Summer may be my favorite time of the year because I enjoy the warm weather, sunshine and 2-3 months where kids are out of school and therefore I don't have to go to work. However, Summer can be a terrible time for watching television because it seems that all of my favorite shows decide to air their finales and go on hiatus at the same time that I have all of this free-time. Sound familiar?
But, Summer can be the perfect time to catch up on shows that you might have missed out on. Last year I shared with you
a list of
British TV shows that my American (and other non-British) readers should be watching, and since then I've continued to keep up with British programming. Here's my new list of British television shows that my non-British readers should be watching.
10. The Graham Norton Show Available on
BBC1 and
BBC America
If you follow my
What's Making Me Laugh series, you've no doubt seen me post several clips from The Graham Norton Show. If you don't, The Graham Norton show is a weekly evening talk show with celebrity guests and it features a segment called "The Red Chair" in which members of the audience are asked to tell their most funny/embarrassing story while setting in a red chair and if Graham or the celebrity guests don't like the story they'll pull a lever and flip the storyteller out of the chair. This show is hilarious and blows anything from the current U.S. TV talk shows out of the water.
9. Episodes Available on
BBC2 and
Showtime
I was put-off about watching
Episodes because I worried that the premise sounded too similar to the show,
Extras, but I'm glad I gave it a chance (and ended up binge watching all 3 seasons in just 3 days). This show follows a happily married British couple who are invited to The States to create an American version of their BAFTA winning television show...and it's all downhill from there. The show features Matt LeBlanc from
Friends.
8.
Moone Boy Available on
Sky TV 1 and
Hulu
Fans of the It Crowd's Chris O'Dowd will enjoy watching him in the Irish comedy, Moone Boy, that is both co-written and co-starring O'Dowd. The show follows a young boy growing up in the Irish countryside in the late 80s/ early 90s. This show is funny, heartwarming at times, and innovative.
7. Broadchurch Available on
ITV and
BBC America
Here's one for you
Dr. Who fans (particularly from the David Tennant era) and also fans of
The Killing. In
Broadchurch, Tennant plays a detective who recently moved to the country side with his family to escape scandal only to be put on the case to track down the murderer of an eleven year old boy. If you want added incentive to check this out, The Fox Network is planning to make an American version of this show called
Gracepoint also starring Tennant.
6. Gadget Man Available on
Channel 4 and
YouTube
Another one for fans of the
It Crowd as series 2 stars Richard Ayoade
(series 1 starred Stephen Fry). The series explores the latest innovations in technology- sometimes in hilarious ways. It's a bit like watching a live action
The Jetsons.
5. Fargo Available on
Channel 4 and
FX
Fargo is an American dark comedy based on the Cohen brother's 1996 film of the same name. Like the movie, the show starts out with the words "This is a true story" and takes place in the northern US. However the premise is entirely different and follows the 2006 chance meeting of Lorne Malvo and Lester Nygaard and Malvo's influence on Nygaard. This show features a great cast including
Billy Bob Thonrton,
Martin Freeman,
Colin Hanks and
Bob Odenkirk. This is gripping television.
4. The Paradise Available on
BBC 1,
BBC America and
Masterpiece
If you're looking for a costumed period drama to tide you over until the next season of
Downton Abbey is released, check out The Paradise based off of the novel
Au Bonheur des Dames by Emile' Zola. This series takes place around 1875 and follows the lives and loves of the people that work in one of England's first department stores,
The Paradise.
3. Mr. Selfridge Available on
ITV and
Masterpiece
Here's another
period drama based around a department store. Mr. Selfridge is based on the real life flamboyant and visionary American founder of the London based
Selfridges department store.
2. The White Queen Available on
BBC1 and
Starz
Fans of
The Tudors will love the series,
The White Queen, based on Phlippa Gregory's historical novel series,
The Cousin's War and set against the backdrop of the
War of the Roses. The series begins in 1464 as The House of York and House of Lancaster are in conflict. This series is full of sex, war and beautiful costumes.
1. I Wanna Marry Harry Available on
ITV and
HULU
This was my go-to guilty pleasure show, and I was crushed when I found out that Fox pulled the plug before the final 2 episodes aired. Yes, the plot is stupid and sounds remarkably similar to
Joe Millionaire (i.e. Poor guy gets made up pretends to be rich; lies to a random group of women competing for his affections and hopes that they'll fall in love with the 'real him'. If woman stays with him after he reveals the lie then they both get paid; if not they're broke). But, sometimes you just want to watch a show that lets you take your mind off of other things.
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Also worth mentioning:
The Crimson Field Available on
BBC1
This drama takes place at a French hospital camp near the battlefields during World War I. It's got all of the drama of
Call the Midwife, but on a battlefield.
Peaky Blinders Available on
BBC2
With all of the grit of
Boardwalk Empire or
The Wire, Peaky Blinders following a Birmingham gangster family in 1919. It also stars
Cillian Murphy and
Sam Neil.
Misfits Available on
Channel 4 and
Hulu
This show is described as a sci-fi, comedy/drama about a group of young convicts doing community service that get struck by lightning and develop super-powers. It combines three genres that I like and sounds interesting.
Fresh Meat Available on
Channel 4 and
Hulu
A hilarious comedy following a group of students at Uni (University to you Yanks) by the creators of
Peep Show. Fans of
The Inbetweeners will recognize
Joe Thomas.
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