I've watched hundreds of series — these are the five I re-watch every year without fail

I love nothing more than snuggling up on my sofa with the remote control, a fluffy blanket and some snacks while bingeing a TV show. It's my guilty pleasure, and one I'm not afraid to admit. I spend the majority of my evenings either curled up with a book or watching Netflix. Having been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis last year, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, travel, long walks and even trips to the pub are no longer on the cards. Instead, I've found solace in TV shows and films. Some of my most-watched shows are reality TV; Vanderpump Rules, Married At First Sight UK and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills are some of my favourites.

There's something utterly addictive about watching a group of individuals screaming at each other and tearing each other's lives apart from the safety of my couch. However, while I do love reality TV, some of my favourite shows of all time are fictional series that I watch every year, sometimes multiple times a year, without fail.

As a self-professed TV addict who has watched hundreds of TV series, these are the ones I re-watch every year:

Breaking Bad entered the Guinness World Records as the most critically acclaimed TV show of all time — and it's easy to see why.

Created and produced by Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), an over-qualified high school chemistry teacher who has been diagnosed with stage-three lung cancer.

Rather than accept his fate and leave his family with nothing, Walt decides to turn to a life of crime, partnering with a former student of his, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), to produce and sell methamphetamine to pay for his treatment and secure his family's finances before he passes away. The series sees Walt and Jesse navigate the criminal underworld while juggling their own personal struggles.

Breaking Bad ran from 2008 to 2013 but is available to watch on Netflix. I re-watch Breaking Bad a couple of times year. For me, the series offers the perfect balance of humour, action and drama while simultaneously making me question my own moral judgement.

Once you start Breaking Bad, you won't be able to stop. It's addictive, with each episode being completely necessary to the storyline; there are no filler episodes here. If you haven’t seen it already, why not?

Where to watch: Netflix

I'll be honest, I didn't love The Sopranos when I began watching it. It's a slow burner and I generally prefer shows that are punchy and action-packed from the get-go. However, I persevered and now it's one of my favourite series of all time.

Created by David Chase, the series follows New Jersey Mafia boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), who is suffering from panic attacks that make him pass out. Looking to avoid further embarrassment, Tony reluctantly starts seeing a psychiatrist, Dr Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), who encourages him to dive into his childhood trauma, relationship with his mother, and family life while balancing his criminal life. Throughout the series, we watch Tony navigate various relationships and situations with his wife Carmela (Edie Falco), his protégé and distant cousin Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli), his crew and his many "Gumars".

The Sopranos is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential TV series of all time and has won a plethora of awards.

I love the depth of each character in The Sopranos. Each character is flawed, but as a viewer, you will find yourself looking for redeemable qualities in each, despite the heinous acts they commit.

Where to watch: NOW TV

While I am a child of the nineties, I didn't watch Friends until my university days. Since then, Friends has become a comfort blanket; something I turn to when I'm feeling glum and need a pick-me-up.

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, the show revolves around six friends in their late twenties and early thirties who live in New York City. The show navigates their friendships as they tackle life's challenges, from failed marriages to pregnancies, dead-end jobs and getting fired.

The series was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, and features the opening song, I'll Be There for You" by The Rembrandts.

While Friends is just a TV show, it has become a cultural phenomenon with haircuts and even catchphrases becoming a part of popular culture. According to a study by the University of Toronto, the series influenced the English language with the emphasised word "so" to modify adjectives more often than any other intensifier. This may have accelerated a change in the usage of the American vernacular.

Where to watch: Netflix

This miniseries follows the aftermath and cleanup efforts of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in the then-Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. The five-part series was created and written by Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck and has an impressive cast led by Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, and Paul Ritter.

The series has received widespread critical acclaim for its historical accuracy, screenplay, musical score, and actors' performances. It won three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Writing. At the Golden Globe Awards, the series won for Best Miniseries or Television Film, while Skarsgård won for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film.

Chernobyl might seem like an unusual series to watch every year, but for me, it's an important part of history that should not be forgotten. The series not only touches on the nuclear plant disaster itself but also the systemic failings of the USSR, the stories of the people who responded and lost their lives, and the stories of the volunteers, miners and scientists behind the cleanup.

While truly harrowing in parts, it is a testament to the power and resilience of people and communities in the face of a national crisis.

Where to watch: NOW TV

I watched Mr Inbetween for the first time last year and was immediately addicted. I loved it so much, I've already re-watched it this year.

The Australian dark comedy crime drama follows Raymond 'Ray' Shoesmith (Scott Ryan), a hitman for hire who tries to balance his criminal activities with his personal life. Dark but laugh-out-loud hilarious at points, viewers will watch Ray juggle being a father to Brittany while navigating a frosty relationship with his ex-wife Jacinta, being a considerate boyfriend to his girlfriend Ally and a carer for his terminally ill brother Bruce.

Ray often turns to violence to settle his grievances, but this soon starts to take a toll on him and those around him.

With an impressive 95% critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 98% audience rating, creator Scott Ryan and director Nash Edgerton have created a gripping and unique series that, for reasons unbeknownst to me, has remained largely under the radar.

Where to watch: Disney+