Best British TV Shows
by bethsps | created - 01 Apr 2017 | updated - 05 Apr 2017 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Blackadder (1982–1983)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
In the Middle Ages, Prince Edmund the Black Adder constantly schemes and endeavors to seize the crown from his father and brother.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Brian Blessed, Elspet Gray, Tim McInnerny
Votes: 41,100
2. Blackadder II (1986)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
In the Tudor court of Elizabeth I, Lord Edmund Blackadder strives to win Her Majesty's favour while attempting to avoid a grisly fate should he offend her.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson
Votes: 49,917
3. Blackadder the Third (1987)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
In the Regency era, Mr E. Blackadder serves as butler to the foppish numskull Prince George amidst the fads and crazes of the time.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Helen Atkinson Wood
Votes: 47,117
4. Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, War
Stuck in the middle of World War I, Captain Edmund Blackadder does his best to escape the banality of the war.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie
Votes: 56,905
5. The Vicar of Dibley (1994–2020)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy
A boisterous female minister comes to serve in an eccentricly conservative small town's church.
Stars: Dawn French, James Fleet, Trevor Peacock, Gary Waldhorn
Votes: 15,497
6. Little Britain (2003–2006)
TV-MA | 29 min | Comedy
Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the creators of this character-comedy sketch show, delight in all that is mad, bad, quirky and generally bonkers about the people and places of Britain.
Stars: Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Tom Baker, Paul Putner
Votes: 26,151
7. The Catherine Tate Show (2004–2009)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy
Sketches by Catherine Tate and her comedy troupe.
Stars: Catherine Tate, Mathew Horne, Niky Wardley, Derren Litten
Votes: 4,299
8. The Moorside (2017)
TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A two-part drama about the search for missing Yorkshire schoolgirl Shannon Matthews in 2008.
Stars: Sheridan Smith, Sian Brooke, Faye McKeever, John Dagleish
Votes: 3,067
9. Happy Valley (2014–2023)
TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Yorkshire-based crime drama centering on the personal and professional life of Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood.
Stars: Sarah Lancashire, Siobhan Finneran, James Norton, Rhys Connah
Votes: 64,689
10. This Is England '90 (2015)
55 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
The year is 1990, the rave scene has just entered England. The sound of the Stone roses lurks toward Shaun and the gang. This means that Woody and Lol are living in a domestic bliss, they are happy again. But this year will see huge changes in everyone. This is the year 1990. This is England.
Stars: Lyra Mae Thomas, Chanel Cresswell, Vicky McClure, Joe Gilgun
Votes: 9,550
11. This Is England '88 (2011)
TV-MA | 48 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Christmas 1988. Soulmates Woody and Lol find themselves in exile from each other and the gang. Trying to understand the definition 'growing up', Shaun begins a course at College, that quickly takes a wrong turn.
Stars: Andrew Ellis, Andrew Shim, Chanel Cresswell, Charlotte Tyree
Votes: 11,566
12. This Is England '86 (2010)
TV-MA | 47 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Shaun has just finished his final exams and he realizes he is no longer a kid. It's mid 80's England, and the gang are back, looking for a laugh, a job and something that resembles a future.
Stars: Andrew Ellis, Andrew Shim, Chanel Cresswell, Danielle Watson
Votes: 14,511
13. Skins (2007–2013)
TV-MA | 46 min | Drama
The story of a group of British teens who are trying to grow up and find love and happiness despite questionable parenting and teachers who would rather be friends (and lovers) than authority figures.
Stars: Kaya Scodelario, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Dempsie, Hannah Murray
Votes: 93,143
14. The Inbetweeners (2008–2010)
TV-14 | 25 min | Comedy
Follows four friends and their antics during their final years of school.
Stars: Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison, Joe Thomas
Votes: 94,427
15. Friday Night Dinner (2011–2020)
TV-14 | 24 min | Comedy
Two siblings share their Friday-night dinners at their parents' home and, somehow, something always goes wrong.
Stars: Tamsin Greig, Simon Bird, Paul Ritter, Tom Rosenthal
Votes: 22,232
16. The Royle Family (1998–2012)
45 min | Comedy
A British sitcom about the everyday life of a working-class family in Northwest England: watching telly, smoking, drinking, and bickering.
Stars: Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash, Sue Johnston, Ricky Tomlinson
Votes: 9,090
17. Shameless (2004–2013)
TV-MA | 90 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
The lives and relationships of a group of siblings and their estranged father Frank Gallagher on a rough Manchester estate.
Stars: David Threlfall, Rebecca Atkinson, Alice Barry, Nicky Evans
Votes: 18,489
18. Misfits (2009–2013)
TV-MA | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
A group of young offenders doing community service gets struck by lightning during a storm and start to develop superpowers.
Stars: Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Joe Gilgun, Iwan Rheon, Lauren Socha
Votes: 107,388
19. Cold Feet (1997–2020)
TV-PG | 45 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
The show follows the lives of 30-something couples Adam and Rachel, Pete and Jenny, and David and Karen as they navigate love and life in Manchester.
Stars: James Nesbitt, Robert Bathurst, John Thomson, Hermione Norris
Votes: 4,813
20. National Treasure (2016)
TV-MA | 48 min | Drama
Paul Finchley (Robbie Coltrane) is a bona fide "national treasure", one half of a popular, long-running comedy double act. However, the famous comedian's world is thrown into chaos when he is accused of historic sexual abuse.
Stars: Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters, Andrea Riseborough, Babou Ceesay
Votes: 3,299
21. Marcella (2016–2021)
TV-MA | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Marcella Backland left the Metropolitan Police for the sake of her family, only to have her husband leave her. She returns to her job on the murder squad, investigating a case that seems disturbingly familiar to her.
Stars: Anna Friel, Ray Panthaki, Jack Doolan, Jamie Bamber
Votes: 37,299
22. Bad Education (2012–2024)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
Comedy series about a teacher who is a bigger kid than the kids he teaches.
Stars: Layton Williams, Mathew Horne, Charlie Wernham, Jack Whitehall
Votes: 13,733
23. Siblings (I) (2014–2016)
Comedy
Siblings living together and the various crazy situations that ensue when they interact with other people.
Stars: Charlotte Ritchie, Tom Stourton, Stella Gonet, Matthew Steer
Votes: 1,408
24. Man Down (2013–2017)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy
A deadbeat drama teacher gets a wake-up call when his girlfriend leaves him.
Stars: Greg Davies, Roisin Conaty, Mike Wozniak, Gwyneth Powell
Votes: 5,247
25. Big School (2013–2014)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
Deputy Head of Science, Mr Church has been at Greybridge School for 15 years. He is about to resign after a dramatic experiment. However, the arrival of the new French teacher changes everything.
Stars: David Walliams, Catherine Tate, Philip Glenister, Frances de la Tour
Votes: 2,119
26. Cuckoo (II) (2012– )
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
Cuckoo is every parent's worst nightmare - a slacker full of outlandish, New Age ideas.
Stars: Greg Davies, Helen Baxendale, Tyger Drew-Honey, Kenneth Collard
Votes: 10,677
27. Educating Yorkshire (2013–2014)
47 min | Documentary, Drama, Reality-TV
Documentary following the trials and tribulations of Thornhill Community Academy in Dewsbury, Yorkshire.
Stars: David Clews, Jonny Mitchell, Mr. Steer, Matthew Burton
Votes: 337
28. Educating Essex (2011)
48 min | Documentary
A group of GCSE students face the most important year in their education.
Stars: David Clews, Stephen Drew, Mr. Goddard, Chloe Walker
Votes: 203
29. Gogglebox (2013– )
50 min | Reality-TV
Some of Britain's most opinionated and avid TV viewers comment freely on the best and worst television shows of the past week, from the comfort of their sofas.
Stars: Craig Cash, Ralf Woerdenweber, Josh Tapper, Alex Michael
Votes: 2,984
30. Underage and Pregnant (2009–2011)
30 min | Documentary
The real stories of life as a pregnant schoolgirl and teenage mother.
Stars: Natalie Cassidy, Megan Clara
Votes: 17
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