Hey Skwad!
A lot of these shows I was either too young to watch when they first came out or just too busy with other commitments to get around to watching, so what better time than when we’re all stuck at home trying to find something to do, to have a good catch up on some of the most brilliant British (natch!) telly of the past decade (which I'm pretty sure in fifty years will be considered cult classics)!
Feel free to check out my recommendations which I've linked throughout the page (in pink obviously)!
Honestly, I cried during the series finale the first time I watched the show, which is weird as it’s a three-season sitcom set in a failing high school. Any Jack Whitehall fan will adore this show as the consecutive winner of the “King of Comedy” (British Comedy Awards) in the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 is back doing what he does best; slightly awkward, self-deprecating British humour.
Jack Whitehall delights as the posh incompetent history teacher Alfie Wickers, who is desperately trying to get the school’s liberal and slightly hippy biology teacher Rosie Gulliver to be his girlfriend as well as teach his dysfunctional yet charismatic class Form K, mockingly nicknamed “Special K” due to “Mr Dickers” low-quality teaching methods and thus poor exam results, through their final year of secondary school (with each season acting as a term of the academic year).
Form K, whilst full of the several archetypical roles that can be found in a British high school (chavs, emos, nerds, etc), the show always makes the classmates three-dimensional and not to be taken at face value. For example, Chantelle Parsons (portrayed by Nikki Runeckles), the class’s most sexually promiscuous character (despite for the most part of the show being underage), states the reason why she flirted so hard with Mr Wickers throughout the show was that he was the only male figure in her life who showed her any respect and appreciated her.
The show is so loved that it got itself a film, The Bad Education Movie the year following its final season with the original cast reprising their iconic roles.
The ultimate proof that the British education system is nothing like Harry Potter.
The Inbetweeners is one of those shows which I’ve always wanted to watch, as it’s almost become a cult classic with its take on stereotypical British lad culture, but never got around to. I binged all three seasons in a single day and now I have the Arctic Monkey’s appropriately titled song Fluorescent Adolescent stuck in my head (don’t get me wrong the Arctic Monkeys are one of my favourite bands and Fluorescent Adolescent is an absolute tune, but still).
Starring comedian Greg Davies as Mr Gilbert, the head of Sixth Form, the show follows a group of sixth formers as they navigate their way into adulthood, in that space which creator Damon Beesley states:
[the] boys [are]… not yet men, you know, in the eyes of the world, but actually, technically, adults
Will, to some extent our protagonist and the narrator of the show, provides a significant amount of shade on other characters (despite being so short!), as the sarcastic, but most knowledgable and sensible member of the group after transferring from the private to the public education system as a result of his parents' divorce. The detrimentally of ‘lad culture’, while displayed through all of the four members of The Inbetweeners, is particularly highlighted through the character of Jay, who repeatedly tells lavish and outlandish tales of his own (most likely false) sexual exploits to avoid being ostracised by the other members of the group and his own father.
Also, the American version of the show literally retells the exact same jokes but ~wayyy~ worse, adhering to the old rule of “if it ain’t broke…”. So if you're looking for the definition of laugh-out-loud juvenile blue-comedy that appeals to the inappropriate teenager in all of us, The Inbetweeners is a must-see.
If Bad Education and The Inbetweeners seem right up your alley, then Barbara Ellen of The Guardian (and of course, myself!) highly recommend you check out Derry Girls!
Without acknowledging that one of the Derry Girls is actually a boy, the show follows a group of Irish Catholic teenagers (and one English cousin!) through the ‘Troubles in Ireland’ during the 1990s. The three-season sitcom seamlessly blends dark humour with the historical and socio-economic context of the show, without feeling like an information dump to those who might not quite remember the 1990s.
Speaking of humour, the show has won several awards in 2018 such as “Best Comedy (IFTA Gala Television Awards), “Best New TV Sitcom” (British Comedy Guide Awards), “Best Comedy Writing on Television” (British Screenwriters’ Awards) and the Radio Times Comedy Champion Award. Not to mention winning “Best Scripted Comedy” in 2019 as well as “Best Comedy Performance (Female)” earlier this year by the Royal Television Society Awards, proving the show’s comedic quality years after its initial release, with it currently commissioned for a third season this year.
In light of only having twelve episodes (six per season), you’ll easily become familiar with each of Erin’s family and friends' iconic personalities, although this may be a result of the show using stock roles as the basis of its humour; Orla being the dumb and quirky one, evoking Luna Lovegood vibes, Michelle the irresponsible and promiscuous one, usually the catalyst for the episodes’ mayhem, as opposed to Clare, who despite being the classic goody-two-shoes and a bit of a pushover, is usually the voice of reason within the show (often asking questions the audience would ask before getting easily dismissed by the others so that the Girls' wacky antics can ensue) is one of the more nuanced characters (but I won’t spoil why!).
With over 12 seasons in “New” Who alone, what better time than quarantine to go back to the beginning and binge the definition of classic British TV?! Seriously, this show has been going on since 1963 and holds the Guinness World Records for the “Most prolific science-fiction TV series (by episode)” (2017), “Most consecutive sci-fi TV episodes ever” (1989) and “Longest running TV tie-in” (2016)! It’s hard to name a person who if you said Doctor Who to them, wouldn’t have a rough idea of what you’re on about. The show’s iconography of a blue telephone box, a sonic screwdriver and Daleks being that, well, iconic.
I’ve only just finished the second season with David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor and his companion Rose Tyler played by Billie Piper so I can’t comment too much (and no spoilers please!), but so far the show doesn’t waste a single moment. Its writing is brilliant, using every sentence being either incredibly comedic or plot-relevant, whether that be in the short or long term. Doctor Who is also full of the best actors these great nations have to offer, Christopher Eccleston redefining what it means to be “The Doctor” and some of his mannerisms and catchphrases being mimicked in David Tennant’s interpretation, reminding you that just because he has a new face, he is still very much the same character.
The Doctor grows as the series continues, from merciful and trying to save everyone as a result of his past to not giving second chances and becoming more blasé with murder as he forgets his past in his old age, as can be seen by Tennant’s Doctor not knowing “what sort of a man” he is going to be when he first reincarnates. I absolutely adore Rose and The Doctor’s relationship and bond, effortlessly seeming like old friends with their own in-jokes and banter despite only knowing each other for a short amount of time. Even minor recurring characters such as Mickey “The Idiot” and Jackie (Rose’s mother) are treated with the same amount of respect as the protagonists, having personalities and motivations of their own which gives the world gravitas when Earth is threatened, Rose’s and to some extent The Doctor’s (as well as the audience’s) concern feels real, they have something to lose.
I wish I was kidding! From Bob Hale with the weather report to Stupid Deaths and (of course!) your host Rattus Rattus the talking rat, Horrible Histories won the British Comedy Awards in both 2010 and 2011 (and was nominated again in 2012!) for the category “Best Sketch Show” proving that it’s not just the best kids comedy around (although it has won several awards from the Royal Television Society UK, the International Emmy Awards, the Broadcast Awards UK and the BAFTA Awards for the children’s television category or similar)!
Whilst Horrible Histories was a massive part of any Gen-Z’s childhood, the show was never condescending or patronising and still appeals to those of the older generations who will find the show's witty writing and catchy songs parodying Kate Bush to Tom Jones hilarious! What’s more, the cast of Horrible Histories has gone on to do more TV shows together, such as Ghosts (which I’d also highly recommend), if you’re determined not to watch a “kids' TV show”. The educational quality is top-notch telling history as it is (or rather as it was?) with no bias, meaning that young or old you’re sure to learn something new in an engaging and memborable way.
With its Tom and Jerry-esque slap-stick humour, Horrible Histories certainly rekindles the child in all of us whilst capturing the heart of Terry Deary’s original novels and if you didn’t have a crush on Mathew Baynton growing up are you even British?
Notable mention: The M.C.U.
I’ve watched the majority of films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU) before, but never in order and so often I didn’t realise some of the references and jokes made about prior events. I’ve always wanted to binge the entire MCU in chronological order and finally got around to it during quarantine and BELIEVE ME when I tell you it was perfect!
The seven-year wait from the first Avengers film in 2012 to the final one in 2019 is beyond worth it to finally hear Captain America say those iconic two words, which still gives me chills and makes me fangirl uncontrollably (and I’m not the only one! When I first saw Avengers: Endgame in cinemas people were crying and someone a few rows back from me started shouting “Yes! YES!”) and will undoubtedly go down as one of my all-time greatest movie moments! Iron Man’s 11-year arc comes full circle and demonstrates how much he’s grown over this time period from “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” to proving that he has a heart. Black Widow’s past is never fully given away (although it might in her upcoming film!) and remains mysterious (unless, of course, you’ve read the comics!), which is seemingly appropriate as she’s, y’know, a spy? Yet you still feel a sense of justice as she finally gets the opportunity to “wipe the red out of her ledger”. The Hulk comes to terms with who he is, getting the best of both of his worlds (cue the Hannah Montana theme) and finally feels in control. Thor proves that you don’t have to live up to the pressures that societal expectations place on you and even if you suffer from depression it doesn’t make you any less worthy. My favourite Avenger, Hawkeye, just wanting to keep his secret safe is beyond precious and time after time he proves that the Avengers can’t win without him, his humanity keeping them grounded at a time of crisis when aliens and literal gods attack. Even smaller characters such as Ant-Man, whom many criticised Marvel for "scraping the bottom of the barrel” in attempts to stay reverent and push out a new film every so often, prove that no matter how inconsequential you think you are, you truly can be the only to save the day (or rather the world, seriously the events of Endgame would not happen without him).
All in all, the MCU is unprecedented in its devoted fanbase, something of the same ilk which has only been seen with the Harry Potter franchise, but even then Harry Potter was always a singly continuous tale based around the same group of characters. The fact that Marvel has been able to seamlessly combine several complex stories with a multitude of characters into a single timeline is something that has never been done before and will likely be never done again (although DC is trying, by God are they trying and failing miserably, but they’re having a good go bless ‘em) within our lifetime.
Other things I recommend/didn't get around to watching :(
The BBC's Sherlock or rather the definitive version of Sherlock, fight me!
Gotta love that Welsh representation in Gavin & Stacey!
Whilst Peaky Blinders doesn't appear to be on BBC iPlayer anymore, if this doesn't make you want a revival in Teddy Boy fashion then I give up!
Honestly, Killing Eve kinda goes downhill after the first series, but still worth a watch!
Bear with! Looking for some wacky antics that are such fun, are we? Check out, Miranda!
Just saying the earlier series of The Great British Bake Off that was on before the show moved to Channel 4 was better... (But you can still watch the early series on All 4 which is pretty decent of them!)
Hope this list gave you some ideas of how to spend the next few days before the lockdown rules change, or maybe I'm just extremely late to the party?
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