Many of these series are best enjoyed with a cup of tea.
Read on asEntertainment Weeklynames the 22 best British shows streaming right now.
(The show is oddly rewarding for those who tackle it in non-consecutive order.)
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
There are no better leads forBroadchurchthan 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.)
Its a tremendous, high-wire emotional balancing act.D.G.
Mark Stanley as Paulie Hunter, Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, and Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in ‘Adolescence’.Courtesy of Netflix
One could compare Morgans schtick toBorat, but that wouldnt be giving her proper credit.
Its a gentler but no less hysterical spin on the mockumentary format.
Our only complaint is that there are too few episodes.D.G.
Myha’la as Pia and Samuel Blenkin as Davis McCardle in a season 6 episode of ‘Black Mirror’.Netflix
Now withNcuti Gatwaplaying the Fifteenth Doctor in the latest season,Doctor Whohas segued into an exciting new territory.
Escapist but never lightweight,Downton Abbeyis a high watermark for British costume dramas which is really saying something.
Eminently rewatchable,Gavin and Staceyis one of the merriest ofBBCsitcoms.
Olivia Colman as D.S. Ellie Miller and David Tennant as D.I. Alec Hardy on ‘Broadchurch’.ITV
(And, yes, there is a U.S. version ofGhosts.)D.G.
And of course, it birthed the better-knownNBC remakeof the same name.
No one does this sort of thing better than Gervais, though.
Sharon Horgan as Sharon Morris and Rob Delaney as Rob Norris on ‘Catastrophe’.Mark Johnson/Amazon Prime Video
Each of the two seasons is wonderfully structured.
If Gervais never matches the excellence of this work, its only becauseThe Officeset such a high bar.D.G.
That said, its probably best not to watch this one with your parents…D.G.
Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk in ‘Cunk on Earth’.Netflix/Everett
Its also one of the most exciting programs currently on television.D.G.
The cast of ‘Derry Girls’.Courtesy of Netflix
Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday and Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor on ‘Doctor Who’.Lara Cornell/Bad Wolf/BBC Studio
The cast of ‘Downton Abbey’.Masterpiece
Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Fleabag and Andrew Scott as the Priest in season 2 of ‘Fleabag’.Steve Schofield/Amazon Studios
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
The cast of the original U.K. ‘Ghosts’.BBC
Joe Locke as Charlie Spring and Kit Connor as Nick Nelson on ‘Heartstopper’.Teddy Cavendish/Netflix
Jodie Comer as Villanelle and Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri on ‘Killing Eve’.Robert Viglasky/BBCAmerica
Idris Elba as John Luther on ‘Luther’.BritBox International
(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
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
Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby on ‘Peaky Blinders’.Everett Collection
Adelayo Adedayo as Rachel Hargreaves and Martin Freeman as Chris Carson on ‘The Responder’.BBC
Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson on ‘Sherlock’.Colin Hutton/BBC/Courtesy Everett Collection
Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez and Catherine Walker as Alice Brooks on ‘Shetland’.BritBox
The cast of ‘Skins’.Everett Collection
Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb on ‘Slow Horses’.Jack English/Apple TV+
