British series and miniseries honorable mentions
by JetFred | created - 28 Nov 2022 | updated - 24 Apr 2023 | PublicI have lots of British television in my collection, so this list is for the overflow from my favorites. Some of these land here just because they are documentary series rather than comedy, or because they aren't available in well-archived full sets. This doesn't include animation, live shows, or movies and continuations that spun off of British TV series.
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Going Postal (2010)
TV-14 | 93 min | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
A con artist is conned into taking the job as Postmaster General in the Ankh-Morpork Post Office.
Stars: Richard Coyle, Charles Dance, David Suchet, Claire Foy
Votes: 9,792
2. Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982)
TV-PG | 25 min | Comedy
British sketch comedy starring the likes of Rowan Atkinson and Mel Smith.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith, Pamela Stephenson, Griff Rhys Jones
Votes: 2,802
3. As Time Goes By (1992–2005)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy, Romance
The Korean War, and a long lost letter, separate the lives of young lovers Jean Pargetter and Lionel Hardcastle, whose paths cross again by happenstance.
Stars: Judi Dench, Geoffrey Palmer, Moira Brooker, Philip Bretherton
Votes: 4,961
4. New Europe (2007– )
50 min | Documentary
With the Iron Curtain coming down in 1991, Michael Palin embarks on 20 countries tour from Balkans to Baltic of Central and Eastern Europe.
Stars: Michael Palin, Sevval Sam, Ilie Nastase, Lech Walesa
Votes: 747
5. At Last the 1948 Show (1967)
30 min | Comedy
Written by and starring The Goodies' Tim Brooke-Taylor, Monty Python's Graham Chapman and John Cleese, and comedy legend Marty Feldman, "At Last the 1948 Show" is a groundbreaking, splendidly silly and surreal sketch comedy series.
Stars: John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Marty Feldman
Votes: 588
6. Last Chance to See (2009–2010)
Documentary
Twenty years after Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine traveled the world in search of some of the most endangered animals, Stephen Fry joins Mark to retrace their journeys.
Stars: Stephen Fry, Mark Carwardine, Batian Craig, Peter Jackson
Votes: 544
7. Life (2009)
TV-G | 43 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's legendary BBC crew explains and shows wildlife all over planet earth. From giving an overview of the challenges facing life to hunting the deep sea and various major evolutionary groups of creatures.
Stars: Oprah Winfrey, David Attenborough, Doug Allan, Roger Munns
Votes: 42,818
8. Complete and Utter History of Britain (1969)
30 min | Comedy
A forerunner to 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', this sketch show looked at famous events in British history from a quirky perspective. Only one series was made, by the commercial channel London Weekend Television.
Stars: Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Wallas Eaton, Ted Carson
Votes: 88
9. The Buddha of Suburbia (1993)
222 min | Comedy, Drama
Karim's mother is English and his father is Indian. Therefore Karim has some problems with life in British society which is becoming more and more racist and intolerant; he experiences this especially when he pursues acting.
Stars: Naveen Andrews, Brenda Blethyn, Roshan Seth, David Bamber
Votes: 526
10. Doctor Who (1963–1989)
TV-PG | 25 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
The adventures in time and space of the Doctor, a Time Lord who changes appearance and personality by regenerating when near death, and is joined by companions in battles against aliens and other megalomaniacs.
Stars: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker
Votes: 39,532
11. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
TV-PG | 152 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Arthur Dent and his friend, Ford Prefect, escape the destruction of Earth, only to face incredible trials, tribulations and adventures in space and time.
Stars: Simon Jones, David Dixon, Peter Jones, Sandra Dickinson
Votes: 11,719
12. Neverwhere (1996)
30 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
A man in London encounters an injured young woman, and instantly exists only to those in London Below. As he helps the woman escape from assassins, he must try to find his way back to London Above.
Stars: Gary Bakewell, Laura Fraser, Hywel Bennett, Clive Russell
Votes: 3,043
13. Not Only... But Also (1965–1970)
45 min | Comedy
Not Only...But Also, most famously showcased Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in there so-called 'Dagenham dialogues' in which Pete (a nasal know-all who has utter confidence in his surreal and ... See full summary »
Stars: Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Chris Karan, Peter McGuirk
Votes: 216
14. Pennies from Heaven (1978–1979)
450 min | Drama, Musical, Romance
A travelling sheet music salesman with an uptight wife throws everything away for the love of an innocent school teacher in the romantic spirit of the music he loves, that bursts into his life in full song-and-dance numbers.
Stars: Cheryl Campbell, Bob Hoskins, Gemma Craven, Kenneth Colley
Votes: 1,209
15. The Quatermass Experiment (1953)
30 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Horror
Follows the first manned space flight from Australia. In its return to Earth, from the crew of 3, only Victor Carroon, is still aboard. Examinations reveal that something attacked the crew as they were on course back to Earth.
Stars: Reginald Tate, Isabel Dean, Hugh Kelly, Paul Whitsun-Jones
Votes: 440
16. The Color of Magic (2008)
Not Rated | 191 min | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
A cowardly wizard is roped into a life of adventure. A tale from the first two books of Terry Pratchett's fantasy series "Discworld".
Stars: David Jason, Sean Astin, Tim Curry, Jeremy Irons
Votes: 10,577
17. Hogfather (2006 TV Movie)
189 min | Comedy, Fantasy
It's Hogswatch (equivalent to Christmas) on the Discworld and the Hogfather has gone missing, requiring Death to take his place while his granddaughter Susan endeavors to find out what has happened.
Director: Vadim Jean | Stars: David Jason, Marc Warren, Michelle Dockery, David Warner
Votes: 11,040
18. Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967–1969)
30 min | Family, Comedy
Short comedy sketches performed by an ensemble cast accompanied by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, an eccentric English group featuring Neil Innes and fronted by Vivian Stanshall.
Stars: Denise Coffey, Eric Idle, David Jason, Terry Jones
Votes: 500
19. Yellowstone (2009– )
50 min | Documentary
Filmed over the course of a year in Yellowstone, this documentary tracks the area's wildlife as they grapple with life and death within one of America's last remaining wilderness regions.
Stars: Peter Firth, Mary Beth Schwartz, Jeff Henry, Dick Powell
Votes: 1,883
20. Filthy Rich & Catflap (1987)
204 min | Comedy
A satire about three losers: a failed actor, his sleazy agent, and a permanently drunk bodyguard.
Stars: Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Michael Redfern
Votes: 1,552
21. Planet Earth (2006)
TV-PG | 49 min | Documentary, Family
A documentary series on the wildlife found on Earth. Each episode covers a different habitat: deserts, mountains, deep oceans, shallow seas, forests, caves, polar regions, fresh water, plains and jungles. Narrated by David Attenborough.
Stars: Sigourney Weaver, David Attenborough, Nikolay Drozdov, Thomas Anguti Johnston
Votes: 220,330
22. 7 of 1 (1973)
30 min | Comedy
An anthology of single plays starring actor-comedian Ronnie Barker. Two of the plays were developed into their own sitcoms: Open All Hours and Porridge.
Stars: Ronnie Barker, David Jason, Joan Sims, Bill Maynard
Votes: 113
23. The Blue Planet (2001)
TV-G | 49 min | Documentary
Mammoth series, five years in the making, taking a look at the rich tapestry of life in the world's oceans.
Stars: David Attenborough, Pierce Brosnan, Peter Scoones
Votes: 42,716
Tell Your Friends