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"Downton Abbey" is one of many British TV series available on BritBox.
PBS
Acorn TV and BritBox have tons of shows from Britain and some from Canada, Australia, and Ireland.
The two streaming services are a dream come true for fans of mystery series.
Each has unique content, so one service might be a better fit depending on your taste in shows.
In my downtime, I love streaming British TV shows, especially mystery series. I spent a good amount of the pandemic with Hercule Poirot. Agatha Christie's fastidious detective can occasionally solve murders between his breakfast hot chocolate and his evening crème de menthe. When I wanted something a little more daring, I turned to the stylish and bold Phryne Fisher.
The problem? "Agatha Christie's Poirot" and "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" are on different streaming services. BritBox ($9/month) has the mustachioed Belgian detective, and the Australian sleuth is on Acorn TV ($7/month).
The two similarly priced services have very little overlapping content. Most people probably don't have the bandwidth to add one more streaming service to their repertoire, but — hear me out — what about two?
BritBox and Acorn TV both offer a worthy lineup of series to binge, so a combination of both will ensure you get the best of British TV. If you can only go with one, however, we recommend picking the service that carries the most titles you want to watch.
To help you decide, we detailed all the basics, including pricing and a complete breakdown of major titles on each service.
It's hard to pick a true winner between BritBox and Acorn TV. Both have strengths and weaknesses, so it really depends on what shows you're looking for.
Acorn TV is slightly less expensive, but it has fewer options in several categories. "Dr. Who" fans will like that the early seasons are on BritBox. But if you're a big fan of mystery shows, you won't get a complete experience from either.
For example, "Vera," the show based on Ann Cleeves' fantastic book series, is split between the two services. Seasons one, two, six, and seven are on Acorn TV, while BritBox has seasons three through 11. Most of Agatha Christie's series are on BritBox, but Acorn TV has the 2015 "Partners in Crime" series and a couple of the more recent miniseries, like "And Then There Were None."
In addition to old favorites, both services offer their own original content. Acorn TV has "Agatha Raisin," based on the M.C. Beaton books, and "My Life Is Murder," starring Lucy Lawless. There's also the fun follow-up to "Miss Fisher," "Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries," which is set in the 1960s and follows Phryne's niece.
While BritBox is playing catch-up, it recently released "Time" with "Game of Thrones" star Sean Bean. It's already announced "Magpie Murders" based on Anthony Horowitz's novel and "Why Didn't They Ask Evans," an Agatha Christie miniseries starring Hugh Laurie.
If you have an extra few bucks to spend on a monthly streaming service, your best bet is to do a free trial of each and see which has the shows you like best. We've included a list of standout series from BritBox and Acorn TV below, in genres like mystery, comedy, reality shows, and more.
What shows are on Acorn TV?Geraldine Hakewill in Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries
AMC Networks
In addition to British shows, Acorn TV has series from Australia, Canada, and Ireland. Its mystery selection is superb, with standouts like "Foyle's War" and "Dead Still." You'll find quality dramas and comedies as well, plus some unique documentaries and reality show options — including "Victorian Farm," where archaeologists try to run a farm as though it were 1885.
Genre
Shows
Mystery
"Agatha Raisin" (2014) - seasons 1 through 3
"Alibi" (2003) - complete miniseries
"Balthazar" (2018) - seasons 1 through 3
"The Brokenwood Mysteries" (2014) - seasons 1 through 7
"Dead Still" (2020) - season 1
"Foyle's War" (2002) - seasons 1 to 9
"Loch Ness" (2017) - complete miniseries
"Lovejoy" (1986) - seasons 1 through 6
"Midsomer Murders" (1997) - seasons 1 to 22
"Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" (2012) - seasons 1 through 3, "Crypt of Tears" movie
"Missing" (2009) - seasons 1 and 2
"Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries" (2019) - seasons 1 and 2
"My Life Is Murder" (2019) - seasons 1 and 2
"Mystery Road" (2018) - seasons 1 and 2
"Pie in the Sky" (1994) - seasons 1 through 5
"Queens of Mystery" (2019) - season 1
"Still Life: A Three Pines Mystery" - 2013
"Vera" (2011) - seasons 1, 2, 6, and 7
"Wire in the Blood" (2002) - seasons 1 through 6
Travel, nature, gardening, and cooking
"The Big Bread Experiment" (2011) - complete miniseries
"Walking through History" (2013) - complete miniseries "The Wine Show" (2016) - seasons 1 through 3
Reality, true crime, and documentaries
"The Art Detectives" (2017) - season 4
"The Ballroom Boys" (2016)
"Bone Detectives" (2020) - season 1
"Caligula with Mary Beard" (2013)
"Digging for Britain" (2010) - seasons 1 through 6
"Rome: Empire without Limit" (2016) - complete miniseries
"Time Team" (1994) - 10 episodes, various seasons
"Victorian Farm" (2009) - seasons 1 and 2
"The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts" (2019) - season 1
Drama
"800 Words" (2015) - seasons 1 through 3
"Bomb Girls" (2012) - seasons 1 and 2
"The Boy with the Topknot" (2017)
"The Crimson Petal and the White" (2011) - complete miniseries
"Doc Martin" (2004) - seasons 1 through 7, prequel movies
"The Gods of Wheat Street" (2014) - season 1
"The Good Karma Hospital" (2017) - seasons 1 through 3
"The Indian Doctor" (2010) - seasons 1 through 3
"Land Girls" (2009) - seasons 1 through 3
"Line of Duty" (2012) - seasons 1 to 5
"Republic of Doyle" (2010) - season 1
"Réunions" (2020) - season 1
"The South Westerlies" (2020) - season 1
"A Suitable Boy" (2020) - complete miniseries
"Vidago Palace" (2017) - complete miniseries
Comedies
"Detectorists" (2014) - seasons 1 through 3
"A Moody Christmas" and "The Moodys" (2012)
"Nothing Trivial" (2011) - seasons 1 through 3
"The Other One" (2017) - season 1
"Upper Middle Bogan" (2013) - season 1
"The Worst Week of My Life" (2004) - seasons 1 and 2, Christmas specials
Classics
"Anna Karenina" (2000) - complete miniseries
"Decline and Fall" (2017) - complete miniseries
"I, Claudius" (1976) - complete miniseries
"The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1978) - complete miniseries
"The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1982)
Agatha Christie
"The Agatha Christie Hour" (1982) - complete miniseries
"Partners in Crime" (2015) - season 1
"And Then There Were None" (2015) - complete miniseries
"The Witness for the Prosecution" (2016) - complete miniseries
What shows are on BritBox?
Masterpiece
BritBox is a joint venture of the BBC and ITV. It has over 100 mystery shows and movies, and a film or miniseries for almost every Charles Dickens and Jane Austen novel. You'll have access to lots of plays, gardening and baking shows, and some classic comedies. This is the service for anyone looking for Agatha Christie content, with two Miss Marple shows and most seasons of David Suchet's "Poirot."
Genre
Shows
Mystery
"The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco" (2018) - season 1
"Campion" (1989) - seasons 1 and 2
"Death in Paradise" (2011) - seasons 1 through 10
"The Fall" (2013) - seasons 1 through 3
"Father Brown" (1974) - season 1
"Father Brown" (2013) - seasons 1 through 8
"The Lady Vanishes" (2013)
"Life on Mars" (2006) - seasons 1 and 2
"Luther" (2010) - seasons 1 through 4
"The Mallorca Files" (2019) - seasons 1 and 2
"Midsomer Murders" (1997) - season 21, plus "favorite episodes" from various seasons, anniversary documentary
"The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries" (1998) - pilot
"Prime Suspect" (1991) - seasons 1 through 7
"Rosemary & Thyme" (2003) - seasons 1 through 3
"The Sally Lockhart Mysteries" (2006) - two movies
"Sherlock Holmes" (1984) - four seasons
"Shetland" (2013) - seasons 1 through 5
"Vera" (2011) - seasons 3 through 11
Drama
"Ballykissangel" (1996) - seasons 1 through 6
"Casualty 1900s: London Hospital" (2006) - three seasons
"Line of Duty" (2012) - seasons 1 through 6
"The Paradise" (2013) - seasons 1 and 2
"The Royal" (2003) - seasons 1 through 8
"Time" (2021) - season 1
"Trauma" (2018) - complete miniseries
"Upstairs Downstairs" (1971) - seasons 1 through 5
"Upstairs Downstairs" (2010) - seasons 1 and 2
Soaps
"Coronation Street" (1960) - 2021 season
"EastEnders" (1985) - 2021 season
"Emmerdale" (1972) - 2021 season
Agatha Christie
"Agatha Christie's Poirot" (1989) - seasons 1 through 6 and 9 through 12
"Evil Under the Sun" (1982)
"The Mirror Crack'd" (1980)
"Miss Marple" (1984) - seasons 1 and 2, specials
"Miss Marple" (2004) - seasons 1 through 6
"Partners in Crime" (1983) - season 1
"Secret Adversary" (1983)
"Seven Dials Mystery" (1981)
"Sparkling Cyanide" (2003)
"Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" (1981)
Classics, old and new
Jane Austen: "Sense and Sensibility" (multiple versions), "Pride and Prejudice" (multiple versions, including the one with Colin Firth), "Emma" (multiple versions), "Mansfield Park" (1983), "Northanger Abbey" (1987), "Persuasion" (2007)
Catherine Cookson: "The Secret," "The Glass Virgin," "The Wingless Bird," "The Tilly Trotter," "The Moth," "A Dinner of Herbs," "Colour Blind," and more
Charles Dickens: "Our Mutual Friend" (1998), "Oliver Twist" (multiple versions, including one starring Daniel Radcliffe), "David Copperfield" (multiple versions), "Bleak House" (1985), "Great Expectations" (multiple versions), and more
"Downton Abbey" (2011) - seasons 1 through 6
"Dr. Who" (1963) - seasons 1 through 26
"Jane Eyre" (multiple versions)
"Little Women" (1970) - season 1
"Lorna Doone" (2000) - complete miniseries
"Madame Bovary" - multiple versions
"The Other Boleyn Girl" (2003)
Shakespeare: "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "The Taming of the Shrew," "King Lear," "Henry V," "Henry VIII," "Hamlet," and more
"The Turn of the Screw" (2000)
"Woman in White" (1982) - complete miniseries
"Vanity Fair" - multiple versions
Travel, nature, gardening, and cooking
"Coast" (2005) - seasons 7 through 10
"David Suchet on the Orient Express" (2010)
"The Edible Garden" (2010) - season 1
"Gardeners' World" (1968) - 2020 and 2021 seasons
"Landward" (1976) - one season
"Life in a Cottage Garden" (2011) - season 1
"Mary Berry's Absolute Favorites" (2014) - season 1
"Nigellissima" (20212) - season 1, Christmas special
"Rachel Khoo's Kitchen Notebook: London" (2014) - season 1
Comedies
"Absolutely Fabulous" (1992) - seasons 1 through 5, Christmas and anniversary specials
"All Creatures Great and Small" (1978) - seasons 1 through 7, Christmas specials
"As Time Goes By" (1992) - seasons 1 through 9
"A Bit of Fry and Laurie" (1987) - pilot, seasons 1 through 4
"Chef!" - seasons 1 to 3
"Fawlty Towers" (1975) - seasons 1 and 2
"The Office" (2001) - seasons 1 and 2, Christmas special
"Red Dwarf" (1988) - seasons 1 through 12, The Promised Land
"The Thick of It" (2005) - seasons 1 through 4, specials
"This Time with Alan Partridge" (2019) - season 1
"Waiting for God" (1990) - seasons 1 through 5
Reality, documentaries, and true crime
"Antiques Roadshow" (1979) - season 40
"Grand Designs" (1999) - seasons 16 through 18
The "Up" series (1964) - 12 movies
"A Very British Murder with Lucy Worsley" (2013) - complete miniseries
Panel and game shows
"8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown" (2012) - seasons 16 through 18
"Insert Name Here" (2016) - seasons 2 and 3
"Mock the Week" (2005) - seasons 17 through 20
"QI" (2003) - seasons J through R
"Would I Lie to You?" (2007) - seasons 8 and 9 and 12 through 14
Series from Britain, Ireland, and more that aren't on either Acorn TV or BritBox