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.
Share
The Best Scottish TV Shows You Can Stream in the US
Published 2 days ago • 4 min read
Today, Gavin & Stacey is 18! This charming classic series first aired on May 13th in 2007.
The series follows the long-distance relationship between Gavin (Mathew Horne), an easygoing guy from Essex, and Stacey (Joanna Page), a sweet and slightly shy Welsh woman. As their romance blossoms, their eccentric families and outspoken best friends—Smithy (James Corden) and Nessa (Ruth Jones)—add plenty of chaos and laughs along the way. The show is unique in that many consider the titular characters to be the least interesting part of the show.
After three seasons and two Christmas specials, the long-awaited finale finally aired in December 2024. Set over the holidays, the episode brought the gang back together and answered a few long-standing questions—while leaving the door just slightly ajar.
Watching: Arthur's Whisky - Patricia Hodge (Miranda) stars as Joan, a woman who realises her late husband's whisky is actually an elixir of eternal youth. She shares it with her friends, but they soon learn that even with youthful bodies, they may not be fully equipped to be young in this modern world. Diane Keaton, Lulu, and Hayley Mills also star.
Reading: Missing Person: Alice by Simon Mason - I picked this first in series novel up on sale (still on sale at time of writing) after seeing it praised by both Ian Rankin and Mick Herron. Mason, who also writes the Oxford-based DI Wilkins Mysteries, introduces a specialist known only as the Finder, called in to revisit a cold case involving the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl.
The Best Scottish Shows You Can Stream in the US...
Shetland - 2013 to present - Set against the remote beauty of Scotland’s Shetland Islands, this crime drama follows DI Jimmy Perez (Douglas Henshall) as he investigates local murders with DS Alison “Tosh” McIntosh (Alison O'Donnell). Based on Ann Cleeves’ bestselling novels, the series blends atmospheric landscapes with layered storytelling. Starting in season 8, Ashley Jensen takes over as the lead detective following Henshall’s departure. Streaming
Hamish MacBeth - 1995 to 1997 - In a small Scottish village of Lochdubh (the real-life village of Plockton), a police constable bends the rules and occasionally hides his true ability so he can stay in a place and job he loves. Streaming
Outlander - 2014 to present - An English nurse mysteriously finds herself transported back to Scotland in the year 1743. This show was a joint British--American project, using creative talent from both sides of the pond. In later seasons, the action moves to the US. Streaming
Rebus - 2024 - In this modern reimagining of Ian Rankin’s iconic detective, John Rebus is a younger, still-serving officer in contemporary Edinburgh, grappling with the moral grey areas of modern policing. Richard Rankin stars as the sharp but conflicted detective, whose old-school instincts clash with new-world challenges in a city that’s changing faster than he is. Streaming
Still Game - 1999 to 2019 - Set in the fictional Glasgow neighborhood of Craiglang, this long-running Scottish comedy follows lifelong friends Jack and Victor, two sharp-witted pensioners who spend their days trading barbs, navigating the indignities of aging, and getting into mischief with their equally eccentric neighbors. Netflix
Traces - 2019 to 2022 - New chemistry graduate Emma Hodges begins work at The Scottish Institute of Forensic Science and Anatomy, but when she joins an online course to build professional skills, she notices the case is eerily familiar. It's the case of how her mother's body was found eighteen years earlier. Along with her new bosses and a committed detective, Emma begins following up the clues - leading her right into the middle of a live investigation. Streaming
2000 Acres of Sky - 2001 to 2003 - A single mother with two children moves from the inner city to a small Scottish island to improve their lives. The only complication? The islanders want a married couple, so she has to recruit her best friend and pretend. Streaming
The Loch / Loch Ness - 2017 - When a brutal murder rocks a small town on the shores of Loch Ness, local detective Annie Redford is thrust into her first serious homicide case. As the investigation unfolds, she’s joined by an experienced investigator from Glasgow, and together they begin to uncover dark secrets hidden beneath the surface of the seemingly quiet Highland community. With rising tensions, mounting bodies, and no shortage of suspects, the case becomes more complex and personal than anyone expected. The series stars Laura Fraser, Siobhan Finneran, and John Sessions. Streaming
Case Histories - 2011 to 2013 - Based on Kate Atkinson’s bestselling novels, Case Histories is a British crime drama that follows Jackson Brodie (Jason Isaacs), a former soldier and policeman turned private investigator in Edinburgh.Haunted by personal tragedy, Brodie is drawn to cases involving the lost, the bereaved, and the broken.The series blends intricate mysteries with character-driven storytelling, as Brodie navigates complex investigations while grappling with his own troubled past. Streaming
Guilt - 2019 to 2023 - After two brothers accidentally kill an elderly man in a hit-and-run, they scramble to cover it up—setting off a chain of lies, blackmail, and unexpected consequences. Set in Edinburgh, this darkly comic thriller stars Mark Bonnar and Jamie Sives as siblings whose uneasy bond is tested as the truth threatens to unravel. Streaming
Annika - 2021 to present - A sharp-witted marine homicide detective investigates unexplained deaths along Scotland’s waterways while balancing life as a single mother. Played by Nicola Walker, the lead often breaks the fourth wall, sharing dry observations and literary asides as she guides viewers through each case. Adapted from a BBC Radio 4 drama, the series combines clever storytelling with atmospheric settings and character-driven mysteries. Streaming
Karen Pirie - 2021 to present - Based on Val McDermid’s cold case novels, this crime drama follows young detective Karen Pirie after her promotion to Police Scotland’s Historic Cases Unit. Set in the picturesque university town of St. Andrews, the series begins with Karen reopening the 25-year-old murder of a barmaid—a case recently thrust back into the spotlight by a popular true crime podcast. As she digs deeper, Karen uncovers flaws in the original investigation and clashes with the officers who first handled the case. Lauren Lyle stars. Streaming
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.
This week, the British TV series MI-5 (aka Spooks) turns 23. First broadcast on May 13th in 2002, the fast-paced espionage drama became known for its gritty realism, shocking character deaths (don't get attached), and storylines that reflected real-world political tensions. Over its 10-series run, the series introduced audiences to a number of actors who have since become household names. Matthew Macfadyen (Succession) played original team leader Tom Quinn, while Keeley Hawes (The Durrells)...
This weekend marks 28 years since the premiere of Jonathan Creek, the clever and unconventional mystery series that quickly became a cult favorite. First airing on 10 May 1997, the show introduced us to the brilliant but eccentric Jonathan Creek, a magician’s consultant who used his keen eye for illusion and logic to solve seemingly impossible crimes. Played by Alan Davies, Creek was a refreshingly quirky addition to the world of British detectives, paired initially with journalist Maddy...
Today marks 15 years since the premiere of Luther, the now-classic British crime drama starring Idris Elba as a morally complex detective who struggles with the darkness of the world and its people. Ruth Wilson plays Alice Morgan, a brilliant but evil woman who enjoys making his life complicated. To celebrate the anniversary, we put together a fun minstrel-style song about Luther, which you can check out HERE. In the US, you can watch Luther on Acorn TV, AMC+, BritBox, Hulu, and Pluto TV...
