The best british series ever made
British television has always stood out for its uniqueness and has always had a lot to offer.
From quality British humor to legendary and cult crime series like Agatha Christie's Poirot or the currently most popular series Happy Valley, the British have contributed to the world of television, and their entire content is valued both by mass fans and film critics.
From streaming megahits to the best-kept British sweet secrets, in this article, discover the top 10 (or even more) British series to stream in 2023, and all these best British series are available immediately on the streaming service Pickbox NOW.
10. Karen Pirie - charmingly old-fashioned and charismatic detective
Karen Pirie is refreshingly normal and charmingly old-fashioned. Although not polished or confident as a policewoman, her quick wit and resourcefulness make her an impressive detective. The lead role is played by Scottish actress Lauren Lyle (Outlander), and as the series is based on the novel The Distant Echo by Val McDermid, Lauren spent a lot of time uncovering her character with the author of this bestseller.
Karen is tasked with reopening an investigation into a murder that was the subject of a provocative true crime podcast. When teenager Rosie Duff was fatally stabbed in 1996, suspicion fell on three drunken students who discovered her body. However, despite police suspicions, the boys were never charged. Nearly 25 years later, Karen Pirie is determined to find out what happened that fateful night. When Karen discovers flaws in the initial investigation, she finds herself in conflict with the same police officers who led the original search for the killer.
One of the most brilliant long-running British series, Inspector Frost is based on the novels of writer R. D. Wingfield.
Starring David Jason as Jack Frost as an experienced and dedicated detective who often has problems with his superiors. Frost is a very empathetic detective, and his talents and sensitivity are complemented by a peculiar character - he steals teas and coffees from other people, dresses carelessly, and is extremely messy. He avoids dealing with paperwork, so his colleagues often have to do that part of the job for him. He never uses a police notebook to record evidence or case information; instead, he writes things on different pieces of paper he finds in his pocket. Nevertheless, the experience of solving crimes with Jack Frost is invaluable!
Grace is a true detective delight, based on the fascinating series of novels by author Peter James, translated into 37 languages, with sales of over 20 million copies worldwide. The lead role is played by popular British actor John Simm (Strangers, Doctor Who, Life on Mars) as the persistent and diligent detective Roy Grace. Grace has dedicated his life to detective work, but his career is currently at its worst.
He is relegated to cases long forgotten, and the disappearance of his beloved wife, Sandy, still haunts him. After another reprimand for his unorthodox methods, Grace faces dismissal. However, he starts working on a case involving a missing groom with a colleague detective. With instinct, suspicion, and an obsessive nature, Grace persistently tries to uncover the truth. Interestingly, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, is a big fan of Detective Grace and has expressed a desire for a small role in the series.
From the creators of the British series The Crown, Tom Edge, and the producer of the most-watched British series Line of Duty, Simon Heath, comes the police crime series Vigil. The main role is played by the fantastic British actress Suranne Jones (Scott & Bailey, Save Me), who has been acclaimed by critics. Jones plays the role of detective Amy Silva, who works for the Scottish police.
The story is set on the fictional submarine HMS Vigil, belonging to the Royal Navy. The mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on the nuclear submarine Trident bring the police into conflict with the navy and British security services. With an intelligent mystery, death, a lesbian love story, and a conspiracy in the background, Vigil series is a stunning BBC series, so it's no wonder it won an Emmy for Best International Drama.
The award-winning crime series won the BAFTA award for Best Drama Series, and the reviews are so positive that it received 100% ratings from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The Guardian ranked the series 11th on its list of the 100 best series of the 21st century, calling it a "corrective to clichéd and often male police series" and one that "pulses with poignant reality."
After the phenomenal first and second seasons, in the third season, Detective Catherine Cadwood (Sarah Lancashire) discovers the remains of a victim of a gangland murder. This discovery sets off an unfortunate chain of events that lead her to Tommy, the father of her grandson Ryan and the rapist of her late daughter.
The brilliant Scottish crime series Shetland is distinguished by phenomenal acting and a unique approach to crime series. The lead role is played by Douglas Henshall, who won the BAFTA award for Best Actor. Henshall portrays Jimmy Pérez, a resourceful and insightful inspector working for the Shetland police.
The story unfolds in the Scottish archipelago, with the main setting being Shetland, known for its unique landscape and distinctive way of life. The police team investigates crimes closely linked to the island community. In this isolated and sometimes hostile environment, the police team must find creative ways of doing police work.
When it started airing, the popular detective series had more than 6.5 million viewers, and The Guardian writes that the decision to watch this series is more than simple. Endeavour stands out as a unique detective series, as written by the Los Angeles Times - "This is a perfectly complex and visually intriguing mystery."
Set in the 1960s, Endeavour follows future Inspector Morse (Shaun Evans) in his early days as a police officer. Working alongside his older partner Fred Thursday (Roger Allam), Morse solves various intriguing cases across Oxford.
Based on the Inspector Rebus novels by Scottish author Ian Rankin, this is a crime series about a grumpy detective and fantastic Edinburgh mysteries. The lead actor in the first season is John Hannah, while in the other three seasons, the role of Rebus is taken over by Ken Stott, best known for his role as the dwarf Balin in The Hobbit trilogy
Detective John Rebus is a heavy drinker, neglectful, and a womanizer for whom the job is his entire life. He is the oldest and most experienced detective in his station. He has a mysterious past that his partner Siobhan Clarke (Claire Price) occasionally learns about based on his various comments. The setting of this popular series is Edinburgh, and Detective John Rebus's investigations take him through Edinburgh's ancient beauties.
This hit series, based on award-winning detective novels by Caroline Graham, has fans worldwide and continues to attract new audiences, receive good reviews, and showcase acting talents. The seemingly idyllic life of an English village in the county of Midsomer hides many secrets - blackmail, intrigues, deceits, infidelities, and even murders - and it's up to Inspector Barnaby to uncover them all. Full of picturesque English landscapes and crimes that send chills down your spine, Midsomer Murders is a series that always calls for another bingeing session.
The list of the best British series ever cannot pass without the series about Poirot! The fictional Belgian detective is one of the most famous detectives in the world, created by writer Agatha Christie. In the popular series consisting of a total of 70 episodes, the brilliant actor David Suchet portrays Poirot.
He delivered the best portrayal of the famous Belgian by passionately dedicating himself to research: he read all the novels, short stories, and plays where Poirot was the main character, extracting every characteristic and creating a dossier that would make even the most detail-oriented and logically driven Christie detective proud. Thanks to him, millions have either fallen in love with or rekindled their admiration for the eccentric detective who loves fine pralines and above all values little gray cells. Each episode is an adaptation of Agatha Christie's novels or short stories, with Poirot being the lead detective investigating crimes, mostly murders.
All these British series, from mega-hits to well-kept British secrets, can be watched on Pickbox NOW! So, hop on this British train and enjoy streaming high-quality British series.