The Best of British: 15 UK TV Shows You Can't Miss

When it comes to TV shows, the UK has some real gems that are too good to miss, packed with brilliant stories, unforgettable characters, and the kind of humor that'll have you laughing one minute and maybe even shedding a tear the next; these shows take you on a journey through the charming countryside, the bustling streets of London, and even back in time, all from the comfort of your living room.

1. Fonejacker (2007)

A prankster, known only as the Fonejacker, uses a range of disguises and accents to make nuisance calls, targeting unsuspecting victims while hidden cameras capture the reactions of his bewildered targets.

2. The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

Todd Margaret, a clueless American office worker, is sent to London to sell energy drinks, where his incompetence and lies lead him into increasingly disastrous situations, affecting his new life and those around him in hilariously catastrophic ways.

3. Tripped (2015)

Milo and Danny, two friends, find themselves on a psychedelic trip through alternate universes where they encounter various versions of themselves, confronting bizarre and dangerous situations as they try to return to their own world.

4. Lookalikes (2015)

A reality show that follows the daily operations of a lookalike agency in Eastbourne, England, where the owner and his roster of celebrity doppelgangers navigate the highs and lows of impersonating famous faces.

5. The Aliens (2016)

Set in a world where aliens have lived on Earth for 40 years, isolated in a ghetto, a border guard with a secret heritage discovers he's half-alien and becomes embroiled in the struggle for equal rights, leading him into a murky world of crime and conspiracy.

6. Crashing (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%

A group of young adults living as property guardians in a disused hospital navigate the complexities of life, love, and friendship under the unconventional roof, leading to unexpected relationships and personal revelations.

7. The Detectorists (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

Metal-detecting enthusiasts Andy and Lance dream of finding a historic treasure as they scour the English countryside, but their hobby often takes a backseat to the personal dramas in their quirky lives.

8. Houdini and Doyle (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 46%

In the early 20th century, Harry Houdini, the master magician, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, form an unlikely alliance to investigate supernatural mysteries, blurring the lines between magic, belief, and science.

9. Jekyll and Hyde (2015)

In 1930s London, Robert Jekyll, the grandson of the original Dr. Jekyll, battles his family curse, transforming into Hyde in moments of extreme stress or anger, while uncovering a dark conspiracy about his heritage.

10. London Spy (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

When his romantic interest mysteriously disappears, Danny, a young, naive Londoner, finds himself drawn into the dangerous world of espionage and discovers a complex web of secrets and lies about the man he loved.

11. The Frankenstein Chronicles (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes Audience score: 87%

In 19th century London, John Marlott, a river police officer, discovers a corpse made of body parts from eight missing children and sets out to find the culprit, leading him into a dark world of body snatchers, scientists, and Mary Shelley's gothic novel.

12. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

In 19th century England, two men—Norrell, a cautious and solitary magician, and Strange, a charismatic and adventurous novice—revive magic in a battle against French forces, leading to a dangerous feud between them over the nature and purpose of magic.

13. Jericho (2016)

In the Yorkshire Dales of the 1870s, a community forms around the construction of a viaduct, where secrets, rivalries, and romances emerge among the workers and the families who have staked their livelihoods on the viaduct's completion.

14. Thirteen (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

After escaping from a cellar where she was held captive for 13 years, Ivy Moxam struggles to readjust to the world outside, while the police search for her kidnapper, leading Ivy into a complicated journey of recovery and discovery.

15. A Touch of Cloth (2012)

A parody of British detective and crime dramas, this series follows Jack Cloth, a police detective with a troubled past, as he solves grisly crimes in a hilariously over-the-top manner, alongside his partner, who helps him cope with personal demons and the absurdity of their cases.