Ranked: The best Jonathan Bailey projects to stream, according to Rotten Tomatoes

I know what I’m doing this weekend

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You know and love him from Wicked, but Jonathan Bailey has a boatload of movies and TV shows to stream right now, from his dashing role in Bridgerton to single-episode appearances in shows like Doctor Who.

After years of delays and the the added time it took to build realistic sets, Wicked is finally out in cinemas in both the UK and the US. The film features Ariana Grande, a Wicked super fan, as Glinda, and the captivating Cynthia Erivo as the film’s central character, Elphaba. Jonathan Bailey also stars as romantic lead Fiyero alongside Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard and Michelle Yeoh as Madam Morrible.

If you aren’t lucky enough to watch the star-studded film this weekend, here are seven projects to keep your Jonathan Bailey taste buds satisfied.

1. Crashing – 83 per cent

Starting off with a bang, Crashing told the story of six youngsters living together as property guardians in a disused hospital. It starred names like Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Julie Dray, Damien Molony, and Louise Ford.

Jonathan gave a brilliant performance as sex-obsessed Sam, a bisexual king whose iconic lines can still be found on TikTok. I am still devastated it was only one season, and you will be too.

2. Bridgerton – 84 per cent

If you somehow missed the cultural phenomenon that is Bridgerton, the show follows the lives of filthy rich families in the Regency era of Great Britain. Though Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor led the cast in season one, their exit allowed Jonathan Bailey’s character Lord Anthony Bridgerton to take centre stage in season two.

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Recent reports suggest he will be reprising his role in season four, so expect more moments like the viral scene that saw Anthony fall into the water in a billowy white shirt. Praise the Netflix gods.

Though the show has an overall score of 84 per cent, season two when Jonathan was the lead came in with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 78 per cent.

3. Doctor Who – 88 per cent

As one of the longest-running TV shows in the UK, it’s practically mandatory for British actors to pop up in an episode or two. For Jonathan Bailey, that time came in Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman’s season eight, episode five.

The episode, entitled Time Heist, saw the Doctor and Clara attempt a bank heist across time with help from criminals like Jonathan’s cyborg-human hybrid Psi. He has some flirty banter with Clara, a devastating death scene, and then the quintessential Doctor Who resurrection. It makes for gripping TV.

4. Fellow Travellers – 90 per cent

If you’re looking for something a little saucier, then look no further than Jonathan Bailey’s gripping miniseries Fellow Travellers. Jonathan plays Tim Laughlin, a political staffer in 1950s Washington who carries out a decades-long affair with fellow political expert Hawkins Fuller.

The show also stars Matt Bomer in the other leading role, and let’s just say their scenes together leave little to the imagination.

5. Broadchurch – 92 per cent

Broadchurch is a staple of British TV that is largely beloved by older generations, but don’t let that put you off as it’s seriously good thanks to the combined power of Olivia Coleman and David Tennant. Jonathan starred in seasons one and two as journalist Olly before he headed off to Bridgerton in 2017.

A full breakdown of the seasons is as follows:

Season one – 94 per cent
Season two – 84 per cent
Season three – 98 per cent

6. Chewing Gum – 100 per cent

Chewing Gum comes from the brilliant mind of Michaela Coel, the same genius who helmed projects like I May Destroy You and Black Earth Rising.

Jonathan appears as Ash in season two, episode two when he grows attached to Michaela’s Tracey. Upon getting back to his apartment, Tracey realizes that he is married and using her to play out race-based fetishes. The consequent scenes are iconic and still rack up likes on social media 10 years later.

7. Heartstopper – 100 per cent

Heartstopper is one of Netflix’s most successful projects to date starring up-and-coming Hollywood stars like Kit Connor, Joe Locke, and Yasmin Finney. It’s a coming-of-age story that is instantly relatable to any queer person.

In the recently released season three, Jonathan Bailey plays hunky Jack Maddox, a famous academic who Joe Locke’s Charlie has a crush on.

While the show has an overall score of 100 per cent, the breakdown of each season is:

Season one – 100 per cent
Season two – 96 per cent
Season three – 100 per cent

8. Honourable mention – Leonardo

Unfortunately, Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t have a ranking for the 2011 CBBC show Leonardo, which should honestly be a crime given how good it is. Jonathan was just a baby at 23 years old, but he obviously polished his acting skills early in life.

The two seasons followed the titular character Leonardo Da Vinci in the earliest years of his life, getting into trouble with friends Machiavelli and Lorenzo de’ Medici.

Featured Image credit: YouTube/Netflix & YouTube/Fremantle