, aggressive and often macabre stories? Psychologists believe it is partly because are so engaged in the subject. As the show is basically a massive puzzle we don’t want to miss a bit by doomscrolling, so there is a mindful quality to our TV viewing. And whether good or bad, humans love nothing more than something novel or unusual, which is why the more outlandish the crime, the more hooked we are. From the safety of our sofa, we can learn how to keep ourselves safe without being in any danger, which appeals to a primitive part of our brains.
If Trust Me: The False Prophet or something similar is your go-to comfort show: An amateur sleuth and psychologist, you’re fascinated by people’s behaviour and dissect those around you to find their motivation. You’re resourceful and calm in a crisis – your friends often turn to you when they need assistance. You like drama, but also like to know it will all turn out ok in the end.
The Quiz Show
Quizzes like Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, The 1% Club and The Chase improve our memory and keep our brains active, perfect if you are a bit bored in your work or home life. They are the ideal outlet for legitimately shouting at the TV screen to release pent up frustrations and research has found our heart rates become elevated in timed rounds as we engage so deeply in the process. They have it all - suspense, camaraderie, one-upmanship and also the shared joy of seeing ordinary people win life changing prizes.
If The 1% Club or something similar is your go-to comfort show: Your safe space is the local pub quiz, where your competitive side is (finally) truly appreciated. You have a thirst for new information and fantastic memory - but despite being full of knowledge you still find it hard to decide what to have for dinner.
The Nature and Wildlife Show
You like to escape your world for one more wonderful in nature, be it the homely Springtime on the Farm or epic Planet Earth. The emotional rollercoaster of animal life gives you a chance to laugh and cry away from the stresses of everyday life. Research has shown even a short time spent watching wildlife and nature shows can decrease anxiety levels and boost our emotions. And in an ever complicated world with technological and political change accelerating, seeing the simplicity and natural order of the non-human world continuing is a comfort – and something to envy.
If Springtime on the Farm or something similar is your go-to comfort show: For you the magic moments in life are drinking your morning coffee in the sunshine, the smell of the air after summer rain and the joy of a butterfly landing on you. You will ask the name of - and pet - every dog you meet in the park. You're not ashamed to admit that you sometimes prefer animals to people.
Caroline Blight has learned a lot about herself writing this feature - not least how many shows are comforting to her!