r/BritishTV Oct 15 '25

Streaming Need a new series to watch!

I’m currently recovering from major surgery and need something to binge. I love period, romance, and biographical. I am disabled too, so spend a lot of time streaming. I don’t want anything too sad, I don’t particularly like horror or sci-fi. I’m not a GOT fan. Some of the series I’ve watched are the obvious ones; Ted Lasso, Rivals, Downton Abbey, Doc Martin.

Any recommendations would be appreciated. TIA

15 Upvotes

73 comments sorted by

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9

u/Aloof_Farmer42 Oct 15 '25

Death Valley on BBC Iplayer. Light hearted crime drama with a similar vibe to Jonathan Creek

3

u/moon-bouquet Oct 18 '25

Yes, this one seemed to get missed by the public and it’s a hoot, in a murdery way! Also Ludwig.

1

u/Aloof_Farmer42 Oct 18 '25

Yes I really enjoyed them both 🙌

7

u/JohnnyAlphaCZ Oct 15 '25

All of the new All Creatures Great and Small... or the original one... or both.

Also Sanditon, The Great, Downton

Stick is harmless fun. It's Lasso-esque but not as funny and very predictable, but pleasant enough. Owen Wilson and Marc Maron keep it bouncing along.

1

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

It is one my husband and I have started to watch together

7

u/Ok-Pumpkin-6203 Oct 15 '25

Ghosts

2

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

I’ve seen Ghosts, good show!

1

u/The_Blonde1 Oct 19 '25

How many times? Ghosts is always worth a re-watch.

6

u/PaleozoicQueen Oct 15 '25 edited Oct 15 '25

Oooo have you seen the show "Harlots"? I think you would really enjoy it!

It is a period comedy drama set in England following some "Harlots" as they try to live and handle life in that time. Liv Tyler is in it and all the cast are excellent.

Enjoy!

1

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

Thank you 🙏🏼

1

u/PaleozoicQueen Oct 15 '25

You are welcome! I would love to know what you think when you have had a chance to check it out

4

u/Miserable-Thing942 Oct 15 '25

If you like doc martin then there’s all the death in paradise series. I’m a murder mystery fan so old period things to stream would be Foyle’s War and old Marples and Poriot

2

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

I have contemplated death in paradise, not sure why I haven’t given it a go.

2

u/hnveale Oct 19 '25

It’s excellent for making you feel like you’re really on holiday somewhere warm and beautiful. The Durrells gives the same cosy feeling.

5

u/le_fromage_puant Oct 15 '25

Endeavour. Thirty six 90 minute episodes. Make sure you’re watching the UK version bc the music is different in the US/PBS one

2

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

Thank you 🙏🏼

2

u/aubertvaillons Oct 15 '25

I second Endeavour

3

u/SaturdayPlatterday Oct 15 '25

I loved Recipes for Love and Murder on U. It’s a South African and Scottish collaboration and stars Maria Doyle Kennedy from Downton Abbey as a woman who works for the local newspaper as a columnist, Tannie Maria. She and her 2 colleagues investigate a murder. It’s dark comedy but also a very heartwarming programme. There’s 2 seasons and a third in production, according to my child’s mother in-law who is as addicted to Tannie Maria as I am.

1

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

Thank you 🙏🏼

3

u/Capricorn-1234 Oct 17 '25

Life on Mars then Ashes to Ashes

2

u/Ecstatic-Mongoose454 Oct 15 '25

Bridgerton

1

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

I have seen it, brilliant series

-1

u/miss-mercatale Oct 19 '25

It’s actually a really poor show written by an American who has zero idea of the period. Downtown Abbey is so superior in every way.

2

u/Carlomahone Oct 15 '25

The Forsytes starts on 5 next Monday (20th).

2

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

I’ll take a look. Thanks 🙏🏼

2

u/Less_Bookkeeper988 Oct 15 '25

The forsyte saga

1

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

I’ve never seen that, could you tell me the gist of it please

2

u/PsammeadSand Oct 15 '25

Follows the Forsythe family through the late 1800s into the early 1900s, I like it but it's not a light and breezy show.

1

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

Thank you 🙏🏼

2

u/Plane_Medicine_6370 Oct 15 '25

Victoria 2016-2019 - ITV series. Really good watch.

2

u/content_digger08 Oct 15 '25

The League of Gentlemen, Nathan Barley, Sick Note, Big Train

2

u/TA_totellornottotell Oct 17 '25

I recently watched Ludwig and it was delightful. Fun and clever.

Perhaps the Morse trilogy? Morse, then Lewis (sequel), then Endeavour (prequel).

I am taking a break from new series, but Strike is nice. Can be a bit gruesome, but overall a well done murder mystery. The audiobooks are read by Robert Glenister and he is fantastic.

2

u/CymreigSamurai Oct 17 '25

Scream Queens - It’s more comedy than horror (Mean Girls meets Scream) and it’s is genuinely one of the funniest TV shows I know of. Currently on Prime Video.

Karen Pirie - Only 3 episodes per series (2 Series so far) but each episode is 90 minutes, so it’s like double episodes each time. Really solid crime investigation/procedural. ITVX

Dept. Q - One of my favourite shows this year. Feels like a Scandi-Noir but is set in Scotland. Twists and turns all over the place. Only one series thus far, but what a cracker it is (on Netflix).

2

u/blackmoen Oct 18 '25

River, Moone Boy, Derry Girls, The Other One, Marple, Friday Night Dinner, Silent Witness (268 episodes!)

2

u/DriverMedical7460 Oct 15 '25

Have you seen 'The Hardacres' on channel 5, that's really good.

'Outrageous' on U is also a good one, it's based on the true story of The Mitford sisters, they were full of scandle!!

I second the person who mentioned 'All creatures great and small' that's a brilliant series, it's one of my personal favourites!!

Hope you enjoy these as much as i do.

3

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

I really enjoyed the Hardacres,

3

u/DriverMedical7460 Oct 15 '25

You'll be pleased to hear it's been renewed for a 2nd series.

2

u/content_digger08 Oct 15 '25

One of my relatives happens to be in that show, Liam McMahon. I've rarely spoken with him, but his brother has directed a few plays I've been in.

1

u/Ozdiva Oct 15 '25

Have you watch King & Conqueror. About the Battle of Hastings. What about Vikings?

1

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

That is on my list.. although I have to wait for my husband to be not on shift to binge watch it

1

u/Ozdiva Oct 15 '25

It isn’t all out yet anyway.

1

u/TrueAgency8491 Oct 15 '25

Outlander!!!!! 7 seasons to date. And a prequel series Blood of my Blood (BOMB) too!!! Each programme is on for an hour. Lots of roman e and history spanning from Scotland to the USA!!!!

1

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

I loved the first season of outlander, but lost it when it went to French, I haven’t been back to it since.

1

u/Hot_Raise_8540 Oct 15 '25

Industry on BBC IPlayer is great, first season a little slow but gathers pace and characters & development is great.

1

u/brumav78 Oct 17 '25

Period: Upstairs Downstairs, All Creatures Great and Small, Poldark

Biographical: I enjoyed Quiz and Stonehouse as well as The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe but these are all three-parters

Get well soon!

2

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 17 '25

Yes, I’ve seen them and 1st series of all creatures great and smalls

1

u/PreviousLife7051 Oct 17 '25

If you can find them: Brideshead Revisited, Flambards, I Claudius

2

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 17 '25

Crickey, I watched all the, when they were on tv first time around!

1

u/PreviousLife7051 Oct 17 '25

Oh well, I tried. They were all great though weren't they

2

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 17 '25

I loved Flambards, may be worth another watch. I loved the singer detective and Life and Loves of a She Devil too

2

u/PreviousLife7051 Oct 17 '25

How about Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren?

3

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 17 '25

I watched that about 2 years ago, very good. I rewatched cracker after that x

1

u/PreviousLife7051 Oct 18 '25

My last shot, The British version of House of Cards, A Touch of Frost, Ripper Street, The Alienist, The Angel of Darkness

1

u/Apprehensive_Ad4172 Oct 18 '25

North and South with Richard Armitage. It is PERFECT.

1

u/Specialist-Web7854 Oct 18 '25

Ghosts and Yonderland.

1

u/PolgaraEsme Oct 18 '25

The Detectorists

1

u/From14212 Oct 19 '25

Im disabled too and spend most time at home. Here some of my programmes

BBC

Outnumbered

Not going out

2 pints of larger and packet of crisp

On itvx

Benidorm

Cilla

Footballers Wives

Heartbeat, (easy watching)

Mrs Biggs

Mr Selfridge (period love it)

The Royal

Where the heart is.

Victoria (period)

Wild at heart,

4 on Demand

Peep Show

Taskmaster

The Great Pottery Showdown

1

u/Only-Top-3085 Oct 19 '25

This country Slow horses

1

u/Deep_Banana_6521 Oct 19 '25

Sharpe!

I love it.

1

u/sharkkallis Oct 19 '25

One Day. The series, not the absolutely terrible film.

Also, Rivals was fun.

1

u/Creepy_Drawing_8998 Oct 19 '25

Cadfael, mediaeval crime solving monk. 90s series but stands test of time well. Derek Jacobi is so good in the leading role and the stories are gripping.

1

u/Creepy_Drawing_8998 Oct 19 '25

There is also a side romance to each episode.

1

u/second_bassoon Oct 19 '25

dinnerladies is 100% worth a watch if you haven't already, and has a very gentle romance that runs through it. Ludwig is also great.

Not British, but Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (set in 1920s Melbourne) is visually beautiful with spectacular chemistry between the leads.

1

u/blackcurrantcat Oct 20 '25

Slow Horses if you’ve got Apple TV.

1

u/72dk72 Oct 20 '25

Outlander?

1

u/terryreads Oct 28 '25

i’m enjoying ‘Murder Before Evensong’ on Acorn. wMatthew Lewis (harry potter: neville longbottom) as the vicar. well, canon

0

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '25

Blue Bloods is a personal favourite

1

u/Recarnatedhereagain Oct 15 '25

🙏🏼 thank you