Leave it to the UK to make some of the best dramas in TV history.

Updated 34 minutes ago, December 15, 2024

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the United Kingdom has produced some of the best TV shows in the entertainment industry.

From genre-bending sitcoms like The Office to surreal sketch comedy series like Monty Python’s Flying Circus, British television continues to gauge audiences’ interests the world over, delighting viewers with their series’ dry humor, idiosyncratic characters, and memorable plot lines.

As universally praised as many of the United Kingdom’s comedies are, it’s also important to note just how fantastic many of Britain’s drama series are as well. Whether discussing a neo-noir thriller like Broadchurch or a historical drama like Downton Abbey, these series remain every bit as influential as their comedic counterparts, appealing to mainstream television fans across the globe.

Though he’s better known for portraying the endlessly eccentric Tenth Doctor on Doctor Who, David Tennant has also appeared in a number of other notable TV shows, including the 2013 crime drama, Broadchurch. Pairing Tennant with the Academy Award-winning Olivia Colman, Broadchurch focuses on the larger implications a small-town murder has on a seaside community, including an in-depth look into the lives of the victims’ family members. Divided into three equally excellent seasons, it’s among the finest achievements in British neo-noir there is.