Underrated British TV Shows You Need To Watch

On the surface, one might immediately think that British television is very similar to any American TV program you can find on cable or currently streaming. However, as anyone who's seen a decent amount of British and American series can tell you, the two couldn't be further apart.

Known for their strong surrealistic elements, dry wit, and dramatically small number of episodes compared to American TV series, British TV shows are practically a genre unto themselves. Whether they encompass historical dramas, absurdist comedies, or sitcoms set in World War II, you know without question when you're tuning into a TV show from across the pond, judging from its sense of humor and content alone.

Like any nationality, the United Kingdom has a ton of British TV shows that are well worth watching in their own right, many of which have gone on to draw in a massive cult following of fans (such as "Doctor Who" or "Sherlock"). For as many well-known British shows there are out there, though, there are also dozens of series that frequently fly under audiences' radar today, but are still definitely worth seeing. Here is a selection of the best, most under-appreciated TV series to ever come out of the U.K. ranked from worst to best.

Co-created by Michael Palin and Terry Jones, two of the founding members of Monty Python, "Ripping Yarns" is a show that can only be accurately described as "Pythonesque." Each episode takes on a new genre, mocking different facets of "proper" English culture, from the parlor mysteries of Agatha Christie to World War I spy stories.

To be clear, "Ripping Yarns" is not nearly surreal as Palin's most famous work on Monty Python, but the show does possess a very loose, satirical tone that can be found in many sketches of "Flying Circus." Thanks to its unique anthology-like approach, each episode feels more like its own self-contained short movie than it does a single part of a whole TV series, bringing in a ton of different guest actors with each new episode. Jones and former Monty Python member John Cleese even pop up in supporting roles during the series' run.

While not as famous as other post-Python projects like "Fawlty Towers," critics have continuously maintained a generous outlook on "Ripping Yarns." The series was nominated for a BAFTA for best film cameraman, later winning for best light entertainment programme/series. "There's no savagery in the humour; instead, it's charming, insightful, and very, very silly," said The Guardian's Phelim O'Neill.

One of the strangest, most off-beat shows possibly to ever come out of the U.K. "I Am Not an Animal" is a darkly comic animated series that is literally unlike any other. At the heart of the series is a group of anthropomorphic animals who have been physically and mentally altered by lab scientists to take on human qualities and characteristics. After animal rights activists break them out of their confinement, the animals struggle to adapt to their newfound human-dominated settings, the world not being exactly used to the idea of talking animals living among them.

A grim commentary on animal experimentation and the struggle to blend in with other "normal" people, "I Am Not an Animal" is as high concept a British show gets, but rarely if ever boring. Some viewers might find the subject matter a bit too upsetting or the humor too off-putting, but it's a series that's well worth watching for any fans of other equally adult animated series like "South Park" or "Rick and Morty."

Many critics have spoken positively about the series' humor and originality, with many American reviewers citing it as a show that could comfortably fit in with any number of adult series you can find on Adult Swim. "'I Am Not an Animal' is a deep, dark and funny six-part animated series that recalls variously 'The Island of Dr. Moreau,' 'Animal Farm,' the Robert Downey Sr. film 'Pound,' and 'Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey,' that Disney movie about the dog and the cat and the other dog making their way out in the wild," said the Los Angeles Times' Robert Lloyd.

Another popular British sitcom "The Royle Family" ran from 1998 to 2012, over the course of three seasons. The series focuses on the Royles, a working-class family who spend most of their time watching television. Much of the show takes place within the family's living room, heavily revolving around the conversations they have in regards to TV shows they're currently watching and the personal situations they're involved in outside of the house.

The general concept may sound dull, but "The Royle Family" manages to do so much with very little, relying extensively on the dry wit of the writing and performances. Divided into three seasons and totaling 25 episodes (in addition to five Christmas specials), it's commonly seen as being one of the best British series of its day, earning several BAFTA awards for best situation comedy and nominations for best comedy (programme or series), among many other nominations.

At the time of its airing and in subsequent years, it's continued to rank favorably as one of the greatest British sitcoms ever made, earning a spot on the British Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes. The series also placed highly on the BBC's poll for Britain's Best Sitcom, illustrating just how well-loved it was at the time it was released in the early 2000s.

One of the most humorously chaotic sitcoms on either side of the Atlantic, "'Allo 'Allo!" was one of the best TV series on British television during the 1980s, serving as a parody of the far more straight-laced British drama series, "Secret Army." Set amidst Germany's invasion of France during World War II, the show focuses on a French cafe owner who routinely has to deal with corrupt German officers, local French resistance fighters, and a pair of displaced British pilots, all the while trying to hide the several affairs he's having with his waitresses.

A timeless cross between the comedic World War II setting of "Dad's Army" and the farcical humor of "Fawlty Towers," "'Allo 'Allo" is an unexpectedly fresh comedy that makes endlessly entertaining use of its cliched characters and the comedic situations that arises between them. The result proved incredibly popular among viewers, earning high ratings throughout its nine-season-long run from 1982 to 1992. The success of the show even led to a lengthy touring stage show adaptation that ran from 1986 to 1992, and that has occasionally been revived in later years.

During its nine seasons, "'Allo 'Allo!" earned several nominations from major award ceremonies, having been nominated for best comedy series at the BAFTAs from 1986 to 1989. "”Allo 'Allo!' manages a pretty impressive feat, flying in the face of what we have come to believe a comedy must be, and yet it works in spite of it. The material is hackneyed, the jokes are often seen coming from miles away, but it never lacks for moments of inspired hilarity. Life during wartime has never been funnier," said The AV Club's Benjamin Cannon.

The epitome of 1980s counterculture TV, "The Young Ones" follows the lives of four vastly different young men (a stereotypical hippie, punk rocker, anarchist, and yuppie businessman) who live as roommates at a decrepit flat as they attend the nearby Scumbag College in London. Most episodes feature the main cast getting into all kinds of absurdist, chaotic situations, often involving the destruction of their flat, and conflicts with their landlord's family.

"The Young Ones" remains one of the more unique shows in the BBC's history. Featuring a heavy use of slapstick, visual gags, and surrealism, episodes of "The Young Ones" frequently feel more like a memorable sensory hodgepodge than a traditional TV series. The show features a number of famous guest stars like Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Terry Jones, Robbie Coltrane, and Emma Thompson, and interspersed throughout are randomly thrown-in musical performances by established metal bands like Motörhead and The Damned.

In later years, "The Young Ones" has become something of a cult hit among modern audiences, even inspiring a 1986 video game and later serving as the basis for an unsuccessful, unaired American adaptation of the series titled "Oh No! Not THEM!" The popularity of the show would lead to it winning the BAFTA Award for best comedy series, as well as appearing as No. 31 on the BBC's poll for Britain's Best Sitcom. "Like Monty Python and The Goons, some of it seems dated now. And not all of it (particularly the scabrous puppet interludes) worked. But at its frequent best it had a raw, punkish energy that caught the zeitgeist," said the i's Jeff Robson. 

A surreal mix of dark comedy and horror, "The League of Gentlemen" follows the numerous eccentric locals of Royston Vasey, a fictional town in northern England with its own complex history and colorful inhabitants, many of which are played by the series' creators; Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, and Reece Shearsmith. A loose, rambling narrative that focuses on the bizarre antics of Royston Vasey's occupants, "The League of Gentlemen" doesn't have the same cohesive premise as other sitcoms. Rather than this being a downfall on the show's part, though, such looseness allows for a variety of unforgettably anarchic storylines and episodes.

It's not always easy to find a balance between laugh-worthy comedy and chill-inducing horror, but "The League of Gentlemen" deftly locates that balance, presenting characters and situations that are both humorous and more often than not disturbing in nature. It's thanks to this blend of genres that the show proved instantly popular among viewers, leading to a successful film continuation ("The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse") and a live stage production ("The League of Gentlemen Are Behind You!"), both released in 2005.

Composed of three seasons, 22 episodes, three anniversary specials, and one Christmas special, "The League of Gentlemen" has been nominated for several awards, winning the BAFTA for best comedy (programme or series) and earning the British Comedy Award nominations for best TV comedy. "'The League of Gentlemen,' which first appeared on the BBC in 1999, is an amalgam of sketches, sight gags, running jokes and plot lines that almost defies description. Attempting it is like trying to convey to someone living in two dimensions what three-dimensional existence feels like," said The New York Times' Neil Genzlinger.

A police procedural drama series, "The Fall" stars Gillian Anderson as a cold, emotionally walled-off detective superintendent investigating a series of brutal murders in Northern Ireland. Her investigation eventually leads her to a seemingly normal bereavement counselor (Jamie Dornan), who moonlights as a vicious serial killer known as the "Belfast Strangler." As the detective and killer enter an intense game of cat and mouse, the detective struggles to find enough evidence to build a case against him, all the while dealing with bureaucratic red tape that greatly hinders her efforts.

A wonderfully-paced, sublimely-acted crime series, "The Fall" is an ideal viewing option for fans of anything TV show or movie that features Hannibal Lector. Spanning three seasons and 17 episodes, it's a taut, claustrophobic show where anything can happen at any moment, each episode brilliantly building up to an exciting conclusion that pits the climactic clash between the detective and her No.1 suspect.

Despite a shaky reception to the show's third and final season, "The Fall" still earned generally positive reviews, leading it to earn a BAFTA nomination for best leading actor (Dornan), a National Television Award nomination for best drama, and a Satellite Award nomination for best television series – drama, among many other awards and nominations. "'The Fall' is still remarkably gripping television. Even more important, it's one of the few police procedurals that takes its violent, terrifying, misogynistic antagonist with deadly seriousness," said Vulture's Kathryn VanArendonk.

One of the few British sitcoms to receive a sequel series, we highly recommend checking out "Yes Minister" and its closely-related follow-up series, "Yes, Prime Minister," if you can. Both series are equally hilarious takes on British politics. In "Yes Minister," viewers watch the newly elected minister, Jim Hacker, of the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs as he deals with the daily struggle of running a minor office. In "Yes, Prime Minister," we follow that same character as he unexpectedly rises to the highest seat of power in British government, yet faces many of the same issues that plagued him in his previous position.

Both series are intelligent, engrossing shows that portray the trivialities of politics in less powerful departments as well as those that take place at the top of the government. It also shows just how often personal or political feuds can interfere with government affairs, miring key issues in what is usually a petty rivalry between two government workers (such as Hacker and his nemesis/Permanent Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby).

Both "Yes Minister" and "Yes, Prime Minister" received critical acclaim in their respective runs throughout the 1980s. Critics praised the show's representation of government, while also complimenting the series for its writing, which they felt challenged viewers in a more academic, unpretentious way. "You can't fall asleep during an episode of 'Yes Minister.' The show knew how to do farce, slapstick, and physical comedy when the occasion called for it," said Den of Geek's Juliette Harrisson. "Yes Minister" won the BAFTA for best comedy series three years in a row, while "Yes, Prime Minister" was nominated for best comedy series for two consecutive years. Margaret Thatcher, at that point Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, even named it her favorite TV show during her tenure in government.

A beloved cult classic British TV series, "The Mighty Boosh" is a show that follows the surreal adventures of two zookeepers trying to break into the music industry, while living with a freelance alien shaman and his familiar, an anthropomorphic gorilla named Bollo. Many of the episodes incorporate musical elements that keep in line with the zookeepers' interests in music, using a diverse range of genres from punk metal and rap to reggae and softer folk songs.

One of the most refreshingly all-over-the-place series you're likely to find anywhere, "The Mighty Boosh" is perhaps the most enjoyably anarchic show on this list, bar none. It's a show where anything and everything can happen all at once, where the main characters are suddenly pursued by an army of destructive elderly women or receive kindly words of wisdom from the moon. It's hilarious and near impossible to predict what's going to happen next, making for an exciting series that's brimming with originality and creativity.

The series was nominated for several awards during its three-season run from 2004 to 2007, having received BAFTA nominations for best comedy newcomer, best editing, and best new director. "Even when a 'Mighty Boosh' episode isn't fall-down funny, there's always something happening. Each half-hour is a journey into [co-creators Julian] Barratt and [Noel] Fielding's peculiar headspace," wrote The AV Club's Noel Murray. In 2019, the show was included on The Guardian's list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century.

A tense political thriller that touches on plenty of real-world issues today, "Bodyguard" stars Richard Madden as David Budd, a British Army veteran suffering from severe bouts of PTSD. Having joined London's Metropolitan Police Service as a bodyguard, Budd is assigned to protect a controversial Parliamentary politician (Keeley Hawes,) whose views Budd personally detests.

A wonderfully-paced crime drama series, "Bodyguard" offers a deep-seated exploration about some key topics gripping our world today, such as the issue of surveillance and privacy rights guaranteed to every citizen. Additionally, the show has been praised for its depiction of mental health and trauma, especially in regard to Budd's PTSD. For this, the show has won universal acclaim among critics, many of whom have cited the show's performances (especially Madden), its treatment of modern politics, and the inner mindsets of its main character as major highlights.

"Both juicy in its delving into character psychology and rippingly ready to tear up its playbook as it goes, it's a six-episode ride that demands, and rewards, a quick binge," said Variety's Daniel D'Addario. "Bodyguard" has won or received nomination for a number of awards, winning a Golden Globe for best actor (Madden) and earning a Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Primetime Emmy Award nomination for best drama series. Though only a single season of the show has been produced thus far, there are plans for additional seasons of "Bodyguard" to be released at some point in the future, meaning there's no better time to prepare yourself for the new season by catching up on the six episodes that aired in 2018.

After noticing a number of seemingly coincidental predictions made in a little-known graphic novel have somehow been coming true (such as predicting the mad cow disease epidemic), a group of comic fans tries to get together in person when one of them finds a supposedly unpublished sequel to the original graphic novel. However, their curiosity soon leads to them uncovering a vast conspiracy, resulting in them being relentlessly hunted by a sinister group known only as The Network, who are trying to locate the missing graphic novel for themselves.

A thrilling sci-fi mystery series, "Utopia" came practically out of nowhere when it first hit Channel 4's airwaves in 2013, earning rave reviews from critics. However, some critics did point out the gratuity of the show's violence, which they saw as its biggest flaw. Despite the high level of gore and violence in the series, though, the show became a modern cult classic among television audiences, with many speaking positively about the show's ambiguity and amazing visuals.

"'Utopia,' written by Dennis Kelly, is a work of brilliant imagination, a murky labyrinth of a conspiracy thriller that traps you from the opening scene," said The Guardian's Sam Wollaston. "Utopia" won the International Emmy Award for best drama series, and earned nominations at the BAFTA TV Craft Awards for best writer and best director.

A surreal spy thriller unlike any other, "The Prisoner" follows an unnamed secret agent (series creator Patrick McGoohan) who finds himself in a bizarre yet idyllic small village in the countryside after suddenly resigning from his post. As beautiful as the Village is, residents are unable to escape, each of them being subjected to strange forms of interrogation from their mysterious gaolers. Each week, the agent — now designated as Number Six by the Village's leaders — tries to find a way to escape, regularly combating the Village administrator, Number Two.

"The Prisoner" is a show that has to be seen to be believed. It begins conventionally enough, starting off almost like a James Bond espionage thriller (although one with a far more bizarre premise than any of 007's previous adventures). As the show progresses, however, it begins offering increasingly more interpretative storylines that explore identity and conformity, bordering more closely on avant-garde by the series' conclusion. Due to its unorthodox storylines and experimental subject matter, "The Prisoner" instantly became a phenomenon when it first aired in 1967.

Many complimented its unconventional approach to the espionage genre, as well as its overarching themes and introduction of surrealism to primetime television. "'The Prisoner's" maze is both less flashy and more profound, its escapism 'mature' in the oldest sense of the word, a maturity that sees the walls of what society calls freedom," said Entertainment Weekly's Darren Franich. Its influence can be seen on other mainstream shows that similarly dabbled in surrealism that followed, like "Twin Peaks," "Lost," "Westworld," and "Squid Game."