Fantasy is not often seen as one of the top genres of TV programmes but it is not just reserved for fans who want to dress up at conventions. Some well-known fiction series are actually based on fantasy and some of them have made it to the small screen. This list is not exhaustive but it is a great starting point for those who are new to the fantasy genre.

Charmed
The tale of three sisters who find out that not only are they witches but that they are the most powerful witches of all time. This show combines magic with fantasy and a great deal of comedy and drama. This show ran for eight seasons and really captured the imagination. Other series have tried the witchcraft theme since then but none has managed to recapture the formula that made this such a success.

Grimm
This series has run for a number of seasons despite the fact that it was aired in a Friday night slot – usually a sign that the networks are not paying much attention to a show. This fantasy TV show was inspired by the fairy tales written by Grimm.

Outlander
This show is a relative newcomer to the fantasy TV series category and it is based on a series of novels. This is a time-travelling story that starts in World War II and transports the heroine back to 1743 where the people she meets are linked to her twentieth-century life.

Xena: Warrior Princess
This is an instantly recognised TV show which ran for a number of seasons before finishing in 2001. As with most of the fantasy shows, it has developed a cult following. This is quite an achievement for a character that was originally created to appear in just three episodes of ‘Hercules: The Legendary Journeys’. The plan was to kill the character off here but it proved so popular Xena ended up with her own show.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer
This series was one of the few on TV that had a strong female lead. This story of a vampire hunter became one of the most popular shows of all time and while many people have dismissed it as being simply a teen drama it has developed a strong following.