Fair warning, OP. Once you start watching Brit and Australian shows, irs hard to watch any thing on US TV except for a few cable shows and original Netflix and Prime shows. The acting is so superior that you will cringe watching the starving blondes and pretty boys on US TV.

Love A Place to Call Home. Totally escapist!

The Tunnel. Not the Danish original, but the British remake. 3 seasons. Fantastic. I think it's on Amazon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great British Baking Show has it all -- a compelling narrative, insights into the mosaic of contemporary Britain, and, of course, food porn.

I've heard from so many people that this is a must watch - but never gave it much thought because it's a "baking show". I guess it's much more than that, after all!

Thanks!

OMG, it is awesome! Think of it more as a reality show where you get to see baking. And I am in love with Mary Berry, one of the judges. She is 80+ and just a cutie!

I hate to break this to you, but Mary didn't move with the show when it left BBC. The new co-host is Pru Lake, who's absolutely delightful, and a great match with Paul -- he of the spray tan and piercing blue eyes.

Walking through history, with Tony Robinson (Baldrick from Blackadder) on Amazon prime

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are great! I've literally created a spreadsheet!

Do share spreadsheet - thank you!

Here's as extensive a list of British crime shows as I've seen. It was posted here a couple years ago: http://timbarron.net/entertainment/british-tv-crime-mysteries/

This is pure gold! thank you! Brings back Broadchurch memories

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are great! I've literally created a spreadsheet!

Do share spreadsheet - thank you!

Here's as extensive a list of British crime shows as I've seen. It was posted here a couple years ago: http://timbarron.net/entertainment/british-tv-crime-mysteries/

PP who mentioned Sarah Lancashire here. My friend jokingly refers to these programs as “the BBC canon.” I started a running list in my Reminders app a year ago.

Keep an eye open for shows created by Sally Wainwright. She did Last Tango and Happy Valley. One of her new projects, Gentleman Jack, stars Suranne Jones (Dr. Foster and Scott and Bailey) as 19th century industrialist, Anne Lister. Not out until next year, I think, and will air in U.S. on HBO.

Also on HBO but maybe now on Prime, is Parade’s End, with Benedict Cumberbatch. Starts slowly but the payoff is worth it.

Fleabag is great. Very different. Hilarious, but dark. Olivia Coleman is fantastic. Written by Phoebe Waller Bridge, who also writes Killing Eve, which I’m dying to see and is about to come to Hulu.

Just finished Australian show called 'Mystery Road'. Very good crime drama set in outback with excellent cast.

These are older but they remain my favorite British shows:

Peep Show (Olivia Colman rules in this too!)
anything Alan Partridge
The Mighty Boosh

The Great British Baking Show is everything and more.

Anonymous wrote:These are great! I've literally created a spreadsheet!

Do share spreadsheet - thank you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great British Baking Show has it all -- a compelling narrative, insights into the mosaic of contemporary Britain, and, of course, food porn.

I've heard from so many people that this is a must watch - but never gave it much thought because it's a "baking show". I guess it's much more than that, after all!

Thanks!

OMG, it is awesome! Think of it more as a reality show where you get to see baking. And I am in love with Mary Berry, one of the judges. She is 80+ and just a cutie!

It is the most civilized reality show on TV. People are competing but they cheer each other on. Time is allowed to make a proper sponge cake.

Anonymous wrote:Night Manager is really good.

What about The Crown?

Night manager is going to have a second season

Olivia Colman from Broadchurch will play Queen Elizabeth in the next few seasons of The Crown

Other relaxing shows

Doc Martin

Midsomer Murders

Australian and great to good:

Offspring

Janet King

Heart Guy (much lighter than most shows mentioned on this thread).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great British Baking Show has it all -- a compelling narrative, insights into the mosaic of contemporary Britain, and, of course, food porn.

I've heard from so many people that this is a must watch - but never gave it much thought because it's a "baking show". I guess it's much more than that, after all!

Thanks!

OMG, it is awesome! Think of it more as a reality show where you get to see baking. And I am in love with Mary Berry, one of the judges. She is 80+ and just a cutie!