Sad news today - British author Peter Lovesey has died at the age of 88. Fans of British crime novels will likely be familiar with his work - particularly the Peter Diamond series, which ended in 2024 with Against the Grain. Lovesey announced in 2023 that it would be the last outing of the Bath-based detective, as his medical issues were terminal and he wouldn't likely live long enough to complete more. In a late 2024 interview, he expressed delight that he was able to live long enough to see...
13 days ago • 4 min read
Tomorrow, the classic British TV series Budgie will be 54 years old! Starring Adam Faith as the charming but hapless petty crook Ronald “Budgie” Bird, the series follows his misadventures as he schemes to make quick cash while constantly finding himself in trouble. Co-starring Iain Cuthbertson as his boss, Charlie Endell, the show became a cult favorite for its gritty portrayal of London’s criminal underworld - though anyone who's been to London in the last 10 or 15 years might be astonished...
16 days ago • 2 min read
Today, Monty Python & the Holy Grail turns 50! The classic comedy follows King Arthur and his knights as they embark on a hilariously absurd quest to find the Holy Grail, encountering a series of bizarre obstacles along the way. Starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Sir Michael Palin, it showcases the legendary comedy troupe at their most inventive. At present, US viewers can watch it on BritBox, Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, Shout TV!, and the Roku Channel....
21 days ago • 3 min read
A few quick notes... Today marks 28 years since the 1997 premiere of Cold Feet. The series follows the lives, relationships, and friendships of three couples in Manchester as they handle the ups and downs of love, family, and career. Originally airing from 1998 to 2003, it returned in 2016 with the same core characters, exploring how their lives had changed over the years. LEAVING - Though BritBox doesn't publish a monthly list of what's leaving, I did happen to notice that Love in a Cold...
25 days ago • 3 min read
If you enjoyed British actor Russell Tovey in shows like Being Human, The Job Lot, Years & Years, and Flesh & Blood, you might be interested to know he also appears in the 2024 Norwegian series The Fortress. The drama is set in the year 2037, and Norway has chosen to sever all ties with the rest of the world. Barricaded in by an enormous wall, they live in a self-sufficient paradise - until a deadly pandemic breaks out, and they realise the wall that kept them safe now holds them as...
27 days ago • 2 min read
If you're already missing Brenda Blethyn's on-screen presence, you'll be pleased to know she has a new project in the works - an upcoming historical comedy called Fools. Starring alongside Jim Broadbent and Karen Gillan, Blethyn will appear in this 16th-century tale about Queen Mary Tudor and her unexpected friendship with her court jester, Jane Foole (played by Patsy Ferran). The film, written and directed by Guy Jenkin (Outnumbered, Drop The Dead Donkey), promises to be a witty and...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Today marks 20 years since the premiere of the BBC miniseries Archangel, which stars Daniel Craig as a British professor of Soviet history who finds himself pulled into a larger mystery during a trip to Russia. Though it's a little older, it's a great look at Craig before he became famous worldwide as James Bond in Quantum of Solace. With just three 45-minute episodes, it's a quick binge - and you can watch it free HERE on Amazon Prime (also free with ads on Pluto TV and Roku Channel). QUICK...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
If the latest British TV releases haven't been enough for you, no worries - this email is meant for you. In it, we'll highlight some British shows and movies you may have missed (or forgotten about), all of which are available to stream in the US. What we're... Watching: Uncanny, Season 2 - Based on the popular radio series, this TV series explores seemingly inexplicable phenomena. In each episode, Danny Robins interviews a witness about an eerie encounter, then two experts weigh in—one...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Planning a trip to London anytime soon? If you enjoyed As Time Goes By, we strongly recommend checking out one of Jenny Funnell's tours. Best known for her performance as Sandy, she's now a Green Badge Guide and she does all sorts of unique historic tours around the city. Want to know more? You can check out her Facebook page HERE or her tour website HERE. What we're... Watching: Blackshore - So far, there's nothing too original or exciting about this Irish crime drama - but that's exactly...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read