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10 best British TV shows that you can binge on

Draw the curtains, keep a bowl of snacks close and binge your way through the best of the British small screen
UPDATED FEB 17, 2020
Sherlock (Source : IMDB)
Sherlock (Source : IMDB)

If you're sick of the Kardashians and have the heart to indulge in a different kind of television, British shows are the direction you should be heading in. Not only because they are shorter and crispier but because there is something different about the shows that are made there. After all, television is very much a product of the nation it's created in. Apart from being thoroughly enjoyable, there's also a very different look and feel to the shows. 

For the weekends when you just want to unwind at home, keep a bowl of snacks close and binge your way through the best of the small screen, here are the 10 best British television shows that might just do the trick. Thank us later. 

1. Luther


Apart from the fact that you can swoon everytime Idris Alba comes on screen (of which there is a lot), 'Luther' is everything a TV show should be — it has drama, it has mystery and a gripping plotline. John Luther is a Detective Chief Inspector with a tendency of becoming obsessive, possessed, and sometimes violent.

However, Luther has paid a heavy price for his dedication; he has never been able to prevent himself from being consumed by the darkness of the crimes with which he deals. Stars Ruth Wilson, Steven Mackintosh, Indira Varma, Paul McGann among others. It also has a Russian and Korean adaptation. Its got four seasons to binge on and the fifth is well on its way. This BBC show tops this list for a reason — it's too good to be missed! Watch it on Netflix.

2. Killing Eve


This racy thriller is produced by Sid Gentle Films for BBC America. It is based on Luke Jennings' Codename Villanelle novella series. The show takes you to a strange place that you may not want to return from. Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) is a desk-bound MI5 officer who begins tracking down Villanelle (Jodie Comer). Villanelle is no ordinary criminal, she's a talented psychopathic assassin, and when the two meet, they find themselves insanely attracted to each other.

The first season of eight episodes premiered on April 8, 2018. Shortly before its premiere, BBC America renewed 'Killing Eve' for the second season. Dark twists, outrageously good performances, and wickedly weird humor, this show is everything you need to be fully content! Watch it on Netflix.

3. Patrick Melrose

Set in the 1980s, you will love this show if you love 'Sherlock Holmes'. Patrick Melrose, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is a man from a very privileged childhood. Although it all seems golden to the outsider, he has a traumatic childhood. Patrick's father was a very abusive man and his mother put up with his behavior. Eventually, Patrick's childhood led him down a path into addiction and severe substance abuse in New York.

'Patrick Melrose' is a five-part limited series based on the semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St. Aubyn from the 1980s through early 2000s. The show stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Patrick Melrose, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Eleanor Melrose, Hugo Weaving as David Melrose, Anna Madeley as Mary, Blythe Danner as Nancy and Allison Williams as Marianne. Watch it on Showtime.

4. C.B. Strike


C.B. Strike follows a one-legged, shaggy-looking war veteran-turned-private-detective named Cormoran Strike played by Tom Burke. Although Strike is physically challenged and clearly traumatized by his time in the army, he is brilliant at what he does. Strike is assisted by his smart and eager-to-learn assistant Robin Ellacott played by Holliday Grainger. 

The two are an unlikely pair but are extremely efficient in cracking cases that have left the police out of their depth. The show was filmed in London and, if you like a good old British-style plot, you cannot miss this one. Watch it on Cinemax.

5. Victoria

To satiate the royal thirst in you, there are shows like 'Victoria'. The show has two seasons. The first one shows you, in painful details, what it was like for Queen Victoria to reign and the second season shows her turbulent life as a new mother and a sovereign ruler.  The queen is portrayed by Jenna Coleman.

The show has all you ever wanted to know about the queen - her intense friendship and infatuation with Lord Melbourne (Rufus Sewell), to her courtship and early marriage to Prince Albert (Tom Hughes) and finally to the birth of their first child Victoria. This is the perfect companion for your 'Downtown Abbey' and 'The Crown' knowledge. Watch it on Netflix.

6. Kiri 

Set in Bristol, the show centers on the abduction of Kiri Akindele (Felicia Mukasa), a nine-year-old black girl. Kiri lives with her foster parents Jim and Alice Warner (Steven Mackintosh and Lia Williams) and their teenage son Si (Finn Bennett). The Warners are a middle-class white couple who fostered her at age four and are about to adopt her. 'Kiri' is a great attempt at pointing out the flaws in social work. Watch it on Hulu. 

7. A Very English Scandal


A pretty real affair with a side of homophobia. The plot revolves around Jeremy Thorpe, a member of Parliament who, in 1979, was tried and later acquitted of conspiring to murder his ex-lover, Norman Scott. Beginning in the 1960s, Thorpe is the leader of the Liberal Party, the youngest head of a political party in 100 years. But he is hiding an affair with a man at a time when homosexuality is still illegal.

When Scott threatens to reveal the affair, Thorpe decides upon a plan of action that eventually exposes the scandal and leads to a watershed moment in British social and political life, illuminating the level of dark secrets and cover-ups in the British establishment. Based on a true story, Hugh Grant's amazing performance coupled with Ben Wishaw's equally gripping one, this show will appeal to the realist in you. Watch it on Amazon Prime.

8. Misfits

'Misfits' follows five delinquents on community service who are caught outside during a supernatural thunderstorm and who acquire special abilities. Their powers mirror who they are - Kelly Bailey (Lauren Socha)—constantly judged for her class ("chav")—gains the ability of telepathy, Curtis Donovan (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett)—trying to escape a mistake from his past—can rewind time after experiencing an immense sense of regret, Alisha Daniels (Antonia Thomas)—a woman that is extremely comfortable with her sexuality and body—sends people into a sexual frenzy when they touch her skin and Simon Bellamy (Iwan Rheon)—often ignored or not acknowledged—can become invisible.

Spot the metaphors and underlying meanings for extra pleasure! Watch it on Hulu. 

9. Sherlock


This BBC show takes a 130-year-old character and breathe new life into him in this modern-day adaptation and the show is even better thanks to Benedict Cumberbatch. Sherlock's striking charm, the insane villains and Watson's unmatched warmth are all as English as they get. Andrew Scott as Moriarty is absolutely brilliant as well. It's humorous, its witty and Sherlock's deductions will make you reach out for a bottle of water. All in all, if you don't binge-watch this, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would probably judge you from the beyond. Watch it on Amazon Prime. 

10. Fleabag


Fleabag is all of us, some more than the others. This tale of a middle-class woman juggling a painfully difficult family and a thankless job that doesn't pay enough is relatable to say the least. The show that first aired in 2016 has one season and stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Fleabag, Ben Aldridge as Guy, Bill Paterson as Dad, Sian Clifford as Claire and Jenny Rainsford as Boo. Watch it on Amazon Prime.

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