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CB Strike, Thursday Murder Club, & British Films You Can Stream for Free
Published 4 days ago • 5 min read
Today marks 8 years since the first episode of Strike (aka CB Strike) premiered in the UK. Based on JK Rowling's Cormoran Strike detective series (written under the pen name Robert Galbraith), the series has been enormously popular for its complex and well-imagined cases and characters.
In the TV adaptation, Tom Burke takes on the role of Cormoran Strike, the war veteran-turned-detective. Holliday Grainger is Robin Ellacott, the talented temp who ultimately becomes his detective partner.
At the moment, a new season based on the previous book, The Running Grave, is in the works (filming begins Autumn 2025). Next week, the latest book in the series, The Hallmarked Man, will be released.
Ultimately, the series is expected to have 10 books - and with any luck, 10 TV seasons (though the US numbers the seasons differently so not every book gets a season here). In the US, you can watch it on HBO Max or pay for episodes/seasons individually on platforms like Amazon Prime Video or YouTube.
Quick reminder: Don't forget, the Thursday Murder Club film premieres tomorrow (August 28th) on Netflix!
What we're...
Watching: Susan Calman's Grand Day Out - This is one of my very favourite British travel shows of recent years, but until now it's been tricky to watch for those not in the UK. Susan Calman is a Scottish comedian with a delightfully sunny personality. She finds something to love in every little corner of the UK, and if you enjoy great scenery with an almost impossibly pleasant host, you should give this one a try.
Reading: The Fethering Mysteries by Simon Brett - I'm always thrilled to find a good deal on a box set, and having only read the a couple of these books in the past, I was pleased to be able to get 1-6 for just 99 cents (ebook only, still on sale as of August 27th). The series follows the unlikely partnership of uptight former civil servant Carole and her free-spirited neighbor Jude as they stumble into murders in their quaint seaside town of Fethering.
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We know money's tight for a lot of people right now, and BritBox hiking prices by more than 20% isn't helping. It seemed like a good time to send out a series of emails highlighting British programming you can watch for free or with your Amazon Prime membership - beginning with some films.
My Policeman
My Policeman - 2022 - In 1950s Brighton, gentle schoolteacher Marion (Emma Corrin) marries the charming police officer Tom Burgess (Harry Styles), unaware that he is secretly in love with charismatic museum curator Patrick (David Dawson). Decades later, as Marion revisits their shared past while caring for an ailing Patrick (now played by Rupert Everett), long-buried truths and lingering regret come sharply into focus. Watch HERE.
Lloyd & Hill - 2001 - Former lovers DCI Danny Lloyd (Philip Glenister) and DI Judy Hill (Michelle Collins) are forced to work together again when Hill transfers to Lloyd’s unit. Their first case involves the shocking murder of a schoolgirl, drawing them into a web of hidden secrets while testing their uneasy partnership. Watch it HERE. Also available on Tubi, Roku Channel, and Fawesome.
The Weather in the Streets
The Weather in the Streets - 1983 - Based on Rosamond Lehmann’s novel, this drama follows Olivia Curtis (Lisa Eichhorn), a young woman who begins an affair with the older, married Rollo Spencer (Michael York). As their relationship deepens, Olivia is drawn into a world of secrecy and longing, where the promise of romance clashes with the painful realities of betrayal and social convention. Joanna Lumley also appears. Watch it HERE. Also on Tubi, Roku Channel, and Fawesome.
Wodehouse in Exile - 2021 to present - This drama explores the later life of beloved comic novelist P. G. Wodehouse (Tim Pigott-Smith), focusing on his controversial radio broadcasts from Berlin during World War II. As Wodehouse faces accusations of treason, the film portrays his relationship with his wife Ethel (Zoë Wanamaker) and his struggle to defend both his reputation and his devotion to writing. Watch it HERE.
Death at a Funeral
Death at a Funeral - 2007 - At a family funeral in the English countryside, Daniel (Matthew Macfadyen) tries to keep order as secrets, rivalries, and mishaps send the day spiraling into chaos. With his brother Robert (Rupert Graves), fiancée Jane (Keeley Hawes), and a cast of eccentric mourners including Simon (Alan Tudyk) and Uncle Alfie (Peter Vaughan), the solemn gathering unravels into farce when an unexpected guest reveals a shocking truth about the deceased. Available on Tubi, Pluto, and Roku Channel.
Irish Connection - 2022 - In this British‑Irish action‑comedy, Agent Aureille (Rosa Coduri) is dispatched to Ireland to recover stolen bearer bonds, only to be betrayed and forced to go rogue in Malta. Alongside a pregnant crime boss Alice (Flora Spencer‑Longhurst), her volatile brother Rory (Shane Robinson), and the hapless duo of Danny (Paul O’Doherty) and Jay (Jack Bence), their lives collide in a chaotic chase filled with humor, danger, and unexpected alliances. Watch it HERE. Also available on Tubi.
Summer in February
Summer in February - 2013 - Set in an early 20th-century artists’ colony in Cornwall and based on a true story, the film follows land agent Gilbert Evans (Dan Stevens) and painter Alfred Munnings (Dominic Cooper) as they fall for the same woman, Florence Carter-Wood (Emily Browning). Their love triangle unfolds against a backdrop of bohemian ideals, creative passion, and the wild Cornish landscape. Available on Tubi, Pluto, Plex, Roku Channel, and Fawesome.
Gentleman Thief - 2001 - Nigel Havers stars as the charming rogue gentleman thief, John Mannering, who balances high society living with his secret life as a daring burglar. When a heist entangles him with Scotland Yard’s Inspector Roger Bristow (Keith Allen) and fellow conspirators, his refined manners and quick wit are tested against betrayal, intrigue, and the allure of forbidden treasures. Watch it HERE. Also on Roku Channel.
The Love Punch
The Love Punch - 2014 - Divorced couple Richard (Pierce Brosnan) and Kate (Emma Thompson) reunite when they discover their retirement savings have been wiped out by a shady businessman. Determined to get revenge, they head to the French Riviera and, with the help of friends Jerry (Timothy Spall) and Penelope (Celia Imrie), hatch a daring jewel heist that rekindles sparks between them. Watch it HERE. Also available on Kanopy.
The Last Bus - 2016 - After the death of his wife, retired engineer Tom (Timothy Spall) sets out from Scotland on a cross-country journey to Land’s End using only local buses and his free bus pass. Along the way he encounters strangers who help piece together his story, turning his trip into both a tribute to his late wife and a quiet exploration of love, memory, and resilience. Watch it HERE. Also on Tubi, Pluto, Plex, and the Roku Channel.
British TV news for American audiences. Enjoy British TV shows like Sherlock, Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, or Midsomer Murders? Wish it was easier to know when new shows are out on each of the different streaming services? Want a way to discover older British shows you might like? Sign up and we'll keep you updated.
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We've been getting questions for months, but at long last, we have an answer for those of you who've been waiting for the rest of season 3 of Beyond Paradise. BritBox has confirmed that the series will return on October 14th, with 6 hour-long episodes to be released over 6 weeks. Season 3 follows DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton) as they balance foster parenting with new challenges—including the return of Martha’s old flame Archie (Jamie Bamber). The Shipton...
