British actors aren’t just playing roles in American movies, complete with American accents. There are many great British shows as well, some that even star American actors. Many of them are available to stream through services like Netflix, and they run the gamut, from spy thrillers to quirky comedies.
If you’re in the mood for a quality British show, we have rounded up the best British TV shows on Netflix right now. In many cases, they are short, 5- to 7-episode miniseries you can easily binge on a single night on the couch in your pajamas with popcorn, hot cocoa, and the lights down low. Others offer multiple seasons to keep you busy and entertained.
Looking for something other than Britain’s best? We’ve also put together guides to the best movies on Netflix and the best shows on Netflix, as well as a recap of what’s new on Netflix.
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Treasontv-ma 2022
Black Mirror (2011)
While Black Mirror eventually morphed into a “Netflix original,” Charlie Brooker’s brilliant dystopian series first premiered on Channel 4 in the U.K. Most episodes look at dire, worst-case scenarios regarding our relationship with technology and modern reliance on it.
With six seasons to date, this isn’t the type of show you’ll be able to binge-watch quickly. But you can watch in any order and are guaranteed to see your jaw drop by the end of each episode. It’s compelling, thought-provoking television.
Treason (2022)
In this spy miniseries, Sir Martin Angelis (Ciaran Hinds) is the former chief of MI6, who is hospitalized following a poisoning. His deputy chief, Adam (Daredevil‘s Charlie Cox), takes over. When Adam deciphers a secret code and meets with a former lover and ex-SVR operative, Kara (Olga Kurylenko), he discovers a sinister plot to help catapult him to the top position in the government organization.
Adam has a difficult decision to make: continue aiding Kara in her mission, risking his now already compromised career in the process, or refuse to help. But Kara isn’t going to take no for an answer, and when Adam realizes his family is in danger too, he has no choice but to play ball. Treason is a thrilling ride through five episodes and a great one to watch for any fan of the espionage genre.
Man vs. Bee (2022)
If you’re in the mood for a good laugh and you’re a fan of Rowan Atkinson, check out his latest, Man vs. Bee, a British comedy he also co-wrote. He stars as Trevor Bingley, a down-on-his-lock man who is house-sitting a mansion when he meets his worst enemy: a bee. The plot sounds ridiculous, but it’s filled with plenty of hijinks and slapstick humor.
You’ll get the same humor you’d expect from the iconic actor who has become synonymous with his most popular character, Mr. Bean. The physical comedy, contorted facial expressions, and general hilarity will bring a sense of familiarity to existing fans and introduce new ones to Atkinson’s unique form of comedy.
Call the Midwife (2012)
Derry Girls (2018)
Inside Man (2022)
The Crown (2016)
The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself (2022)
Rebel Cheer Squad: A Get Even Series (2022)
You Don't Know Me (2021)
Peaky Blinders (2013)
The A List (2018)
Criminal: UK (2019)
The Last Kingdom (2015)
Marcella (2016)
White Lines (2020)
Cuckoo (2012)
Stay Close (2021)
The Stranger (2020)
Cursed (2020)
Requiem (2018)
Traitors (2019)
Sick Note (2017)
Giri/Haji (2019)
Crazyhead (2016)
After Life (2019)
The Serpent (2021)
Attenborough's Life in Colour (2021)
Zero Chill (2021)
Outlander (2014)
The Irregulars (2021)
The One (2021)
Nadiya Bakes (2020)
Behind Her Eyes (2021)
The English Game (2020)
The Ripper (2020)
Secrets of Great British Castles (2015)
Troy: Fall of a City (2018)
The Innocents (2018)
The Letter for the King (2020)
Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
Crashing (2016)
Collateral (2018)
Top Boy (2011)
The Great British Bake Off (2010)
Sex Education (2019)
Bodyguard (2018)
Dracula (2020)
Lovesick (2014)
The End of the F***ing World (2017)
Get Even (2020)
Inside the World's Toughest Prisons (2016)
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