For years, Sally Phillips has been one of those familiar faces on British TV—popping up as a scene-stealer in shows and films like Miranda, Smack the Pony, Bridget Jones's Diary, and many others. Soon, though, she'll be stepping into a leading role. The BBC’s upcoming The Hairdresser Mysteries will see Phillips leading a six-part crime drama as Lily Petal, a high-end hairdresser who trades the competitive city scene for a village salon. Once settled in, she discovers what every stylist knows:...
2 days ago • 2 min read
This week marks 44 years since the premiere of the classic British sitcom Only Fools & Horses. If you've never seen it, it's one of those shows that every British TV fan should at least try for a couple episodes. David Jason's portrayal of Del Boy is iconic, and the show is a warm, light-hearted portrayal of working-class London in the late twentieth century. Its blend of character-driven humour, emotional depth, and everyday realism helped shape the tone of modern British comedy for decades...
7 days ago • 2 min read
This year marks 50 years since the premiere of one of the UK's greatest sitcoms of all time - The Good Life (aka Good Neighbors in the US). As it opens, Tom Good is celebrating his 40th birthday and having a bit of a mid-life crisis. He has a wife, a mediocre career in plastics, and a house in suburbia... and he's sick of the rat race. He decides to quit his job and "live off the land" in his suburban house. Next door, their friends the Leadbetters are not entirely approving, but they remain...
10 days ago • 4 min read
Today marks 9 years since the premiere of Motherland, a brilliant British comedy about the trials of middle class motherhood in modern England. Created by comedy legend Graham Linehan (Father Ted, IT Crowd, Black Books) alongside Sharon Horgan, Helen Serafinowicz, and Holly Walsh, it continued for three seasons and a couple specials before spawning a spin-off, Amandaland, which is sadly not yet available in the US. All three seasons are available HERE on BritBox. NEWS: Those who've been...
11 days ago • 3 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...
21 days ago • 5 min read
A few quick updates before we get into what's new this week... It's been a great few weeks for fans of Edinburgh-based crime dramas - in case you missed the news, both Dept Q (Netflix) and the new Rebus (ViaPlay/BBC) have been renewed for second seasons. A bit further south, the Jersey-based reboot of Bergerac has also been renewed for a second season (even though American viewers are still waiting for the first season). Grantchester may be ending with next year's new season, but those who...
23 days ago • 3 min read
Summers may be slow when it comes to new British TV releases, but the next week or so is going to be one of the best British TV weeks of the year so far. Below, we'll lay out what's in store for this entertainment-packed 9-day period (yes, we cheated a bit)... What we're... Watching: Blue Murder - This is a slightly older series (2003), but Caroline Quentin is brilliant as DCI Janine Lewis, a single mother who balances raising 4 kids and solving particularly difficult cases. Aside from the...
28 days ago • 3 min read
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...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
First off, big news for those who've been waiting eagerly for more Silent Witness and Beyond Paradise. BritBox has announced premiere dates for both! Silent Witness, Season 28: September 25th (10 episodes, aired weekly) Beyond Paradise, Season 3: October 14th (6 episodes, aired weekly) Cooler weather always seems to bring out more of the big premieres, so you can rest assured there will be plenty more great new shows to look forward to as autumn rolls in (and not just at BritBox). What...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read