The best British TV shows on Netflix

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When it comes to the best British shows on Netflix, the options run the gamut. You can check out a riveting drama one day, a hilarious comedy the next, even mockumentary series, thrillers, and yes, reality TV as well. There’s a special added flare with British shows that just feels different than American ones, beyond the obvious English accents, of course.

Some of the best British shows like Black Mirror, The Crown, and Baby Reindeer have earned tons of award nominations and wins. Others, like White Gold and Treason, fly under the radar. You’ll find projects from big names like Guy Ritchie and up-and-comers like Richard Gadd, new shows and old. If you’re looking to add a little “across the pond” magic to your TV schedule, check out the cream of the crop on Netflix.

Looking for something other than Britain’s best? We’ve also put together guides to the best movies on Netflix and the best shows on Netflix, as well as a recap of what’s new on Netflix.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2024) [New]

Coming out of the gate as a surprise hit, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is based on the Holly Jackson mystery crime novel of the same name. The plot centers around Pip Fitz-Amobi (Wednesday’s Emma Myers), a high schooler who decides to run her own investigation into the disappearance/presumed murder of a teenage girl five years earlier. She’s not just doing this for kicks; she’s also using the work as part of her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), a program in England and Wales designed to help prepare students for post-secondary education or their future career.

Following its release on Netflix in August 2024, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder rose up the viewing charts and earned positive reviews. Erin Maxwell of LA Weekly/Village Voice says it combines “teen drama with crime procedurals to create a riveting series made endearing by solid performances from its young cast.”

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Love Is Blind: UK (2024) [New]

Sometimes, all you need (or want) is a lighthearted reality TV show, and Love is Blind has fit the bill for many with its six American seasons to date. With the first U.K. version coming out in summer 2024, fans were enamored with the cast. Whether love is blind or if it isn’t doesn’t seem to matter: they’re all gorgeous, put together, and ready to find “the one.” The cast meets one another in private pods, just like with the U.S. version, only able to talk to one another without seeing what the other person looks like. The show follows the same format as the U.S. edition, with couples building emotional connections, deciding if they want to propose, meeting in person for the first time, then planning a wedding that either ends in “I dos” or “I don’ts.”

Love is Blind: UK has been compared to the first version of Love is Blind U.S. with a more authentic feel and characters and couples fans want to get behind. But make no mistake, there’s still plenty of juicy drama, controversial cast members, and awkward love triangles. Power through season 1 and it will leave you excited to know that the show has been renewed for a second season.

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Cunk on… (2018) [New]

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 2

• Genre: Comedy, Documentary

• Cast: Diane Morgan

• Created by: Charlie Brooker

Earning an impressive 100% Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh rating, Cunk on…, also referred to as Cunk on Earth, is a British mockumentary by Charlie Brooker (Black Mirror) that stars Diane Morgan (After Life) as Philomena Cunk, an investigative reporter who, in a style similar to characters like Sasha Baron Cohen’s alter egos Ali G and Borat, asks absurd questions of her worldly interview subjects. These include everyone from historians to archeologists, composers, and other subject matter experts.

The character first appeared on the TV review series Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, and her deadpan comedic style was a hit, resulting in this dedicated series. There’s just one season with five episodes. Cunk on Earth is a fun watch as Cunk presses experts on serious topics like world history, the Industrial Revolution, and the Space Race with the most ridiculous statements and inquiries.

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Bodkin (2024)

OK, it’s technically an Irish series, but Bodkin was created by British writer Jez Scharf. Will Forte shines in this dark comedy thriller about Gilbert Power (Forte), a podcaster from America who travels with his assistant, Emmy Sizergh (Robyn Cara), to a small town in Ireland called Bodkin. He’s looking into the cold case of three people who went missing. Along the way, he begins to work with Dubheasa “Dove” Maloney (Siobhan Cullen), a London-based investigative journalist.

It sounds dark and ominous, and the premise is. Buot Bodkin also injects elements of humor, joining the list of many other new shows that poke fun at our obsession with true crime and whodunit mysteries. It’s fun, eccentric, and well-acted. If you love shows like Only Murders in the Building and Based on a True Story, and if you’re a fan of Forte’s other work, Bodkin will be up your alley.

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The Gentlemen (2024)

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Crime

• Cast: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings

• Created by: Guy Ritchie

If you were mesmerized by Theo James’ performance in the second season of The White Lotus, you’ll love him even more after watching The Gentlemen. The Guy Ritchie action comedy serves as a spinoff to Ritchie’s 2019 movie of the same name. James stars as Edward Horniman, a former United Nations peacekeeping officer who inherits a 15,000-acre estate, along with the title of Duke of Halstead, following his father’s death. What Horniman quickly learns, however, is that the land is being used to grow marijuana, and is part of a massive empire run by a criminal syndicate.

Thrust into the criminal underworld he knows nothing about, Horniman must try to navigate the murky waters while maintaining his prestigious position in a house that is on the verge of breaking down. Faced with danger at every turn, Horniman is forced to partake in the illegal activities if he wants any hope of escaping from the syndicate’s clutches. The Gentlemen is a violent, action-packed series with plenty of humorous moments to break up the tension.

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Baby Reindeer (2024)

A sleeper hit for Netflix, this British drama thriller turns Scottish writer, actor, and comedian Richard Gadd’s autobiographical one-man show into a miniseries for the small screen. Gadd, who portrays himself in the series (under the fictional character name Donny Dunn) was stalked and harassed in his 20s by a woman in her 40s. Baby Reindeer presents an interesting twist on the usual harassment story that typically portrays the male as the perpetrator and the female as the victim. It’s eye-opening and tragic, but also cleverly presented in a way that grips you right from the start.

The dark story is delivered with small bites of humor, but this is a tale that’s painful to watch at times, and it’s all the more impactful since it’s rooted in a true story. With a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh critic’s score, the seven-episode season is a welcome surprise for those who hit play not expecting much from the series.

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Peppa Pig (2004)

• Rated: TV-Y

• Seasons: 8

• Genre: Animation, Kids

• Cast: John Sparkes, Lily Snowden-Fine, Morwenna Banks

• Created by: Neville Astley, Mark Baker

If you have toddlers, chances are you hear Peppa Pig’s distinct English accent (and loveable snort) at least once a day in your home. The series premiered 20 years ago, but Peppa Pig remains a popular choice for preschoolers who love to follow the anthropomorphic piglet and her family through various adventures.

The British animated series aired for eight seasons, four of which are available to stream (seasons 3 through 6). With episodes ranging from 19 to 23 minutes each, it’s just enough time to keep your toddler busy while you do a quick chore or answer a call. The positive messaging about topics like acceptance, kindness, and family bonding mean Peppa Pig is a favorite with parents, too. Just don’t be surprised if your child or grandchild ends up picking up a slight English accent after watching this show.

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Call the Midwife (2012)

Set in the East End of London in the late ’50s and ’60s, it follows a group of nurse midwives as they deal with major historical moments, discoveries, and periods in time and how they impacted the job, from the Baby Boom of the late ’50s, to poverty, post-war immigration, the introduction of gas for pain relief, and birth defects, along with other social issues like teen pregnancy, adoption, and miscarriages.

The period drama, which aired on BBC in 2012, was originally based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, who worked with a convent in London. But as it continued for nine seasons, other topics were explored based on the sourcing of historical materials.

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Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons (2016)

• IMDb: 7.1/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 7

• Genre: Crime, Documentary

• Cast: Paul Connolly, Raphael Rowe

• Created by: Emma Read, Gabe Solomon

U.K. journalist Raphael Rowe takes viewers inside some of the roughest, toughest prisons from around the world, talking with both prison guards and prisoners themselves about what life is like behind bars. Rowe himself knows a thing or two about the subject and the hardships, having served 12 years in prison for a crime until finally being released and acquitted.

The British series originally aired on Channel 5 in the U.K., after which Netflix commissioned the subsequent seasons of this fascinating docuseries. Stream all seven seasons to date.

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Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father (2017)

• Seasons: 5

• Genre: Comedy, Reality

• Cast: Jack Whitehall, Michael Whitehall, Hilary Whitehall

• Created by: Jack Whitehall

If you know and love comedian Jack Whitehall, you’ll delight in seeing him travel the world alongside his father Michael. This hilarious series is one part travel documentary and one part road trip comedy. Beautifully contrasting Jack’s happy-go-lucky personality is his rather rigid dad, making for a hilariously dynamic duo that could easily have starred in their own scripted comedy.

Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father is as much about the father-son bonding as it is about the exciting experiences they partake in, which include everything from attending an elephant polo match in Bangkok in season 1 to visiting Germany’s highest mountain, Zugspitze, in season 2. Along the way, Michael delivers nuggets of wisdom to his son while Jack helps expand his father’s horizons to try things he never thought he would.

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Robbie Williams (2023)

If you love Robbie Williams, you’ll want to check out this docuseries that chronicles his life, career, and rise to stardom. With more than two decades under his belt as a singer, Williams is one of the most successful U.K. recording artists of all time, if not the most successful. This four-part docuseries was perfectly time alongside the 25th anniversary of his solo career: Williams first rose to fame as a member of the pop group Take That. After five years with the band, he debuted his first solo album in 1996; the rest is history.

Becoming a pop culture icon at just 16 years old when Take That took off, Williams has had his share of struggles, from tabloid drama to coming-of-age in the spotlight. He gets intimate in Robbie Williams about his road to recovery, suffering from alcohol and substance abuse as well as mental illness. Robbie Williams is a candid look inside the life of one of the best-selling U.K. artists ever. Any fan of Williams will want to check it out.

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Last Tango in Halifax (2012)

• Rated: TV-14

• Seasons: 5

• Genre: Drama, Comedy

• Cast: Anne Reid, Derek Jacobi, Sarah Lancashire

• Created by: Sally Wainwright

In this BBC One British comedy-drama, two widowers in their 70s are reunited thanks to the wonders of grandchildren and Facebook. While they knew and were attracted to one another in the 1950s, they never acted on it. Now’s their chance. Alan (Derek Jacobi) has always been secretly in love with Celia (Anne Reid), while Celia spent decades in an unhappy marriage.

A feel-good story that proves finding love has no age limit, Last Tango in Halifax also examines how later love can be complicated when you add involvement from your respective families, including grown children. A refreshing love story with a comedic twist, Last Tango in Halifax arguably paved the way for shows like Grace and Frankie, both being successful pushbacks against ageism on television.

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World War II: From the Frontlines (2023)

This isn’t your garden-variety sensationalized docudrama. World War II: From the Frontlines features archival footage that has been enhanced, along with voices of those involved, bringing viewers into World War II in ways they may have never experienced before. There’s something about seeing these images and videos in full color. Narrated by John Boyega, the six episodes of World War II: From the Front Lines are gripping, emotional, and educational.

Thanks to the wonders of technology, old footage has been remastered and audio-enhanced so you can experience the terror, heartache, and sadness from a deeper perspective, even if it still doesn’t compare to what it was like to truly be there. Most impactful, in fact, are the accounts from those who survived the front lines and lived to tell about it.

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Beckham (2023)

If you thought you knew David Beckham, the docuseries Beckham provides additional insight into the kind of man the English football icon is, along with the challenges he has faced in his personal life and career. The docuseries provides an intimate look into Beckham’s career, from training as a child to becoming one of the most hated men in England following a heated mistake during a game. Seeing the love in Beckham’s eyes as he watches his old matches on television is evidence of his true passion for the game.

Beckham dives into his personal life as a husband and father as well. You’ll gain a different perspective of his much-publicized courtship with now-wife Victoria Beckham. She was a member of the Spice Girls, one of the biggest pop girl groups in the world, at the time they began dating. Beckham is a well-made docuseries that manages to include humor and heart, while delivering an inspiring story about overcoming obstacles and possessing strength of character.

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The Crown (2016)

The Crown finally comes to an end in its sixth and final season that focuses on the era of Prince Charles (Dominic West) and Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki). Delivered in two parts, the final season will explore the years between 1997 and 2005. This involves pivotal moments like Tony Blair as Prime Minister, Prince William’s early relationship with Kate Middleton, Prince Charles’ wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles, and, most notably, the tragic death of Princess Diana.

Imelda Staunton reprises her role as Queen Elizabeth II while the sprawling cast will include newcomers including Ed McVey as Prince William during his college years and Meg Bellamy as Kate Middleton.

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Top Boy (2011)

• IMDb: 8.4/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 5

• Genre: Drama

• Cast: Ashley Walters, Kane Robinson, Micheal Ward

• Created by: Ronan Bennett

With five seasons to date, three produced by Netflix, the British crime drama Top Boy is set in a fictional Summerhouse estate in London where a young and troubled man gets involved in the criminal underworld involving drugs, murder, and an intense struggle for power and money. With British rapper and songwriter Ashley Walters (Asher D) heading up the cast, Letitia Wright (Black Mirror, Black Panther) among the recurring characters, and Drake an executive producer, it unsurprisingly has a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Be warned — Netflix has made it a little complicated to watch Top Boy in its entirety. The first two seasons stream on Netflix under the title Top Boy: Summerhouse (linked below), while the latest seasons are found separately as just “Top Boy”.

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White Gold (2017)

• Seasons: 2

• Genre: Comedy

• Cast: Lee Ross, Ed Westwick, James Buckley

• Created by: Damon Beesley

Quietly flying under the radar, White Gold had two seasons, released two years apart. The British sitcom stars Ed Westwick as Vincent Swan, a slimy double-glazed windows salesman who rips people off and engages in questionable sales tactics to meet quotas. Meanwhile, he’s less than stellar to his wife and kids.

Obsessed with wealth and status, his two friends and co-workers are Inbetweeners’ James Buckley and Joe Thomas as Brian and Martin. While Brian is just as underhanded as Vincent, Martin struggles with his moral compass and cheats customers out of their hard-earned money to do shoddy work with second-rate products. The mid-1980s Corringham, Essex setting and the characters you love to hate make White Gold a worthy watch.

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Heartstopper (2022)

A British coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama, Heartstopper pulled on viewers’ heartstrings when it premiered in 2022. The series, which is based on the Alice Oseman webcomic and graphic novel of the same name, follows Charlie (Joe Locke), who falls in love with his classmate, Nick (Kit Connor). While Joe has been recently outed, Kit is a rough-and-tumble rugby player who hasn’t quite figured out his sexuality.

The show has been praised for its portrayal of members of the LGBTQ+ community, maintaining a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score for its inaugural season. Critics praise the show’s sensitivity and charm, as well as its depiction of both sides of the coin: a young man who is open and confident in his sexuality and another who is still trying to understand his feelings, but is also accepting of them.

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Sex Education (2019)

• Metacritic: 81%

• IMDb: 8.3/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 4

• Genre: Comedy, Drama

• Cast: Emma Mackey, Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Connor Swindells

• Created by: Laurie Nunn

Launched in January 2019, the British drama Sex Education has been called heartfelt and surprisingly wise. It stars Asa Butterfield as a socially awkward teenager who is ambivalent about sex, largely due to his mother (Gillian Anderson) being a sex therapist.

Netflix reports that Sex Education had more than 40 million viewers after it launched on the site. The series concludes with its fourth and final season.

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Black Mirror (2011)

• IMDb: 8.8/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 6

• Genre: Sci-fi, Psychological Thriller, Dystopia

• Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Wyatt Russell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Daniel Lapaine

• Created by: Charlie Brooker

While Black Mirror eventually morphed into a “Netflix original,” Charlie Brooker’s brilliant dystopian series first premiered on Channel 4 in the U.K. Most episodes look at dire, worst-case scenarios regarding our relationship with technology and modern reliance on it.

With six seasons to date, this isn’t the type of show you’ll be able to binge-watch quickly. But you can watch in any order and are guaranteed to see your jaw drop by the end of each episode. It’s compelling, thought-provoking television.

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Treason (2022)

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure

• Cast: Charlie Cox, Olga Kurylenko, Oona Chaplin

• Created by: Matt Charman

In this spy miniseries, Sir Martin Angelis (Ciaran Hinds) is the former chief of MI6, who is hospitalized following a poisoning. His deputy chief, Adam (Daredevil‘s Charlie Cox), takes over. When Adam deciphers a secret code and meets with a former lover and ex-SVR operative, Kara (Olga Kurylenko), he discovers a sinister plot to help catapult him to the top position in the government organization.

Adam has a difficult decision to make: continue aiding Kara in her mission, risking his now already compromised career in the process, or refuse to help. But Kara isn’t going to take no for an answer, and when Adam realizes his family is in danger too, he has no choice but to play ball. Treason is a thrilling ride through five episodes and a great one to watch for any fan of the espionage genre.

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Man vs. Bee (2022)

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Comedy, Family

• Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Jing Lusi, Julian Rhind-Tutt

• Created by: Rowan Atkinson, Will Davies

If you’re in the mood for a good laugh and you’re a fan of Rowan Atkinson, check out his latest, Man vs. Bee, a British comedy he also co-wrote. He stars as Trevor Bingley, a down-on-his-lock man who is house-sitting a mansion when he meets his worst enemy: a bee. The plot sounds ridiculous, but it’s filled with plenty of hijinks and slapstick humor.

You’ll get the same humor you’d expect from the iconic actor who has become synonymous with his most popular character, Mr. Bean. The physical comedy, contorted facial expressions, and general hilarity will bring a sense of familiarity to existing fans and introduce new ones to Atkinson’s unique form of comedy.

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Derry Girls (2018)

Two seasons aired on Channel 4 in 2018 and 2019, with a third scheduled for 2020. While it’s a British sitcom, the setting is Derry, Northern Ireland, where a group of teenage friends navigates life and coming-of-age while attending their local Catholic girls’ secondary school. The first season has an impressive perfect rating from critics on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes and a 97% from audiences, with critics praising the “irreverent charms” and “canny characterizations.”

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Inside Man (2022)

• Metacritic: 64%

• IMDb: 6.6/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Drama, Crime, Mystery

• Cast: David Tennant, Stanley Tucci, Dolly Wells

• Created by: Steven Moffat

Within the miniseries Inside Man, two parallel stories unfold. Former criminology professor Jefferson Grieff (Stanley Tucci) is on death row for killing his wife and passing the time by consulting with the police on other crimes. Meanwhile, a vicar named Harry Watling (David Tennant) finds himself in a difficult position when one of his parishioners passes him some child porn. Rather than let his son, Ben (Louis Oliver), take the fall, Harry considers either taking the blame himself or murdering a woman to cover up the truth.

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The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself (2022)

• Metacritic: 72%

• IMDb: 7.6/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Mystery

• Cast: Jay Lycurgo, Nadia Parkes, Emilien Vekemans

• Created by: Joe Barton

The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself features Jay Lycurgo as Nathan Byrne, a 16-year-old boy who just so happens to be the son of Marcus Edge (David Gyasi), “the world’s most dangerous Blood Witch.” That’s why Nathan’s entire life has been spent under the scrutiny of the Council of Fairborn Witches and their rivals, the Blood Witches. As an open conflict between the factions breaks out, Nathan forms a bond with his fellow witches, Annalise O’Brien (Nadia Parkes) and Gabriel (Emilien Vekemans), as he goes on a quest to learn more about his emerging powers.

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You Don’t Know Me (2021)

Samuel Adewunmi stars in You Don’t Know Me as Hero, a young man who is in about as much trouble as you can possibly imagine. While facing murder charges, Hero does a Hail Mary and fires his lawyer in order to directly address the jury for his closing statement as he tells them all about his love for a woman named Kyra (Sophie Wilde), as well as his close relationship with his sister, Bless (Bukky Bakray). Through flashbacks, we get an extensive look at how Hero became the man that he is today. Whether that’s enough to save him at a trial remains to be seen. You’ll just have to watch to find out.

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Peaky Blinders (2013)

• IMDb: 8.8/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 6

• Genre: Crime, Drama

• Cast: Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Sam Claflin

• Created by: Steven Knight

Peaky Blinders is over! All six seasons of the hit British crime drama are now on Netflix. Cillian Murphy stars in the series as Tommy Shelby, the leader of the Peaky Blinders gang. In the aftermath of World War I, Tommy has grand ambitions of expanding his criminal empire. Those plans soon draw the ire of Major Chester Campbell (Event Horizon‘s Sam Neill), a detective chief inspector who makes it his mission to take Tommy and his gang down. However, Tommy’s plans can’t be stopped by any single man, except when the events of history and his ever-growing hubris encourage Tommy to make increasingly dangerous decisions.

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Criminal: UK (2019)

• Metacritic: 65%

• IMDb: 7.6/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 2

• Genre: Crime, Drama

• Cast: Lee Ingleby, Katherine Kelly, Rochenda Sandall

• Created by: Jim Field Smith, George Kay

Can you really make a police procedural that only revolves around intense interviews with suspects? Apparently, you can do it at least four times, since Netflix has multiple versions of Criminal for different European countries. In Criminal: United Kingdom, Katherine Kelly leads the cast as Detective Chief Inspector Natalie Hobbs, and she’s in charge of an elite squad of interrogators. And just to twist the knife a bit with viewers, some of the suspected criminals are played by popular performers like David Tennant, Kit Harington, and Hayley Atwell.

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The Last Kingdom (2015)

• Metacritic: 78%

• IMDb: 8.4/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 5

• Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama

• Cast: Alexander Dreymon, David Dawson, Emily Cox

• Created by: Stephen Butchard

The fifth season of The Last Kingdom has arrived, but if you’re looking for a history lesson, then you’ve come to the wrong place. This adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories takes a few liberties with history in the name of drama. All you really need to know is that 1,000 years ago, Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) was taken by Vikings and eventually accepted as one of them. But when Uhtred’s new home is violently stripped away from him, he embarks on a journey to reclaim what was once his. Epic battles, deadly intrigue, and even romance ensue. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Marcella (2016)

• Metacritic: 65%

• IMDb: 7.4/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 3

• Genre: Crime, Drama

• Cast: Anna Friel, Nicholas Pinnock, Ray Panthaki

• Created by: Hans Rosenfeldt

Pushing Daisies veteran Anna Friel steps into the leading role of Marcella, a noirish crime drama from across the pond. Friel plays Marcella Backland, a woman whose deteriorating marriage to Jason (Nicholas Pinnock) leads her to resume her job as a Detective Sergeant for London’s Metropolitan Police Service. And for her first case back, Marcella has to open up a cold case to find a serial killer while dealing with her impending divorce. Additionally, Marcella suffers from blackouts that may threaten her personal and professional lives.

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Cuckoo (2012)

• IMDb: 7.2/10

• Seasons: 5

• Genre: Comedy

• Cast: Greg Davies, Helen Baxendale, Esther Smith

• Created by: Kieron Quirke

Did you know that Andy Samberg starred in his own BBC comedy? He portrays Dale Ashbrick, the title character of Cuckoo. He’s a hippie who marries a young woman named Rachel (Tamla Kari), much to the alarm of her parents, Ken (Greg Davies) and Lorna (Helen Baxendale). And when neither Samberg nor Kari returned for the second season, Tyler Lautner was introduced as Dale’s long-lost son, Dale Jr., with Esther Smith taking over the role of Rachel. And the series only gets wilder from there.

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Stay Close (2021)

• Metacritic: 51%

• IMDb: 7/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Drama, Crime, Mystery

• Cast: Poppy Gilbert, Bethany Antonia, Richard Armitage

• Created by: Harlan Coben

Stay Close is a mystery series that explores the unexpected connection between three apparent strangers. Megan Pierce (Cush Jumbo) is a woman who wants to leave her past behind and embrace life with her fiance, Dave Shaw (Daniel Francis). Meanwhile, Ray Levine (Richard Armitage) is a photographer who has never recovered from the disappearance of his girlfriend. Their lives are drawn together when DS Michael Broome (James Nesbitt) opens up a cold case about a man who disappeared 17 years earlier. And unfortunately for the trio, the danger to their lives is not hidden in the past. It’s happening right now.

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The Stranger (2020)

Hannah John-Kamen stars as the title character in The Stranger, a young woman who hides her identity while exposing the secrets of others. How did the Stranger come by this information and what is her true agenda? An ordinary man, Adam Price (Richard Armitage), is forced to investigate the Stranger after she exposes his wife, Corinne Price (Dervla Kirwan), for faking a pregnancy and her possible infidelity. When Corinne goes missing, Adam’s desperation grows. Detective Sergeant (DS) Johanna Griffin (Siobhan Finneran) is officially searching for the Stranger, but there’s also a third party, policeman Patrick Katz (Paul Kaye), who is willing to kill in order to find and silence the Stranger.

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Requiem (2018)

The question of identity hangs like a dark cloud over Requiem, as a world-famous cellist, Matilda Grey (Lydia Wilson), is forced to watch her mother, Janice Gray (Joanna Scanlan), commit suicide in front of her. When a second suicide is linked to her mother’s death, Matilda uncovers evidence that Janice may have been involved with the disappearance of a young girl named Carys Howell decades earlier. Much to her horror, Matilda suspects that she may be Carys herself. And yet her hometown seems to have little interest in helping Matilda solve this mystery, and certain “occult-y” incidents ratchet up the tension.

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Traitors (2019)

• IMDb: 6.6/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: War & Politics, Drama

• Cast: Emma Appleton, Keeley Hawes, Brandon P. Bell

• Created by: Bathsheba Doran

Traitors invites viewers back to the immediate aftermath of World War II, as the Allies begin to turn their eyes on each other. A young British woman, Feef Symonds (Emma Appleton), finds the excitement and purpose she seeks when she is seduced into spying on her own country to root out any Russian operatives in the government. Unfortunately for Feef, there really are Russian agents and they strike quickly at someone she loves. As Feef tries to expose the Russian mole, he in turn tries to draw her out and kill her before she can identify him. It’s a cat and mouse game with escalating stakes and consequences.

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Sick Note (2017)

• IMDb: 6.8/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 2

• Genre: Comedy, Crime

• Cast: Rupert Grint, Nick Frost, Pippa Bennett-Warner

• Created by: James Serafinowicz, Nat Saunders

Rupert Grint plays a very sick man in Sick Note, or so he thinks. Daniel Glass (Grint) has his life turned upside down when he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. The odd thing is that Daniel comes to enjoy the newfound kindness he experiences when people react to his condition. However, it was all a misdiagnosis made by Daniel’s doctor, Iain Glennis (Nick Frost). Since Dr. Glennis and Daniel would both prefer to keep the truth from getting out, they resolve to keep each other’s secrets. Unfortunately, their compounding lies only get them drawn into dangerous situations.

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Giri/Haji (2019)

Japanese detective Kenzo Mori (Takehiro Hira) has a lot on his plate in the crime series Giri/Haji. When Kenzo’s brother Yuto (Yosuke Kubozuka) is accused of killing a powerful criminal’s nephew, the detective follows Yuto to an unfamiliar London not only to find his brother but to figure out if he’s truly a murderer. Like its title, Giri/Haji splits its time and focus in ways that shouldn’t work but do — divided between Japan and the U.K., between Japanese and English, and even occasionally transitioning to different visuals like black and white and animation. At the same time, it delivers a violent and beautifully filmed crime story. Despite near-universal acclaim — including being nominated for three British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards, with Will Sharpe taking one home — Giri/Haji was canceled after only one series. But the eight episodes of this stylish near-perfect thriller are available on Netflix for streaming.

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Crazyhead (2016)

• IMDb: 7.3/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Comedy

• Cast: Cara Theobold, Susan Wokoma, Arinzé Kene

• Created by: Howard Overman

The United Kingdom has had some Buffy the Vampire Slayer-adjacent shows before, but Crazyhead may be the closest thing there is to a British Buffy. Cara Theobold stars as Amy, a young woman who has doubted her own sanity for years. That’s because Amy can see the demons hidden among us. Amy’s life changes forever when she meets Raquel Francis (Susan Wokoma), a fellow seer who has taken it upon herself to become a demon hunter. However, Raquel is more closely tied to the demon world than she believes, and her newfound connection to Amy only multiplies their problems.

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After Life (2019)

• Metacritic: 60%

• IMDb: 8.4/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 2

• Genre: Comedy, Drama

• Cast: Ricky Gervais, Tom Basden, Kerry Godliman

• Created by: Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais created and stars in After Life, a series that brilliantly mixes dark comedy and drama. Gervais plays Tony Johnson, a happily married man, thanks to Lisa Johnson (Kerry Godliman). But when Lisa dies from breast cancer, Tony’s lone reason to keep on living is their dog, Brandy. To deal with his overpowering grief for his wife, Tony tries to take on a meaner persona and get his revenge on the world. Much to Tony’s surprise, the residents of his hometown, Tambury, seem determined to help him move past his depression … whether he wants them to or not.

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Attenborough’s Life in Colour (2021)

David Attenborough is now in his mid-90s, yet he shows no sign of taking a break from presenting awe-inspiring nature documentaries anytime soon. His latest, Life in Colour, explores how animals use color to navigate their own worlds. Unsurprisingly, the splashes of bright colors throughout the series create exquisite and unforgettable visuals. There were several camera technologies developed specifically for the series that provide further visual aids to viewers seeing color through a new light. The show is naturally reminiscent of Planet Earth, but with more of a technological focus as well as a less overt environmental message — the pictures paint the scene well enough in that regard.

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Outlander (2014)

• Metacritic: 76%

• IMDb: 8.4/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 6

• Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

• Cast: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Richard Rankin

• Created by: Ronald D. Moore

The British know how to tell a romance story, and this adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s popular fantasy-romance series has been captivating swooning audiences for years. The time-traveling tale follows a married British combat nurse as she departs World War II for 1743 Scotland, where she falls in love with a Scottish warrior. Torn between two times, the crossed lovers must carry the weight of centuries between them.

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Nadiya Bakes (2020)

• Metacritic: 80%

• IMDb: 7.1/10

• Rated: TV-G

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Documentary

• Cast: Nadiya Hussein

Baking shows have proven to be real comfort food to many over the past year, with people turning to The Great British Baking Show en masse. Season 6 winner Nadiya Hussein returns to the screen with her new show, Nadiya Bakes, which shows Hussein creating some delectable classics from the comfort of the kitchen. She’s had several shows air on BBC Two and make their way to Netflix, with this being the latest for one of the competition show’s most memorable victors.

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The English Game (2020)

• Metacritic: 62%

• IMDb: 7.9/10

• Rated: TV-14

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Drama

• Cast: Edward Holcroft, Kevin Guthrie, Charlotte Hope, Niamh Walsh

• Created by: Julian Fellowes, Oliver Cotton, Tony Charles

Sports are major business these days, but in the late 19th century, the idea of a “professional” league of players getting paid to play seemed like a fantasy. The English Game dramatizes the transformation of football (soccer) as it went from a game for the wealthy to a sport for the masses. Kevin Guthrie stars as Fergus Suter, a player recruited to leave his working-class football team behind to join an elite team. Fergus’ decision alienates some of his former teammates, but his journey helped redefine sports.

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The Ripper (2020)

• IMDb: 7.1/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Documentary, Crime

• Cast: Alan Whitehouse, Keith Hellawell, Bruce Jones

• Created by: Jesse Vile, Ellena Wood

Over four decades ago, the Yorkshire Ripper terrorized England as he killed 13 women and nearly claimed the lives of seven more women during a five-year period. The Ripper is a true-crime series that looks back at the killer’s reign of terror with survivors and family members of the victims. The investigators and reporters who worked on the case also share their own intimate stories as they tried to bring a dark chapter in British history to a close.

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Secrets of Great British Castles (2015)

• IMDb: 7.8/10

• Rated: TV-PG

• Seasons: 2

• Genre: Documentary

• Cast: Dan Jones

• Created by: Dan Jones

Castles capture the imagination as few structures can, and they remain living reminders of history. Historian Dan Jones created and starred in Secrets of Great British Castles, a 12-part documentary series that was split across two seasons. Each episode focuses on a single castle and explores the history and background that went into its creation and eventual function. Only the second season is currently on Netflix, but there are still plenty of enticing castle stories awaiting the curious.

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The Innocents (2018)

• Metacritic: 70%

• IMDb: 6.3/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama

• Cast: Sorcha Groundsell, Percelle Ascott, Guy Pearce

• Created by: Simon Duric, Hania Elkington

At first glance, The Innocents could be mistaken for a typical Young Adults drama. Teenagers June McDaniel (Sorcha Groundsell) and Harry Polk (Percelle Ascott) love each other, but they feel the need to run away to fully be together and to be free of their past. However, June’s emerging shapeshifting ability casts the young lovers into an unexpected supernatural underworld. Guy Pearce co-stars as Bendik “Ben” Halvorson, an enigmatic man who has gathered other shifters at his Sanctum. Halvorson’s motives aren’t exactly pure, but he’s far from the only danger waiting for June and Harry on the road ahead.

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Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969)

• IMDb: 8.8/10

• Rated: TV-14

• Seasons: 4

• Genre: Comedy

• Cast: Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Terry Jones

• Created by: Ian MacNaughton, John Howard Davies

Legendary comedy group Monty Python created and starred in this sketch comedy series that premiered way back in 1969 and continued for four seasons (series, rather, as they say in the U.K.). Featuring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam, skits focused on absurd situations, observational humor, and lots of innuendo. Get some hearty belly laughs while watching the six main Pythons along with supporting cast members like Carol Cleveland and Connie Booth tackle issues around British life with an intellectual maturity that is second to none.

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Crashing (2016)

• Metacritic: 73%

• IMDb: 7.7/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Comedy

• Cast: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jonathan Bailey, Julie Dray

• Created by: Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Not to be confused with the American HBO comedy-drama of the same name that streams via HBO Max, this British comedy-drama originally aired on Channel 4 back in 2016. Created, written by, and starring multi-Emmy winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve), it’s a six-part series about six 20-somethings living together in a disused hospital. They get cheap rent but, in exchange, they are tasked with caring for the property and keeping the building safe. Despite the familiar formula of six eclectic friends living in close quarters to one another, the unusual setting and Waller-Bridge’s signature spin on both the writing and her character make it a refreshing departure from the norm.

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Collateral (2018)

• Metacritic: 74%

• IMDb: 6.8/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Drama, Crime, Mystery

• Cast: Carey Mulligan, Billie Piper, Jeany Spark

• Created by: David Hare

This four-part British drama serial is an atypical police procedural that follows the story of Kip Glaspie (Carey Mulligan), a detective inspector looking into the murder of a pizza delivery man that balloons into something much bigger. As Sir David Hare’s first original series for television, his reputation preceded him with a pair of Academy Award nominations for The Hours and The Reader as well as plenty of success as a playwright. Co-produced by Netflix and released in 2018, it has been criticized for the overcrowded script, but strong performances by the cast make it a worthy watch.

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The Great British Bake Off (2010)

• IMDb: 8.5/10

• Rated: TV-PG

• Seasons: 9

• Genre: Reality

• Cast: Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith

• Created by: Andy Devonshire

Called The Great British Bake Off in the U.K., this baking series pits aspiring bakers against one another as they bake classic dishes outlined by the hosts and judges, showing their skills on both the technical and creative sides. Starring Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood, and Prue Leith as judges, your mouth will be watering as you watch the contestants bake everything from basic cookies (er, biscuits) to more elaborate cakes and pastries. The oddest (and best) part about this reality show? They’re all nice to each other!

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Bodyguard (2018)

• Metacritic: 79%

• IMDb: 8.1/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: War & Politics, Crime, Drama

• Cast: Richard Madden, Keeley Hawes, Sophie Rundle

• Created by: Jed Mercurio

You’ll recognize the lead character in this series, Richard Madden, from his role as Robb Stark in Game of Thrones. He plays a police sergeant and British Army war veteran named David Budd who is suffering from PTSD. He is assigned to protect Home Secretary Julia Montague, with whom he disagrees politically, making for some tension and moral ambiguity. The series has been lauded for its commentary on government monitoring of private information as well the spotlight it sheds on PTSD. It’s also landed Madden in the conversation as the next James Bond.

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Dracula (2020)

• Metacritic: 75%

• IMDb: 6.8/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure

• Cast: Claes Bang, Dolly Wells, Mark Gatiss

• Created by: Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat, Claes Bang, Dolly Wells

How do you follow a wildly successful modern reboot of Sherlock Holmes? Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat decided that their Sherlock follow-up project would center on another Victorian literary icon: Dracula. While the new Dracula takes a few pointers from Bram Stoker’s original novel, Gatiss and Moffat have refocused the narrative to make Claes Bang’s Count Dracula the hero of his own show — even as he brutally murders several people along the way. The series also takes a few creative liberties with the story, as Dracula’s conflict with the Van Helsing family plays out across generations. It’s a delicious update on the classic tale, and we’re chomping at the bit to see if Dracula will get another season to haunt modern viewers yet again.

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Lovesick (2014)

Originally titled Scrotal Recall (really), this series started on Channel 4 and was commissioned as a Netflix original for seasons 2 and 3. It follows a group of friends living together in a house in Glasgow, Scotland, and their sexual exploits and blunders. From secret crushes to STD diagnoses, episodes are told mostly through flashbacks in the first season as the main character Dylan Witter (Johnny Flynn) attempts to contact all former sexual partners following a chlamydia diagnosis.

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The End of the F***ing World (2017)

• IMDb: 8.1/10

• Rated: TV-MA

• Seasons: 2

• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Crime

• Cast: Alex Lawther, Jessica Barden, Naomi Ackie

• Created by: Charlie Covell, Jonathan Entwistle (based on the graphic novel by)

Based on the Charles Forsman mini-comics of the same name, this dark comedy-drama follows the life of 17-year-old James (Alex Lawther), who thinks he’s a psychopath. He befriends classmate Alyssa (Jessica Barden), who latches onto him to escape her troubled home life. Charlie Covell, who wrote the series, has said she does not plan to produce a third season. So check out the two, eight-episode seasons that have been praised for their taut balance of misanthropy and humor.

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Get Even (2020)

• IMDb: 6.5/10

• Rated: TV-PG

• Seasons: 1

• Genre: Drama, Crime

• Cast: Kim Adis, Jessica Alexander, Bethany Antonia

• Created by: Holly Phillips

When a group of school-aged girls decides to form a group called DMG (Don’t Get Mad) to take down school bullies, they get more than they bargained for. One student is murdered, a note left in their hand that reads “DMG,” suggesting the crew was responsible for the death. The British teen thriller, which first premiered on BBC iPlayer in February, is adapted from the book series Don’t Get Mad by Gretchen McNeil.

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