10 Best British Dramas to Watch in 2026, From Sherlock On

The best British dramas to watch are Sherlock, Peaky Blinders, Fleabag, Line of Duty, Downton Abbey, The Crown, Normal People, Doctor Who, Luther and In the Flesh. For a newer pick, add Netflix’s Adolescence (2025), which won nine Emmys. Several of these shows also have fresh films or seasons in 2026 and 2027.

British television, especially BBC drama, has a knack for sharp writing, dark themes and characters you cannot quite trust. The shows below cover crime, period drama, comedy-drama, romance and science fiction, so there is something for every mood. We have refreshed our 2022 list with the latest news on each show.

Best British dramas to watch: quick list

10 best British dramas to watch in 2026

1. Sherlock (2010 to 2017)

Benedict Cumberbatch plays a modern Sherlock Holmes in London, with Martin Freeman as Dr Watson. Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss for BBC One, the show ran for four series of three episodes each, plus a 2016 special.

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Both leads won Emmys in 2014. Fans keep asking about a fifth series, but none has been confirmed, and in July 2025 Gatiss said the two actors were not interested in a new series.

2. Peaky Blinders (2013 to 2022)

Cillian Murphy leads the Shelby crime family in Birmingham just after the First World War. Steven Knight’s show ran for six series and 36 episodes, and Tom Hardy’s Alfie Solomons became a fan favourite from series two.

Updated for 2026: the film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man released in cinemas on 6 March 2026 and on Netflix on 20 March 2026, with Murphy back as Thomas Shelby. A follow-up series for BBC One and Netflix began filming in March 2026.

3. Fleabag

Phoebe Waller-Bridge wrote and stars in this adaptation of her 2013 one-woman play. Her character talks directly to the camera, which makes the viewer part of every bad decision. It is funny, rude and often heartbreaking. It is one of the most rewatchable shows on this list.

4. Line of Duty (2012 to 2021)

Jed Mercurio’s police drama follows a police unit that investigates corruption inside the force. Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar appear in all six series, and each series brings in a new officer under suspicion.

Updated for 2026: the BBC confirmed a seventh series of six episodes in November 2025, with all three leads returning and Robert Carlyle as a guest lead. Filming was set for Belfast in spring 2026, with broadcast listed for 2027.

5. Downton Abbey

An aristocratic family and its servants live through events like the sinking of the Titanic and the First World War. Downton Abbey won several Golden Globes and a Guinness World Record for the highest critical review ratings for a TV show. It is the easiest pick on this list for family viewing.

6. The Crown (2016 to 2023)

Peter Morgan’s Netflix drama follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II across six seasons and 60 episodes. Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton played the Queen at different ages. The final season was released in two parts in November and December 2023. The show won 24 Primetime Emmys and streams on Netflix.

7. Normal People (2020)

Based on Sally Rooney’s 2018 novel, this limited series follows Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal) from school to university as they keep coming back to each other. Mescal was nominated for an Emmy and won the BAFTA for Best Actor. It premiered on BBC Three in the UK and on Hulu in the US.

8. Doctor Who (1963 onwards)

The science fiction series about a time-travelling Time Lord first aired in 1963 and returned in 2005 after a long break. It mixes sci-fi, British humour and mystery, and each new lead actor brings a new tone. It is the longest-running show on this list by far.

9. Luther

Idris Elba plays John Luther, a brilliant but troubled detective hunting killers in London. His estranged wife tells him he cares more about the dead than the living, which sums him up. His strange, tense relationship with a suspect named Alice is the show’s best thread. Luther earned multiple Emmy nominations.

10. In the Flesh

The smallest show on this list and the most unusual. Kieren (Luke Newberry) is a zombie being treated for “Partially Deceased Syndrome” and sent back to his village, where many people still hate his kind. It is really a drama about prejudice and guilt, told through horror.

Newer British drama to add: Adolescence (2025)

Netflix’s Adolescence, released on 13 March 2025, is the most talked-about British drama in years. Created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, it is a four-part crime drama starring Graham and Owen Cooper. Each episode was shot in one continuous take, with no cuts.

It won nine Emmys, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, and logged 96.7 million views in its first three weeks. For more TV picks, see our series section and Hollywood coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Wikipedia: Peaky Blinders, Wikipedia: Line of Duty, Wikipedia: Sherlock, Wikipedia: Adolescence.