The 11 Best Shows on BritBox: ‘Upstairs, Downstairs,’ ‘Father Brown,’ ‘Red Dwarf’ and More

British mysteries make up the core of BritBox’s library, and the latest British crime sensation is undoubtedly Father Brown. Based on the series of stories by G.K. Chesterton, Father Brown follows, you guessed it, a priest named Father Brown (Mark Williams) as he solves mysteries in his small Cotswolds town. Father Brown is a monster hit in the UK, thanks to its idyllic setting and charming light humor amid the darkness of the crimes. Not only is all of Father Brown on BritBox, but Father Brown is only on BritBox.

Where to stream Father Brown

BritBox’s library has a ton of classic British sitcoms like Are You Being Served?, Absolutely Fabulous, and Blackadder, but if you’re new to the genre, you might want to start with Fawlty Towers. Voted the Best British TV sitcom ever only last year, the series is set in a struggling hotel on the “English Riviera.” John Cleese stars as the hotel owner, the hilariously rude and pompous Basil Fawlty. In many ways, the roots of all British sitcoms to come can be traced to Fawlty Towers. We’re talking absurd situations, buffoonish leads, and tight, sharp joke-writing expertly delivered by brilliant comic actors.

Where to stream Fawlty Towers

One of the true joys of BritBox is its robust “panel channel,” a collection of old and up-to-date seasons of some of the most beloved British comedy shows. Panel shows usually feature one host and a revolving stable of hilarious guests. BritBox has the trivia-driven Q.I., current events juggernaut Mock the Week, and the fibbing competition, Would I Lie to You?

For our money, the best panel show on BritBox is the utterly bananas 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. It’s a show that forces the talent of pollster panel show 8 out of 10 Cats to play one of the most beloved gameshows in England, Countdown. Comics try to beat each other in word games and math problems to hilarious results. However, the real breakout star of the show might be math guru Rachel Riley. Sassy, gorgeous, and insanely smart, she’s like if Vanna White had a calculator for a brain.

Where to stream 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown

A juggernaut hit, Midsomer Murders is one of the most enduring and long-running British crime dramas in history. Set in the fictional county of Midsomer, the series follows Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) (and later his cousin John [Neil Dudgeon]), as they solve murders in the seemingly sleepy countryside. The series is known for balancing dark humor in with the murders, giving the series a cheeky, almost comforting, vibe. BritBox currently has Seasons 1 through 21 of the series, in case you’re running out of things to watch in lockdown…

Where to stream Midsomer Murders

BritBox’s lifestyle section gives Americans a peek at one of the most popular British pastimes: gardening. Gardener’s World is one of the longest-running series on the BBC and its most recent seasons are available on BritBox. Monty Don hosts the show from his own home garden, taking viewers along for his weekly chores. Other hosts take us around the UK to learn more about gardening trends and the latest tools. However, what can’t be overstated is how calming and inspiring this show is. Sure, it may sound dull…but that’s why it’s good. Gardener’s World celebrates the hard work that goes into creating a relaxing space. It focuses on the journey getting there as much as the glorious blooms themselves.

Where to stream Gardener's World

The Great British Baking Show has become one of the United States’ favorite imported hits, but its popularity also led to the show’s shakeup. A few years ago, Channel 4 outbid the BBC for the rights to future seasons, prompting three of the show’s four hosts to leave. Mary Berry, the show’s kind-hearted but sharp-witted judge, was probably the biggest loss. BritBox has a couple of the shows that Mary Berry went on to make for the BBC, but we recommend starting with Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites. It’s a lovely cooking show that lets Mary show off not only her baking skills, but her love for various English dishes and traditions.

Where to stream Mary Berry's Absolute Favourites

In 1964, ITV aired a documentary interviewing fourteen seven-year-old British children. Even though it was intended to be a single film, Michael Apted, who had found the original kids for director Paul Almond, followed the group for the rest of their lives. The Up series checks in on the original Seven Up! participants every seven years to learn how life has — or has not — challenged them. A prevailing theme is that socioeconomic forces have a huge effect on people’s success or failure, as does mental health. Taken as a whole, the Up series is a fascinating portrait of humanity as well as a thought-provoking study of how institutions set people up for success or failure.

Where to stream 56 Up

An utterly bonkers delight, Red Dwarf is a sci-fi comedy that can maybe best be described as the bizarre love child of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Doctor Who. The series is set in the future and follows what happens when Lister (Craig Charles), the lowest-ranking crew member on a spaceship, awakes from 3 million year stasis to discover that he’s the only man left alive in the galaxy. Keeping him company on the ship are Holly (Norman Lovett), the ship’s computer, the hologram of Lister’s boss Rimmer (Chris Barrie), and Cat (Danny John-Jules), a creature who evolved from Lister’s cat. Insane? Sort of. Hilarious? Absolutely.

Where to stream Red Dwarf

Considered a revolutionary show when it premiered in 1991, Prime Suspect followed DCI Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren), one of the first women to reach that level of seniority in the London police force. The series not only shows us Tennison’s dogged work solving a central crime, but the way that institutional sexism affects her work. Prime Suspect not only showed us a morally complex view of the policing world, but let Tennison be less than perfect. One key strand in the series is how Tennison fails to achieve a work/life balance, and increasingly leans on alcohol to function. A work ahead of its time and still as dark and sexy as ever, Prime Suspect is a must-watch.

Where to stream Prime Suspect

Need another British crime drama to sink your teeth into? BritBox also has the Uber-popular Vera. Brenda Blethyn stars as the titular character, DCI Vera Stanhope. Vera might not seem like the obvious hero for a crime drama — she’s not exactly stylish or avuncular — but she has a dogged obsession for solving crimes and catching flaws in her colleague’s theories. Vera is also one of those shows that is constantly seesawing back and forth between BritBox and Acorn TV, but BritBox has seasons 3-10, including the latest episodes from 2020.

Where to stream Vera

If you love the “Upstairs/Downstairs” drama of Downton Abbey and haven’t seen either version of Upstairs, Downstairs, you need to fix that, stat. The original 1971 series was a groundbreaking drama in that it wove together fun period drama with real conversations about the suffering of the lower classes working to make those aristocrats’ lives so dreamy. In 2010, the BBC tried to reboot the series to follow the next generation. This version starred the likes of Claire Foy and Keeley Hawes, but failed to outshine ITV’s rival show…Downton Abbey.

Where to stream Upstairs, Downstairs (1971)

Where to stream Upstairs, Downstairs (2010)