Although American dramas receive the most of the limelight, British television has produced numerous compelling dramas over the years, particularly those broadcast on the BBC. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the best British Dramas. Which you should watch in 2022.
The government-run network never holds back when it comes to telling the most compelling and frightening fictional stories, with darker themes, snappy speech, and more brutal characters. All these dramas are really interesting to watch. You can’t take your eyes off the screen while watching these masterpieces.
Any chance to rest with a decent TV show during the stressful Holiday season is a gift in and of itself. Of all, with so many streaming platforms to select from, even the basic job of picking a show can be difficult. The best of these shows feature comedy, period drama, mystery, and romance, each reflecting a different aspect of British life.
Many of these dramas are currently available to watch on major streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. We have curated a list of the 10 best British Dramas to watch according to their IMDb rating below. Choose your pick!
Table of Contents
Take a look at our list of the 10 Best British Dramas to Watch in 2022:
1. Sherlock
IMDB – 9.1
In his breakout role, Benedict Cumberbatch played a modern-day Sherlock Holmes who worked with his devoted sidekick, Dr. Watson (Martin Freeman), to solve crimes in London. So far, four seasons of the BBC drama have premiered.
The series has gained multiple awards, including two Emmys for Benedict Cumberbatch for “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie” and Martin Freeman for “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.” It is undoubtedly one of the best British Dramas. Which everyone should definitely watch.
2. Peaky Blinders
IMDB – 8.8
When Tom Hardy agrees to play a supporting role in a program, you know it’s going to be fantastic. Cillian Murphy plays the kingpin of the Shelby Crime Family, who controls crime in the West Midlands industrial metropolis of Birmingham in 1919, in this gangster drama. In addition, Sam Neill portrays a brutal inspector whose mission is to bring down the Shelby Family.
Hardy first appeared on the show in Season 2. Alfred “Alfie” Solomons, the boss of a Jewish gang in Camden Town, was played by him. The series is based on an infamous gang called ‘Peaky Blinders’.
3. Fleabag
IMDB – 8.7
A great show about a young woman who tries to deal with life’s hardships by cynical recklessness and humorous pleasure. Phoebe Waller-Bridge wrote, created, and stars in the drama Fleabag, which is an adaptation of a one-woman play she wrote in 2013. By making the audience the character’s best friend, the play is able to connect with the audience.
The primary character in the show, Waller-Bridge, destroys the fourth wall by acknowledging and speaking directly to the audience. It’s a fantastic, heartbreaking, and profanely funny series.
4. Line Of Duty
IMDB – 8.7
Line of Duty revolves around a police agency tasked with uncovering corruption inside the Central Police Force. Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) was reassigned to the unit after refusing to participate in a cover-up.
The show is a popular and unusual sort of police procedural drama that follows a police team that investigates police corruption charges.
5. Downton Abbey
IMDB – 8.7
Downton Abbey has won numerous awards, including several Golden Globes, as well as the Guinness World Record for “highest critical review ratings for a TV show.” The show depicts the lives of an entitled family as they experience key historical events such as the Titanic’s sinking and World War One. Using both fiction and fact to comprehend a culture and a historical time, as this show brilliantly does, has become a popular way of doing so. It went on to become one of the best British dramas of all time.
6. The Crown
IMDB – 8.6
The Crown, a historical drama created by Peter Morgan, has gained a lot of traction on Netflix. The show follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the present queen of the United Kingdom, and gives audiences a glimpse beyond the palace’s closed doors.
The presence of award-winning actresses like Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, and Gillian Anderson, as well as newbies such as Emma Corrin, enhances the drama, with these actors delivering some of the finest performances.
7. Normal People
IMDB – 8.6
Normal People is based on the same-named New York Times best-seller and follows teenage lovers Marianne and Connell as they graduate from high school to college. Cornell is well-known, whereas Marianne is lonely and off-putting. The tables will soon be turned on them.
Normal People was nominated for four Emmy Awards at the recent 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards. The series is broadcast on BBC One and BBC Three in the United Kingdom and is streaming on Hulu right now. The British Drama “Normal People” is unquestionably one of the best British Dramas to watch right now.
8. Doctor Who
IMDB – 8.6
Doctor Who is a cultural phenomenon in the United Kingdom. This science-fiction show has been airing since 1963 and has garnered a considerable fan base over the years; after a 15-year sabbatical, the show returned in 2005 in a vibrant, internationally adored version. Doctor Who has combined the most unusual elements in science fiction, British comedy, and the classic ritual of British mysteries to create something extremely unique.
Time machines, Time Lords, and a character with a shady past, Doctor Who has blended the most unusual elements in science fiction, British comedy, and the classic tradition of British mysteries to develop something entirely unique.
9. Luther
IMDB – 8.5
Idris Elba portrays John Luther, a clever and fierce investigator who spends his days chasing down London’s serial killers. His job consumes him to the point where his estranged wife once said, “You care more about the dead than the living.”
Luther’s integrity is put to the test as he begins investigating a woman named Alice, despite his best efforts to be a good cop. Alice has a crush on him, and Luther soon develops a dangerous attraction to her as well. During its very successful run, the drama got 11 Emmy nominations.
10. In The Flesh
IMDB – 8.0
In The Flesh is a fascinating drama that portrays a different kind of zombie story than other zombie shows on television. In this universe, Kieren (Luke Newberry) has recently been transformed into a zombie, with zombies being accepted by the government but still reviled by significant groups.
Kieren struggles to come to terms with his new condition and treatment for “Partially Deceased Syndrome,” while also dealing with the violence he performed prior to initiating treatment.
There is a wide number of great British Dramas streaming right now. Sometimes it can be really hectic to choose among this wide variety. So we have compiled this list and mentioned some of the best British Dramas to watch above. We hope you find this article helpful. Please leave your feedback in the comment section below. Also, let us know about your favorite British Drama of all time.
Also, check out: 10 Best HBO Shows to Watch – HBO Series