5 reasons why we love British TV

There’s no doubt that British TV is amongst the most popular in the world, with hundreds of shows being exported across the globe annually. Wherever you are in the world, you’re never too far from the Brits.

BritBox is the streaming service bringing together the best of British from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. The service, which offers a 30-day free trial, offers an extensive catalogue of generations of British TV. From the comedy masterpiece that is Only Fools and Horses, to the edge-of-your-seat drama of Broadchurch, it’s all there on BritBox.

What is it that makes British TV so great? Here are five reasons why we can’t get enough of British TV:

1. We’re not afraid to laugh at ourselves

British humour is at the heart of our television shows, even the drama, and it’s something that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. It’s eccentric – think of the unconventional charm of Doctor Who‘s eponymous Timelord. It’s also dark, even tense police dramas such as Prime Suspect have a sprinkling of comic relief. It’s also very tongue-in-cheek. Satirical television flourishes in Britain where it fails elsewhere. Our comedy panel show selection, including long-running hits such as QI, are second to none.

2. We’re not afraid to tackle difficult subject matter

Perhaps it’s not being as reliant on the opinions of advertisers as say, the US, but British TV is totally unafraid of challenging subject matter. Where else in the world would shows as impacting as Little Boy Blue and Broadchurch get made? Even our soaps are at the cutting edge, with producers ready and willing to push the boundaries.

3. We have some of the world’s leading experts on our screens

We also have world leading experts on our screens. David Attenborough is one of Britain’s national treasures, with his wide catalogue of wildlife documentary work acclaimed across the globe. Elsewhere, Professor Brian Cox is winning Guinness World Records for his sold out arena tours across the planet (maybe the solar system in years to come). We’ve got Trevor McDonald. We’ve got Michael Palin. When it comes to cooking, take your pick from Gordon Ramsay, James Martin, Gino D’Acampo, the list goes on…

4. We embrace our history

There’s nowhere that does a better period drama than British TV, and we’ve got stacks upon stacks of history to keep churning them out for years to come. From Dickens’ era tales of rags like Great Expectations to the opulent riches of Downton Abbey and Belgravia, there’s so much source material here. It’s not all fun, either, dramas such as Small Island also examine the historical impact of British imperialism. We have a long, oft-extravagant, oft-terrible, history – and the writing and acting talent to make compelling TV from it.

5. We get to the point

British TV gets to the point, without faffing about with filler episodes or new seasons of shows past their prime. Sometimes it means a series, like Endeavour, only consists of three episodes a season – and there’s a long wait for new episodes – but the quality is guaranteed. We’ll take it over 20+ episodes of a show that’s already been running decades and ran out of good ideas somewhere near the beginning.

Sign up for your 30-day free trial now at britbox.co.uk to watch all these shows and more.

BritBox has the biggest collection of British boxsets compared to other SVOD services. Verify at britbox.co.uk/help. 30-day free trial. Auto renews @£5.99/month unless cancelled.

The best classic British TV shows streaming now on BritBox

There’s nothing like a good dose of TV nostalgia to brighten the cloudy days, of which, in Britain, there are many. Perhaps that’s why we’re so good at making TV.

It’s hard to make a list of the best British TV classics, because there’s almost too many TV shows to name. BritBox, the streaming service bringing together the best of British from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, puts all of that timeless content in one place. Better yet, it’s available with a 30-day free trial.

Here are 10 classic British TV series that you can start watching today on BritBox:

1. Only Fools and Horses

Who can forget the Peckham market trader brothers, Del and Rodney? For more than twenty years, the rags to riches (to rags again) adventures of the Trotter boys kept us laughing, even spawning two spin-offs, The Green Green Grass and Rock & Chips.

2. Prime Suspect

Helen Mirren’s turn as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison is as memorable today as when Prime Suspect premiered in 1991. Mirren bagged three BAFTAs for the role of the uncompromising Jane Tennison, a role that catapulted her to widespread fame.

3. One Foot in the Grave

The unique exploits of Victor Meldrew, an early retiree, and his long-suffering wife Margaret are the subject of this BAFTA Award-winning comedy. One Foot in the Grave ran for six series between 1990 and 2000, as well as multiple Christmas specials, and even inspired radio and novel adaptations.

4. Classic Doctor Who

The timeless stories of an alien Timelord and their many companions are just as vibrant today as they have been for decades. From William Hartnell to Sylvester McCoy, Doctor Who maintained the intrigue and eccentricity that fuels the success of this science-fiction show.

It’s worth noting for Doctor Who fans that BritBox has the largest selection of Classic Who episodes of any streaming service.

5. The Thick of It

What better way to examine the workings of the British government than through cutting edge comedy (and not a small amount of profanity). Peter Capaldi stars as Number 10’s feared communications director in the series that led to the Academy Award-nominated spin-off film In The Loop.

6. The Office

The revolutionary British mockumentary series made Ricky Gervais a household name, as well as spawning such success in America that their adaptation of the series ran for nine seasons. Workplace comedy was never more painfully real, and hilarious, as in The Office.

7. Father Ted

The ragtag band of three Irish Roman Catholic Priests, each in the doghouse for different reasons on the fictional Craggy Island, was a comedy set up that struck gold. Father Ted won two BAFTAs for Best Comedy, while the Aran islands in Ireland continue to argue over which of them is the real life Craggy Island.

8. Keeping Up Appearances

Patricia Routledge’s unforgettable performance as ambitious social climber Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced ‘Bouquet’), while being constantly hampered by her family, made Keeping Up Appearances one of Britain’s biggest ever comedy hits. The series spawned five seasons in the early 1990s, as well as a 2016 prequel Young Hyacinth.

9. Blackadder

Half a history lesson, half a comic farce, Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson endured the Middle Ages, Queen Elizabeth’s reign, Regency Britain and the First World War. Blackadder‘s ability to combine comedy with some of British history’s tumultuous moments is a stroke of genius.

10. Midsomer Murders

Midsomer Murders has had people asking the question ‘but why would anyone ever go to Midsomer?’ for more than twenty years. The show’s lasting success lies in its clever combination of crime drama, nostalgia and dark humour, as well as some excellent casting decisions. In fact, it’s as great today as it ever was.

Sign up for your 30-day free trial now at BritBox.

BritBox has the biggest collection of British boxsets compared to other SVOD services. Verify at britbox.co.uk/help. 30-day free trial. Auto renews @£5.99/month unless cancelled.