Many of these series are best enjoyed with a cup of tea.

The 22 best British TV shows and where to stream them

Many of these series are best enjoyed with a cup of tea.

By Declan Gallagher

and Ilana Gordon

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

on July 21, 2025 09:38AM EDT

Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk in 'Cunk on Earth'; Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Curtis Donovan on 'Misfits'; Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri on 'Killing Eve'. Credit:

Netflix/Courtesy Everett; Clerkenwell Films; Anika Molnar/BBCA

In 2026, Americans will celebrate 250 years of independence from Great Britain. But historical differences aside, on this side of the Atlantic, there's nothing but respect for the United Kingdom's television exports. While most people have heard of hits like *Black Mirror *and *Downton Abbey*, allow EW to introduce you to other excellent series, from critically acclaimed dramas like *Adolescence* to lesser-known series like *Misfits*.

Read on as ** names the 22 best British shows that are streaming.

Adolescence (2025)

Mark Stanley as Paulie Barlow, Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, and Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in 'Adolescence'.

Courtesy of Netflix

One of the most talked-about pieces of television to emerge so far in 2025 is *Adolescence* — a British crime drama about 13-year-old Jamie Miller, who is accused of murdering his classmate, with each of its four episodes shot in one continuous take. The technical execution of the project is thrilling, and so is the show’s depiction of how modern media affects the minds and actions of teenage boys.

Young actor Owen Cooper makes a brilliant debut as Jamie, and the scenes between him and his therapist (Erin Doherty) in episode 3 are some of the most affecting examples of storytelling in recent history. A miniseries that feels especially relevant as talk of incels and loneliness epidemics becomes more mainstream, *Adolescence *gets deep about what teenage boyhood really looks like today. *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Adolescence*: Netflix

**Director: ** Philip Barantini

**Cast: **Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, Mark Stanley, Jo Hartley, Amélie Pease

Black Mirror (2011–present)

Myha'la as Pia and Samuel Blenkin as Davis McCardle in a season 6 episode of 'Black Mirror'. Netflix

Charlie Brooker’s magnificent anthology series is one of the only examples of the form that rivals *The Twilight Zone* for mind-boggling twists and reality-shattering thrills. You could make a case for nearly every episode of *Black Mirror* being the series’ best, but its structure allows you to hop in wherever you’d like. (The show is oddly rewarding for those who tackle it in non-consecutive order.)

The pilot is always a good place to start, succinctly establishing the show’s subversive tone and worldview, but the much-discussed “San Junipero” (season 3, episode 4) is also a worthy (if less-twisted) launching point into *Black Mirror*’s bleak universe. *—Declan Gallagher*

Where to watch *Black Mirror*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Cast:** Bryce Dallas Howard, Hayley Atwell, Jon Hamm, Anthony Mackie, Daniel Kaluuya, Salma Hayek**

Broadchurch (2013–2017)

Olivia Colman as D.S. Ellie Miller and David Tennant as D.I. Alec Hardy on 'Broadchurch'. ITV

Olivia Colman and David Tennant star as dower detectives investigating the murder of a young boy in this British series, which is essentially patient zero for every crime-busting Britbox show from the last decade. There are no better leads for *Broadchurch* than Colman and Tennant, two actors firing on all cylinders here. (For Colman die-hards, this is a pivotal but oddly under-discussed part of her career.)

Set in soggy coastal England, *Broadchurch* distinguishes itself from many similar series through the titular community’s witty cast of characters. Viewers will be pleased to find three seasons' worth of cases that are properly beguiling and sometimes a bit spooky. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Broadchurch*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade: **A–

**Cast: **David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker, Jonathan Bailey

Catastrophe (2015–2019)

Sharon Horgan as Sharon Morris and Rob Delaney as Rob Norris on 'Catastrophe'. Mark Johnson/Amazon Prime Video

Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney created and starred in this terrific sitcom about a one-night stand that turns into a most unexpected partnership. *Catastrophe* established Horgan as a stellar comedic voice on par with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Issa Rae, and Tina Fey — and it made quite a star out of Delaney, as well.

Their show is an indelible combination of hard jokes and genuine pathos; one minute you’ll be gasping that they just *went there,* while the next you may get choked up by relatable and authentic developments. It’s a tremendous, high-wire emotional balancing act. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Catastrophe*: Amazon Prime Video

**Cast: **Sharon Horgan, Rob Delaney

Cunk on Earth (2022)

Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk in 'Cunk on Earth'.

Netflix/Everett

Comedian Diane Morgan stars in this miniseries as Philomena Cunk, a hopelessly daft television presenter who travels the world to interview (very real) experts about topics that make human existence so confounding.

One could compare Morgan’s schtick to *Borat*, but that wouldn’t be giving her proper credit. Where Sacha Baron Cohen uses his characters to expose flaws in others, Morgan crafts an opposite approach that makes herself the butt of the joke. It’s a gentler but no less hysterical spin on the mockumentary format. Our only complaint is that there are too few episodes. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Cunk on Earth*: Netflix

**Cast: **Diane Morgan

Derry Girls (2018–2022)

The cast of 'Derry Girls'.

Courtesy of Netflix

This compulsively rewatchable series follows a handful of defiant Catholic school girls in Derry, Ireland, during the Troubles. Much like *Catastrophe*, *Derry Girls* combines irreverent farce with weightier issues that sometimes take you by surprise but never betray the series’ light-hearted metier. It may seem an odd comparison, but *Derry Girls* is as if the Sarah Jessica Parker classic *Girls Just Want to Have Fun* had a one-night stand with Kenneth Branagh’s *Belfast*. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Derry Girls*: Netflix

**Cast:** Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Nicola Coughlan, Louisa Harland, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, Dylan Llewellyn, Siobhán McSweeney

Doctor Who (1963–present)

Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday and Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor on 'Doctor Who'.

Lara Cornell/Bad Wolf/BBC Studio

The seminal time-traveling sci-fi series remains one of Britain’s most beloved entertainment exports. Many actors have assumed the titular role over the years, with recent iterations including David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker, and Peter Capaldi. With Ncuti Gatwa playing the Fifteenth Doctor in the most recent seasons on Disney+, *Doctor Who* segued into an exciting new territory.

Gatwa approaches the role with a childlike wonder that’s both charming and quite fun to watch, lending the series an even more overtly playful, popcorn tone. It was revealed at the end of Gatwa's second season that (SPOILER ALERT) he's exiting, with Billie Piper presumably becoming the Sixteenth Doctor. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Doctor Who*: Max and Disney+

**Cast: **William Hartnell, Patrick Throughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, John Hurt, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Michael Jayston, Jodie Whittaker, Ncuti Gatwa

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Downton Abbey (2010–2015)

The cast of 'Downton Abbey'. Masterpiece

An take on *Upstairs Downstairs*, *Downton Abbey* follows the residents and staff of the eponymous Yorkshire estate across five seasons (and two movies, with a third on the way on Sept. 12), from the early-1900s through the First World War and into the late-1920s.

Escapist but never lightweight, *Downton Abbey* is a high watermark for British costume dramas — which is really saying something. It combines the sweep of classic literature with pulpy soap opera and a bit of a history lesson enacted by some of Britain’s best thespians. Chief among them is the late and especially great Dame Maggie Smith, who gave one of her most powerful and enduring performances as the prim and wise Violet Crawley. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Downton Abbey*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade: **B (read the review)

**Cast: **Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Siobhan Finneran, Maggie Smith

Fleabag (2016–2019)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Fleabag and Andrew Scott as the Priest in season 2 of 'Fleabag'. Steve Schofield/Amazon Studios

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s signature series, based on her equally compelling one-woman show of the same name, sees her play the titular wayward thirtysomething, a sexually liberated woman running a guinea pig cafe. Our awkward hero copes with grief through humor while navigating relationships with her type-A sister (Sian Clifford), her nasty stepmother (Olivia Colman), and, in season 2, a hot priest (Andrew Scott).

*Fleabag*’s greatest achievement is how well it evolves its characters and their personal tragedies in just two short seasons with sub-30-minute episodes. The series is a straight-faced coming-of-age yarn, but Waller-Bridge also deconstructs the rom-com mythos of the kooky, free-spirited single woman through well-executed fourth-wall breaks and wry, heartbreaking writing. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Fleabag*: Amazon Prime Video

**Cast: **Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Sian Clifford, Andrew Scott

Gavin & Stacey (2007–2024)

Matthew Horne as Gavin Shipman, Joanna Page as Stacey Shipman, James Corden as Neil 'Smithy' Smith, and Ruth Jones as Nessa Jenkins on 'Gavin & Stacey'.

BBC/Courtesy Everett

This British series sees big-city businessman Gavin Shipman (Mathew Horne) fall in love with small-town Welsh girl Nessa Jenkins (Ruth Jones) through clandestine late-night phone calls. When they finally meet in person and fall deeply in love, their courtship rankles their respective close friends (James Corden and Joanna Page).

Eminently rewatchable, *Gavin and Stacey* is one of the merriest of BBC sitcoms. It evokes the small details of long-lasting friendships and family relationships, and the show’s respect for its characters is always evident even as the jokes become increasingly broad. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Gavin & Stacey*: BritBox

**Cast:** Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, James Corden, Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, Larry Lamb, Melanie Walters

Ghosts (2019–2023)

The cast of the original U.K. 'Ghosts'.

This wry and supremely well-crafted sitcom follows Alison (Charlotte Ritchie), a young woman who inherits a decaying manse from a departed family member only to discover that it’s chock-a-block with ghosts from vastly different eras.

*Ghosts* fits within the innuendo-laden vein of *Are You Being Served?*, but is also a grounded and somewhat poignant examination of separate generations learning to co-exist as one. It’s an interesting, lightweight spin on the domestic sitcom with enough horror flourishes to delight the average genre fan. (And, yes, there is a U.S. version of *Ghosts*.) *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Ghosts*: Paramount+

**Cast: **Charlotte Ritchie, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Martha Howe-Douglas, Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Lolly Adefope, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond, Katy Wix, Jim Howick

Heartstopper (2022–2024)

Joe Locke as Charlie Spring and Kit Connor as Nick Nelson on 'Heartstopper'. Teddy Cavendish/Netflix

Netflix’s adaptation of Alice Oseman’s graphic novels is a respectful yet passionate paean to first love. Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke) are two high school outcasts whose friendship slowly blossoms into something more as they navigate the societal expectations of their peers and parents.

*Heartstopper* is one of the few teen-centric romance/drama series that stands alongside older-skewing shows in terms of writing and production quality. There is an emphatic truthfulness to the story and the performances that anchor it, which is both refreshing and innovative. Though the series ended after season 3, Nick and Charlie's story will properly wrap up with an upcoming feature film. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Heartstopper*: Netflix

**Cast: **Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney

Killing Eve (2018–2022)

Jodie Comer as Villanelle and Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri on 'Killing Eve'. Robert Viglasky/BBCAmerica

Another hit British series produced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, *Killing Eve* has no shortage of cultural impact. MI5 security officer Eve (Sandra Oh) becomes infatuated with master criminal Villanelle (Jodie Comer), who represents a glamor that eludes Eve in her pencil-pushing day job.

What begins as a fairly straightforward (though riotously paced) spy procedural slowly morphs into something much more subversive and, dare we say, erotic (in a thoughtful sort of way). All the while, Oh and Comer’s slow dance of antagonism crossed with infatuation is some of the most thrilling acting in recent television memory. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Killing Eve*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+ (read the review)

**Cast: **Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, Fiona Shaw, Kim Bodnia

Luther (2010–2019)

Idris Elba as John Luther on 'Luther'.

BritBox International

Idris Elba stars as the titular detective investigating brutal murder cases in this increasingly depraved psychological thriller, which is a spiritual cross between *Dexter* and *The Wire*. Elba’s Luther is a terrific, haunted antihero who has more in common with the killers he hunts than he’d likely care to admit. This is on the harder-edged side of British procedurals, with Elba displaying a fascinating duality in a series that isn’t afraid to probe the darker recesses of its characters’ psyches. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Luther*: BritBox

**Cast: **Idris Elba, Dermot Crowley, Michael Smiley, Warren Brown, Ruth Wilson

Misfits (2009–2015)

(Clockwise from left): Iwan Rheon as Simon Bellamy, Robert Sheehan as Nathan Young, Lauren Socha as Kelly Bailey, Antonia Thomas as Alisha Daniels, and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Curtis Donovan on 'Misfits'.

Clerkenwell Films

This terrific teen superhero show preempted a great deal of the Marvel/DC Universe output, and for our money, it’s more consistent than better-known fare. The British series concerns a group of juvenile delinquents (chavs, really) who are accidentally imbued with incredible powers after getting caught in an electrical storm.

*Misfits* is a great example of a show for a teenage audience that respects its demographic rather than talking down to them. It does a masterful job of interweaving sci-fi/action plotting with thoughtful, well-placed beats about adolescent confusion — which is often far more vexing than any acquired supernatural ability. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Misfits*: Peacock

**Cast:** Iwan Rheon, Robert Sheehan, Lauren Socha, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Antonia Thomas

The Office (2001–2003)

Mackenzie Crook as Gareth Keenan, Ricky Gervais as David Brent, Lucy Davis as Dawn Tinsley, and Martin Freeman as Tim Canterbury on 'The Office'.

BBC/Courtesy Everett Collection

Ricky Gervais’ seminal mockumentary about a desperate middle manager (Gervais) of a London-based paper company set the tone for many cringe comedy sitcoms (and movies) that followed in the early 2000s. And of course, it birthed the better-known NBC remake of the same name.

No one does this sort of thing better than Gervais, though. He has a distinct ability to tease out empathy from awkwardness in scenarios that could otherwise seem mean-spirited or ill-conceived. Each of the two seasons is wonderfully structured. If Gervais never matches the excellence of this work, it’s only because *The Office* set such a high bar. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Office*: Hulu

**Cast:** Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis, Stirling Gallacher, Oliver Chris, Ralph Ineson, Patrick Baladi, Stacey Roca, Elizabeth Berrington

Peaky Blinders (2013–2022)

Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby on 'Peaky Blinders'. Everett Collection

Just when you thought the gangster drama had said all there was to say, *Peaky Blinders* came blazing onto the scene, reinventing the genre with a combination of skillful writing, galvanizing performances, and a modern (but never anachronistic) flair.

World War I veteran Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) rules the titular crime family with an iron fist and a sharp blade. When given an opportunity to segue into a more legitimate business, Tommy risks hide and hair, going up against British and Irish brutes to make himself a fortune. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Peaky Blinders*: Netflix

**Cast: **Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson

The Responder (2022–2024)

Adelayo Adedayo as Rachel Hargreaves and Martin Freeman as Chris Carson on 'The Responder'. BBC

Martin Freeman stars in this police drama as Chris Carson, a has-been urgent response officer tasked with working endless night shifts in gritty London opposite his less experienced but still game partner (Adelayo Adedayo).

*The Responder* is a compelling variation on the procedural format, sharing more in common with American series like *The Wire* and *True Detective* than it does *Broadchurch* or *Shetland*. Freeman, so adept as a likable guy and a bit of a ne’er-do-well, displays an altogether tougher (and dare we say steely) demeanor, which has us hankering to see him in more morally dubious action roles. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Responder*: BritBox

**Cast: **Martin Freeman, Adelayo Adedayo, Warren Brown, MyAnna Buring, Emily Fairn, Josh Finan, Faye McKeever, Philip S. McGuinness, Mark Womack, Rita Tushingham, Ian Hart

Sherlock (2010–2017)

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson on 'Sherlock'.

Colin Hutton/BBC/Courtesy Everett Collection

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the titular Baker Street sleuth while Martin Freeman plays his doting companion, Watson. *Sherlock* is an effortless update of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s seminal detective novels, one that’s brilliantly modernized while retaining all of the source material’s classical charms. The series is witty, thrilling, and touching — usually all at once — and features a few of the most stunningly realized twists in recent television. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Sherlock*: Hulu

**Cast:** Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman

Shetland (2013–present)

Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez and Catherine Walker as Alice Brooks on 'Shetland'. BritBox

Along with *Broadchurch*, *Shetland* is the prototypical drizzly British procedural. DI Jimmy Perez (Douglas Henshall) patrols the eponymous rainy isle, where many people go missing and even more have a propensity for turning up dead.

More serious than *Broadchurch* (though not by much), *Shetland *has similarly witty characters while going a bit deeper into the emotional chaos of it all. Henshall is a hoot as the tortured inspector, though the series has recently taken on a new dimension with the addition of Ashley Jensen (so brilliant in Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood satire *Extras*) as the formidable DI Ruth Calder. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Shetland*: BritBox

**Cast: **Douglas Henshall, Alison O'Donnell, Steven Robertson, Lewis Howden, Erin Armstrong, Mark Bonnar

Skins (2007–2013)

The cast of 'Skins'. Everett Collection

It’s safe to say that without *Skins* there would be no *Euphoria*. Taking inspiration from *Degrassi*, *Skins* follows a group of teens in dead-end Bristol who spice up their dull middle school existences with drinking, drugging, and saucy instant messaging (remember that?). For those who perhaps find *Euphoria* a touch too harrowing (or exaggerated) to watch, *Skins* provides a perfect middle-ground with more authentic adolescent experiences that still flirt with darkness. That said, it’s probably best not to watch this one with your parents… *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Skins*: Hulu

**Cast: **Nicholas Hoult, Hannah Murray, Larissa Wilson, Joe Dempsie, Mike Bailey, Mitch Hewer, Dev Patel

Slow Horses (2022–present)

Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb on 'Slow Horses'. Jack English/Apple TV+

Gary Oldman stars as the brilliantly repugnant Jackson Lamb, a crude government agent tasked with overseeing the MI5’s division of “slough horses” — those who have screwed up in the line of duty and now have nowhere to go but down.

*Slow Horses*, based on the book series by Mick Herron, is raucous, often anxiety-producing, and a bit grosser than you’ve come to expect from British shows. It’s also one of the most exciting programs currently on television. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Slow Horses*: Apple TV+

**Cast: **Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce

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