39 Must-See British TV Shows to Add to Your Watch List

When you hear that this murder mystery is set in a sleepy seaside town, you may be picturing a gentle British detective series along the lines of Midsomer Murders. Alas, no. Broadchurch is bleak. It takes you to uncomfortable places, exploring the effects of a major crime on a tight-knit community, as two detectives (played brilliantly by David Tennant and Olivia Colman) investigate the death of a local boy. A further two seasons widen the net, introducing other characters in the town (and new crimes).

Watch it on Netflix now.

If you still haven't watched Netflix's sweeping drama about the British royal family, what have you been doing? According to Princess Eugenie, even the queen watches! Claire Foy and Matt Smith star as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in the first two seasons, which cover events of the 1950s and '60s. A third season is currently being filmed, with new actors taking over as the action moves into the 1970s.

Watch it on Netflix now.

Probably my favourite TV show of the last decade, Peaky Blinders focuses on a gangster family living in Birmingham at the turn of the 20th century. Cillian Murphy is Tommy Shelby, head of the family and leader of the Peaky Blinders, a gang of dapper gents with razor blades hidden in their peaked caps. From the beautiful cinematography to the awesome soundtrack, Peaky Blinders nails it. And the cast just keeps getting better: from Tom Hardy to Adrien Brody, everyone wants a piece of this cool, stylish drama.

Watch it on Netflix now.

Sandra Oh made history as the first Asian actor to be nominated for the Emmy for best actress in a drama for her work in Killing Eve, which should give you some indication as to how good this BBC drama is. She's also up for a Golden Globe for her performance. Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (see Fleabag, earlier in this list), this stylish, entertaining, and surprising show also features a stand-out performance from British actress Jodie Comer as Villanelle.

Watch it on Amazon now.

Before Netflix scooped it up and gave it new life, Black Mirror was a cult hit on the UK's Channel 4; a sci-fi anthology series that explores how technology has taken hold of society (and how that may evolve in the years to come). The first ever episode, "The National Anthem", sets the tone spectacularly. Black Mirror is as dark and foreboding as it is funny, and as affecting as it is entertaining.

Watch it on Netflix now.

If you really want to get an idea of what makes great British "telly," dive into a few episodes of Doctor Who. A British television institution, this time travel epic has been on and off the air since the 1960s. The Doctor is a Time Lord, an alien who can travel through time and space. Across hundreds of episodes, the Doctor takes his ever-changing companions (mostly human, some alien) on adventures across the Universe. To give you an idea of their variety, episode titles include "Let's Kill Hitler" and "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship." The doctor can also regenerate into new forms if he's injured, and has been played by a number of very prominent actors. The latest, Jodie Whittaker, marks the first female Doctor.

Watch it on Amazon now.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge (who you may have seen in Solo: a Star Wars Story) got her big break in this self-penned comedy, which takes a refreshingly real look at life as a single woman in London. It was described perfectly by The Guardian as "a hilarious sitcom about terrible people and broken lives". Our heroine isn't just dealing with money issues, romantic issues, and family issues, but grief, too.

Watch it on Netflix now.

Teen drama Skins follows a group of friends in Bristol during the two years of sixth form (junior and senior year) and was acclaimed for tackling difficult issues in a smart, realistic way. Series one introduced us to a whole host of familiar faces, including Dev Patel, Daniel Kaluuya, and Game of Thrones stars Hannah Murray and Joe Dempsie. Nicholas Hoult, who got his break in About a Boy, stars as main protagonist Tony, the charming, dangerous, popular "leader" of the group.

The entire primary cast of Skins changed every two years, as the older kids moved on to work and college, and a new group took over. Later casts introduced us to even more rising stars, including Jack O'Connell, Sean Teale, and Dakota Blue Richards.

Watch it on Netflix now.

The Great British Bake-Off (as it's known in the UK) became a national institution. There's hardly a shortage of cooking challenge shows on TV, but this just nails the format: the contestants are good at what they do; hosts Mel and Sue are just the right combination of funny, witty, and warm; and judge Mary Berry wins us over with her funny faces, old-fashioned know-how, and passion for loud floral jackets. The British public was up in arms when the show moved from the BBC to Channel 4 (only judge Paul Hollywood made the move) but so far, it's still going strong with a new cast that includes comedian Noel Fielding.

Watch it on Netflix now.

This is England actually began with a film (pictured). Director Shane Meadows brought together a cast of relative unknowns, many of whom had never acted before, to tell the story of a group of young skinheads in a Midlands town in the early 1980s who find their subculture slowly getting taken over by white nationalists . . . with many of the group going along for the ride. The film's success led to three spin-off TV series' reuniting the original cast: This is England '86, This is England '88, and This is England '90. All of them are gritty, compelling viewing.

Buy it on Amazon now.

If you think British University life is all about sprawling historic campuses and Harry Potter-esque dorm rooms, allow Fresh Meat to introduce you to the reality. A group of misfits (including a creepy hermit, a hot girl with a drinking problem, a posh kid, and that girl who's desperately trying to reinvent herself) are thrown together in a crappy house during their time at Manchester University. You know these kids, you went to college with them yourself. They just had different accents.

Watch it on Netflix now.

Irish comedian Sharon Horgan and American comic Rob Delaney write and star in this hilarious and often moving show from Channel 4. The premise is simple: the couple are thrown together after she becomes pregnant after a one night stand. Horgan and Delaney are funny, relatable, and flawed, while the supporting cast (including the late, great Carrie Fisher) offer up even more comic brilliance.

Watch it on Amazon now.

Nobody does period dramas quite like the Brits, and I'd wager if you've gotten this far through the list, you're already well-acquainted with the Grantham family and their staff. The Emmy-winning Downton Abbey tells the story of the inhabitants — above and below stairs — of a stately home in the early 1900s, and is apparently the most successful British costume drama series since the '80s.

Watch it on Amazon now.

Before he hosted The Late Late Show, James Corden was a frequent face on British TV, and not only did he star in this comedy (which centres on a long-distance relationship) he also co-wrote it. Gavin and Stacey won people's hearts because it combined sweet lead characters you actually cared about with two of the best sidekicks of all time (Corden's Smithy, and Nessa, played by his writing partner Ruth Jones). In a period where most comedy was going down a darker path, Gavin and Stacey was refreshingly warm and brought families together.

Watch it on Amazon now.

If you've only seen Jamie Dornan getting kinky as Christian Grey, prepare yourself. The Fall, a British-Irish product, is yet another bleak drama, in which Gillian Anderson, putting her English accent to good use, goes on the hunt for a serial killer in Northern Ireland. No prizes for guessing who Dornan plays.

Watch it on Netflix now.

The BBC first adapted Winston Graham's novels about a Cornish land owner back in the '70s, but even fans of that original series seem to have been won over by the remake, mostly due to Aidan Turner's brooding turn as the (seriously problematic) Ross Poldark. As well as being a gripping drama, this show is like one long advert for the Cornish tourist board, with sweeping shots of the county's dramatic cliffs and wide, sandy beaches in every episode.

Watch it on Amazon now.

This slow burning tale set in a Midlands town twists its way to a dramatic conclusion. Suranne Jones stars as the titular character, a woman who seemingly has it all, until she begins to suspect her perfect husband of cheating. She slowly descends into paranoia, and the audience goes right along for the ride. There are two seasons, but you may wish to do yourself a favour and stop at the end of the first. The second descends into melodrama far too quickly for my liking.

Watch it on Netflix now.

One of 2018's big hits, this drama features Richard "Robb Stark" Madden as an employee of the Royalty and Specialist Protection branch of the Metropolitan Police whose job it is to look after the home secretary (Keeley Hawes) during tense political times. It's written by Jed Mercurio, who's also the man behind Line of Duty, and it has all the same twists, turns, and unexpected moments as that show. Madden won a Golden Globe nomination for his brooding performance.

Watch it on Netflix now.

We know you love this show, another UK sleeper hit that became a global success when Netflix picked it up. A deeply dark comedy, it follows disturbed teenager James as he goes on a road trip with angsty Alyssa. The pair bond as they're thrown into a number of dangerous situations, but it's never that simple when the protagonist admits, "I'm pretty sure I'm a psychopath".

Watch it on Netflix now.

Before Dunder Mifflin, there was Wernham Hogg. Mockumentary sitcom The Office was a huge hit in the UK and launched the career of writer and star Ricky Gervais, so it's no surprise it got its own US version. Most of the American characters had their own UK counterparts, and trust me, you ain't seen nothin' until you're introduced to Gareth Keenan. If you've never checked out the OG British series, do yourself a favour and hunt it down.

Watch it on Netflix now.

Want to take a look deep inside the mind of a British man? Watch Peep Show, but don't say you haven't been warned. Filmed from the POV of the main characters, this comedy follows flatmates Mark (an awkward, repressed curmudgeon) and Jez (an irresponsible man-child) as they attempt to navigate adult life. It's cringeworthy to say the least, but you won't be able to look away.

Watch it on Amazon now.

Steven Moffatt and Mark Gatiss's modern re-imagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries has been huge hit globally. It's won three Emmys and has been broadcast in 180 territories. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman star as Holmes and Watson, and many of the famous characters from the books appear across the four (depressingly short) seasons. Ironically, the show's success and that of its leads means it's virtually impossible to get them together to film more episodes, though it may happen if we're lucky.

Watch it on Netflix now.

Jennifer Saunders penned this comedy about the "sweetie, darling" world of media and public relations (pre-recession, naturally). Saunders stars as Edina Monsoon, a high-flying PR with a passion for Moschino clothing, bohemian jewellery, and Stolichnaya vodka. Joanna Lumley is her scene-stealing best friend Patsy Stone, a chain-smoking, champagne-quaffing fashion writer with an ever-growing beehive and a husky voice. In each episode, Patsy and Eddie get into increasingly elaborate scrapes, much to the dismay of Saffie, Eddie's straight-laced teenaged daughter. The show's aged surprisingly well (and even became a movie a couple of years ago).

Watch it on Netflix now.

It may be described as a comedy, but Babylon tackles serious subject matter and is about a million miles away from the 30-minute laugh track-led sitcom you might be imagining. It follows the lives of various people working for the Metropolitan Police Service, including beat cops, senior management, and the public relations department. Slick and clever, it offers a unique, tongue-in-cheek look at what it takes to protect a city like London. Plus, you'll spot plenty of familiar faces, including a pre-BAFTA Daniel Kaluuya.

Buy it on Amazon now.

If you love Veep, allow us to introduce you to the louder, angrier UK version. The Thick of It is the brainchild of Armando Iannucci, a Scottish satirist and writer who went on to create Veep. It opens the book on the world of UK politics, from spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi, on top form) to the civil servants working behind the scenes.

Events in the show echoed political events in the UK, so when new parties came into power, the story and cast would shift accordingly. If you love this semi-fictional political world, the movie In the Loop offers the missing link.

Watch it on Amazon now.

If the bleakness of a show like Broadchurch isn't for you, give this lighthearted BBC procedural a go instead. Set on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie, it follows a fish-out-of-water British detective as he solves the seemingly endless number of confusing murders that take place, assisted by a handful of local police. Now onto its fifth season, Death in Paradise is escapism at its best, right down to the unintentionally hilarious cold open to each episode, where the dramatic discovery of a dead body is immediately followed by the jarringly upbeat reggae tones of the show's opening theme.

Watch it on Netflix now.

If you've only ever watched the 2005 movie adaptation of Jane Austen's classic (with Keira Knightley), you must, must give the BBC's TV adaptation from 1995 a go too. Considered by many to be the consummate British period drama, it made Colin Firth a star, thanks in the most part to one particular scene involving a white shirt and a lake. Jennifer Ehle is also perfect as Elizabeth Bennet, and David Bamber's Mr. Collins will genuinely make your skin crawl, just as he did Lizzy's.

Watch it on Amazon now.

It's safe to say that in recent years, British TV has delivered when it comes to bleak police dramas. Often mentioned in the same breath as Broadchurch, Happy Valley also tackles crime in a small community, but this time it's a crime-ridden, run-down northern town. Sarah Lancashire (a stalwart of British TV) is policewoman Catherine Cawood, who's dealing with some serious family issues on top of her tough job. James Norton plays the man at the root of all of her heartache, and he'll have you screaming at your TV as his actions gets increasingly evil and twisted.

Watch it on Netflix now.

Black Mirror fans, this one is for you. Before Charlie Brooker was tackling the world of dangerous tech, he wrote this horror-drama, which is essentially Big Brother with zombies. It explores what happens when the housemates, who're cut off from the outside world, realise that the world beyond is experiencing a zombie apocalypse. Bonus: it stars a young Riz Ahmed!

Watch it on Netflix now.

Irreverent comedy at its finest, Black Books is a sitcom that centres on Bernard Black (Dylan Moran), the bad-tempered owner of a bookshop who has very strong feelings about his customers. Tamsin Greig and Bill Bailey provide the perfect foils in his friend Fran and assistant Manny.

Watch it on Amazon now.

Stylish, well-written, and chock full of brilliant performances, The Hour followed the lives of a group of reporters and producers working on a (fictional) current affairs show on the BBC in the 1950s. Ben Whishaw and Romola Garai lead a cast that's lousy with famous British faces, including a return to UK drama for The Wire's Dominic West.

Watch it on Amazon now.

Based on the memoir of Rae Earl, this teen show tackles teen depression and suicide with humour and pathos, as we follow the fictional Rae as she battles her demons during her time at sixth form college (yep, that again). For anyone who lived through the '90s, it's also a nostalgic ride with a killer soundtrack that includes just about every great British song from the era.

Watch it on Hulu now.

Netflix's teen "dramedy" about a group of sex-obsessed British teens combines funny scenes with more emotionally charged moments, all wrapped up in a stylized setting that's heavy on the John Hughes nostalgia. Oh, and Gillian Anderson is in it, which is never a bad thing.

Watch it on Netflix now.

Sandra Oh made history as the first Asian actor to be nominated for the Emmy for best actress in a drama for her work in Killing Eve, which should give you some indication as to how good this BBC drama is. She's also up for a Golden Globe for her performance. Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (see Fleabag, later in this list), this stylish, entertaining, and surprising show also features a standout performance from British actress Jodie Comer as Villanelle.

Watch it on Amazon now.

One of 2018's big hits, this drama features Richard "Robb Stark" Madden as an employee of the Royalty and Specialist Protection branch of the Metropolitan Police whose job it is to look after the home secretary (Keeley Hawes) during tense political times. It's written by Jed Mercurio, who's also the man behind Line of Duty, and it has all the same twists, turns, and unexpected moments as that show. Madden won a Golden Globe nomination for his brooding performance.

Watch it on Netflix now.