At Hitek, we all love watching series. While we regularly talk about American series produced by HBO, Netflix or Disney+, British series also have our full attention. We wanted to pay tribute to them with this selection of the 25 best British series of all time, ranked in chronological order.
Vé ;a true monument of the British small screen,Doctor Whois an institution in the United Kingdom. The Doctor's space-time adventures have been the dream of millions of viewers since the early 1960s. Mixing adventure and humor, the series has managed to find a timeless formula. Many actors (Matt Smith, David Tennant, Peter Capaldi, etc.) have played the owner of the TARDIS under the leadership of an impressive group of showrunners. Among the most renowned writers are Steven Moffat and Russell T. Davies; each, in their own way, has left their mark on the series. In 2023, Doctor Who entered a third run, again directed by Davies. The new episodes are available on Disney+.
Very ;a veritable institution of English humor, Monty Python are obviously well known for films Sacred Grail!(1975), Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of Life (1983). The series Monty Python's Flying Circus is an absolute must-see for all fans of English and absurd humor. We are thinking in particular of some great sketches, such as Kilimanjaro Expedition (Double Vision) in episode 9 of season 1, which still makes us laugh out loud fifty-five years after its broadcast. Several decades ahead of the rest of the world, Monty Python imposed a style of humour on television, whose influence strongly marked Les Inconnus, Les Nuls and Alexandre Astier.
Created by the excellent Rowan Atkinson while he was at university, the character of Mr. Bean is one of the monuments of British humor. This child locked in an adult body, for whom every situation in everyday life is an inexhaustible source of trouble, has put our zygomatic muscles to the test. Known throughout the world, the series Mr. Beanremains a cult series that has not aged a day, thanks in particular to Atkinson's inimitable facial expressions.
Inspired by the detective novels of Caroline Graham, the series Inspector Barnabyis one of the obvious references for many fans of English detective series, alongside Sherlock Holmes(Jeremy Brett version), Hercule Poirotand Miss Marple. Inspector Tom Barnaby's detective investigations allow us to enjoy the magnificent landscapes of the English countryside.Its classicism is undoubtedly its greatest strength: it is thanks to this recipe that Inspector Barnabycontinues to attract spectators. In any case, almost thirty years after its launch, we are still customers!
Before creating erThe IT Crowd, Irish screenwriter Graham Linehan scores a big hit with Black Books, which invites us to follow an Irish bookseller whose love of drink is matched only by his hatred of his customers. A nihilist, he recruits Manny, who will try with Fran – our bookseller's only friend – to make him adopt more socially acceptable behavior.Absolutely hilarious, this sitcom is both a great comedy of characters and a beautiful satire of consumer society and the world of publishing.
Before becoming one of funniest series in the history of American television, The Officewas a British comedy series that aired between 2001 and 2003 on BBC Two. Created by the hilarious Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, The Office chronicles the daily lives of office workers in a paper company, through a mockumentary. The series carries the seeds of what would later become The Office in the US version.If some fans prefer the American series, the fact remains that the original British remains a high peak of humor.
Following the daily life of the service's employees computer science (“the IT crowd”) of a large London company, This sitcom developed by Graham Linehan (Black Books) paints a wry portrait of contemporary work culture. Its gallery of nerdy characters and its many geeky references are reminiscent of The Big Bang Theoryby Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, launched in 2007 on the American channel CBS, to the point that many fans suspect the American series of having been inspired by the British show.
Who said that superheroes were the preserve of American productions? For those who remember that some of the greatest comics of the genre were written by the British (Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, The Boys by Garth Ennis, etc.), the existence of Misfits is not an anomaly. With punchy dialogues, the series tells us the story of young delinquents who must learn to manage their powers and face often crazy situations. This completely crazy series, which seems to draw its influence from the X-Men, is a little gem of the British small screen.
Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detective novel has been adapted for film and television many times, including the remarkable series starring Jeremy Brett in the 1980s. In 2010, Steven Moffat and his partner Mark Gatiss, known for their work on Doctor Who, decided to adapt Conan Doyle's novels to the present day. Making great use of the acting talents of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, the series remains a fan-favorite adaptation. Since then, many of us are waiting for the return of Sherlock for a season 5 or for a movie, but the respective schedules of the two main actors do not allow it.
While many British series adopt the point of view of the working classes, in the manner of Steven Knight's Peaky Blinders, other works, on the contrary, focus on representing the aristocracy. The series Downton Abbeydeveloped by Julian Fellowes is one of them. A conservative screenwriter and politician with a passion for the English nobility, Julian Fellowes tells in Downton Abbey the story of the relationships between the aristocratic class and their servants. Of course, these relationships are often told in an angelic way, however Downton Abbeyremains nonetheless a series that is both moving and entertaining, shining with the effectiveness of its gallery of endearing characters. We are thinking in particular of Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, magnificently interpreted by the late Maggie Smith, who left us just a few days ago.Since the series ended in 2015, two films have been produced and distributed in 2019 and 2022. A third is currently under development.
The series Police departments in the United Kingdom are a true institution. With Luther, brilliantly carried by the charismatic Idris Elba, the showrunner Neil Cross corrupts the codes of British police series. Unlike Hercule Poirot and Tom Barnany, Inspector John Luther does not respect any rules and does not bother at all with the opinion of his hierarchy. His sagacity, his taste for risk and his distrust of any form of authority, make him a police officer apart on the British small screen.Likewise, the adversaries he pursues are much more violent and gruesome. The series boasts an absolutely delicious cast, including Ruth Wilson and Dermot Crowley. The film Luther: The Fallen Sun, produced by the BBC and distributed by Netflix in 2023, divided fans: despite the delight of finding the iconic characters of the show, the script of the feature film did not reflect the complexity of the five seasons of the series.
A true re ;reference for many science fiction fans, the series Black Mirrorstudies the relationships we have with new technologies. Each episode of this anthology series plunges us into a dystopian future, sometimes immediate, recalling in certain aspects the work of the French novelist Alain Damasio (La Zone du Dehors, Les Furtifs). While the first seasons were unanimously acclaimed, the series lost quality during its move to Netflix.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Launched in 2013 by the BBC, Peaky Blinders is undoubtedly one of the greatest series of these Last 20 years. Developed by Steven Knight (who previously wrote the screenplay for David Cronenberg's excellent film Eastern Promises), the series plunges us into the world of organized crime in interwar Birmingham, through the adventures of the Shelby clan and its leader, Tommy. In addition to magnificent artistic direction and an iconic soundtrack, mixing Nick Cave, PJ Harvey and Joy Division, comes a particularly well-crafted crime saga, Peaky Blinders owes a lot to its extraordinary cast. There is of course Cillian Murphy, whose charisma explodes in every scene, but also the late Helen McCrory, the revelations Paul Anderson and Joe Cole, or the impressive Tom Hardy. Currently, a Peaky Blinders filmaiming to close the saga is currently being filmed. Its casting is already sensation. We're really looking forward to it!
Developed ;ed by Dennis Kelly,theUtopia seriesfollows the adventures of a group of nerds forced to hide from a secret organization that sends two assassins to seize a manuscript they hold. Both violent and paranoid, this series benefits from its creator's incredible art for the cliffhanger. The terribly effective script is sublimated by hypnotic photography and inhabited actors.Unfortunately, despite a very positive reception from fans, the series was canceled after its second season due to lack of sufficient audiences. Amazon Prime Video has produced an unenthusiastic American remake.
When a young boy is murdered in a small coastal town in Dorset, the tranquility of the village is threatened. Broadchurchinvites us to follow the gripping police investigation of detectives Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman). Exploring the themes of grief and community, Broardchurch takes full advantage of its magnificent landscapes and the exceptional performances of its main duo. Chris Chibnall, its creator, has become a true reference on the British small screen. His success allowed him to become the showrunner of the series Doctor Who between 2018 and 2022.
In the Yorkshire Dales,Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood is struggling to recover from her daughter's suicide eight years ago. When she learns that her daughter's rapist is about to be released from prison, Catherine becomes obsessed with holding him accountable for his actions, regardless of the fact that his tormentor is involved in a dangerous criminal organization.The richness of the writing allows difficult social themes and complex feelings to be addressed with great subtlety. The acclaimed series fully deserves its place in our selection.
The British royal family is a passion far beyond the borders of the United Kingdom and the success of the exceptional series The Crown, produced by Sony Pictures and distributed by Netflix, has reminded us of this in the most beautiful way. Telling the story of Queen Elizabeth II from 1947 to 2005, The Crown is a magnificent historical series with extremely careful artistic direction.In addition to inviting us behind the scenes of British royalty, the series benefits from the talents of its exceptional cast: Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Vanessa Kirby, Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, Josh O'Connor, Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Elizabeth Debicki, Dominic West. Recently, one of the producers of the series developed by Peter Morgan announced that several ideas for spin-offs are at the study.
Adapting a play she herself wrote, the brilliant Phoebe Waller-Bridge showed the full extent of her talent as a screenwriter and actress with Fleabag. She plays Fleabag, a young thirty-something living in London who, breaking the fourth wall, shares with derision her thoughts on her life which has been drifting since the death of her best friend and on her family. Full of dark humor, this series gives us a magnificent portrait of a woman.The series is also served by an impeccable cast, including the gigantic Olivia Colman in the role of Fleabag's unbearable mother-in-law, and Andrew Scott, who plays a priest for whom the protagonist will develop feelings. A must-see!
After the huge series Peaky Blinders, in which Tom Hardy plays the Jewish gangster Alfie Solomons, the British actor reunites with showrunner Steven Knight to adapt a screenplay written by his father Chips Hardy for the small screen. Tabootells the story of James Keziah Delaney, a dark and violent adventurer who returns to London in 1814 to claim his father's inheritance, coveted by the British crown, the American government and the East India Company. With its sumptuous artistic direction and the intense performance of Tom Hardy, Steven Knight has once again left his mark on the series fans, who have been waiting for news of the announced seasons 2 and 3, but which Hardy's overloaded schedule has transformed into Arlesiennes.
Developed by Phoebe Waller- Bridge (to whom we owe the excellent series Fleabag), Killing Eve is an adaptation of Luke Jennings' Codename Villanelle literary series. The series tells the story of the relationship between Eve Polastri, an MI-5 agent tasked with finding Villanelle, and a dangerous psychopath who develops an obsession with her. Acclaimed for its sense of suspense and dark humor, the series is above all an opportunity to discover the immensity of Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer's talent.Even if the series finale isn't up to par, Killing Eve will be remembered for a long time!
Genuine legend of comics and fantasy literature, Englishman Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, American Gods, Neverwhere) began his career as a novelist withGood omens, which he co-wrote with another legend of British fantasy literature: Terry Pratchett (The Annals of Discworld). The novel, which follows an angel and a demon who, in order to continue enjoying the pleasures of life on Earth, try to educate the Antichrist in order to delay the Apocalypse, is a gem of English humor brought to the screen by Neil Gaiman himself.The result is made even more delicious by the performances of David Tennant and Michael Sheen. Season 2 is an all-new story set after the events of the novel. A season 3 has been announced by Amazon Prime Video, but the recent sexual assault accusations against Neil Gaiman could force the studio to cancel the series. Stay tuned!
Developed by HBO and the British channel Sky Atlantic, Chernobyl was a huge shock when it was released in 2019. The American-British series traces the consequences of the incident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Inspired by the essay The Supplication by Svetlana Alexievich (winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature), Chernobylemploys a number of British actors, including Jared Harris, Emily Watson and Jessie Buckley, each more talented than the last. The mini-series has received rave reviews from both the public and the press.
Overwhelmed by Cillian Murphy's impressive charisma, actor Joe Cole asked Steven Knight to kill his character in season 4. Three years later, he was cast in the series Gangs of London, developed by Welsh director Gareth Evans (The Raid), who directed several episodes. Joe Cole plays Sean Wallace, the impulsive son of London's most powerful criminal. When his father dies, he inherits his empire and seeks to discover who murdered him. With its incredible violence, Gangs of London is a hard-hitting series, some of which knocked us out. We are thinking in particular of the fifth episode of the first season. The series also allowed us to discover the immense acting talent of Nope Dirisu.
Adapting the second novel by Irish author Sally Rooney (whose last book, Intermezzo, has just been released in bookstores), Normal Peopletells the difficult love story between Marianne and Connell in Dublin. Unanimously considered one of the best series of 2020, the Irish series is a treasure trove of emotions, carried by its magnetic acting duo: Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal, who will soon be seen in the lead role in Ridley Scott's Gladiator II.
LikeChernobyl, the mini-series The Third Day was born from the collaboration between the legendary American channel HBO and the English channel Sky Atlantic. Developed by the excellent Dennis Kelly – the showrunner of Utopia -, it tells the story of Sam, a broken man who lands on a mysterious island off the coast of England where he meets disturbing villagers. Reminiscent in many ways of the British horror film The Wicker Man by Robin Hardy (1973), which inspired Midsommar Ari Aster (2019), The Third Day is an intense series, beautifully directed by Marc Munden (director of Utopia) and Philippa Lowthorpe (The Crown). Divided into two parts, titled Summer and Winter, it is completed by Autumn, an event filmed in a single twelve-hour sequence shot and broadcast live. We would have much to There is not much to say about this extraordinary mini-series, but we want to emphasize the exceptional performance of its cast, composed of Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Emily Watson, Paddy Considine and Naomie Harris.
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