I recently asked Facebook friends to name their favorite British series. Most listed television series or mini-series, and together they created a fabulous list and helped others discover great shows they might have missed along the way. The thread read like a (Dr.) Who’s Who of favorite British series.
I learned about several series I hadn’t known about either. Only problem was, after that, I wanted to sit down and watch them all instead of working on my next book. (Don’t worry, I resisted.)
So, for any other fellow anglophiles out there, I thought I’d share our list here as well. I may have missed a few, but here were the most-mentioned favorites:
- Downton Abbey
- Poldark
- North & South (the book is excellent, too)
- Dr. Who
- Doc Martin
- Call the Midwife
- Austen mini-series (P and P, Persuasion)
- Dickens mini-series (Little Dorrit, Bleak House—so good!)
- Lark Rise to Candleford
- Cranford (another favorite)
- The Paradise
- Merlin
- Home Fires
- Sherlock
- Foyle’s War
- Inspector Lewis
- Father Brown
- Midsomer Murders
- Broadchurch
- Miss Marple
- Grantchester
- Bramwell
- London Hospital
- As Times Goes By
- Allo Allo
- Keeping Up Appearances
- All Creatures Great and Small
- To the Manor Born
- Jeeves and Wooster
- Last of the Summer Wine
How many have you seen? Any you would like to add to the list?
Happy viewing!
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JULIE KLASSEN loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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This is a fantastic list. I have watched a lot of these.
Thanks for putting all the recommendations in a list, Julie!
What a great list! I’ve not seen all, but now I have some ideas for what to watch next. My husband and I have been watching The Crimson Field, a drama set during WWI. It is about a field hospital and the doctors, nurses, and the volunteers (VAD or Volunteer Aid Detachment). It’s been fascinating. We’ve only finished the 4th episode, and it was canceled after only one season, but so far we love it.
Haven’t seen that one. Thanks, Sarah.
Thanks Julie! I haven’t watched most of these, so I can’t wait to go through this list! Thanks!
I have seen just about all of them. I have tried Dr. Who and never got into it, but sometimes it is just my mood so I will try again. Streaming combined with the treadmill are why I’m able to see so many of the shows. Without those two things, I would be in the dark. Oh, and the DVR. That helps me stay current on shows that haven’t reached streaming yet (i.e. Poldark). I’m also enjoying the brand new The Durrells of Corfu (Brits, a widowed mum and her four kids, in the 1930’s who relocate to the Greek island of Corfu). Quite fun.
I saw a photo somewhere promoting The Durrells of Corfu but don’t know much about it. Thanks for the recommendation, Robin. I’ll check it out.
The first two shows have aired now, but you might be able to catch up on the PBS website. It is cute and quirky. The kids, from about 12 to about 20, are mostly certifiable.
I was just wondering about that because I noticed it came on before Poldark on Sunday! I really wish I’d have recorded it, so that I could catch up and watch the new episodes.
Beth, check out the PBS site. You might be able to catch up there. You have only missed two shows.
Thanks to earlier recommendations here I started watching Poldark and really like it.I am also watching the Durrells of Corfu it is funny and entertaining.I own all the complete seasons of Downtown Abbey.I hated to see that end I really enjoyed it.I have read a lot of your books Julie and really enjoy them.Do you know about the author Patricia Veryan?.She wrote several novels that were set in the Regency and Georgian periods.They were written in the 80’s.I have all of her books she is one of my all-time favorite authors……Diana G.
I have seen several of the series mentioned, but not nearly as many as I’d like! Thanks for the list. I’ll definitely use it as a reference when shopping for something to watch.
I was browsing around on Netflix a few days ago and found a whole category entitled ‘British TV and Movies’. !! I was immediately delighted. I found an 8 part series there called The Last Kingdom, which came out a year ago. Here’s a tidbit about it I found online: “The Last Kingdom is based on the novels of Bernard Cornwell about how King Alfred became the first king of the Anglo-Saxons and created England.” It’s a medieval series that focuses on the batttle between the Saxons and Vikings for control of England. Even my husband is really enjoying it, which is saying something. There are very few British series he’ll watch with me. 🙂
That looks good, Becky!
So glad Doc Martin made your list. It’s by far one of my favorites!
Oh my goodness I LOVE Poldark. Even better than Pride and Prejudice, which is huge for me because I love Jane Austen. I am still in shock over Sunday’s episode. I’m also considering starting Bleak House or Lark Rise to Candleford, and some of those which are on Amazon Prime. But I would totally recommend Poldark!!! Thanks for making this list!
I highly recommend Bleak House. Also check out Doctor Thorne on Amazon Prime.
Thanks for a great list! I don’t seem to find most of these in the guide listing – have only seen 6 of them. I will try netflix, but if anyone has other suggestions of which networks, I would appreciate it.
I’ve watched many of these – Australia has always screened a lot of British shows. Have you watched ‘Outlander’? Set in Scotland (mostly) and SO good. Another Scottish-set series is ‘Monarch of the Glen’ – stunning scenery!
I have not seen Outlander, but have seen several episodes of Monarch of the Glen and thoroughly enjoyed them. Should add to the list. Thanks!
And another one I’ve only just discovered: Home Fires, about a group of Cheshire village women at the start of WWII, & their efforts to keep the Women’s Institute running while coping with change. Very good! (& fab choral music in the credits!)
I’ve watched… 10 of those. And will definitely be checking out the others. 🙂 I would add Jane Eyre & Agatha Christie’s Poirot to that list, though. 😉
Another must watch is Doctor Thorne on Amazon Prime. Julian Fellowes created it just for Amazon. A wonderful 4part series taking place in the 1800s in England.
I saw that, too! It was a neat little series. 🙂