What’s on the telly

#Brexit has been the talk of the town, so why not take this opportunity to see some of our favourite British TV series

After the UK leaving the European Union, social media has been abuzz with everything British. We thought #Brexit would be a great time to revisit some cult classic and new iconic British shows that have formed our childhood and some, that to this day make an impact. So, get on that sofa and keep the remote close!

Fawlty towers Regarded as one of the best series Britain has ever produced, Fawlty Towers has everything a comedy should have. Basil Fawlty is the owner of a hotel and he is arrogant and short-tempered — a great premise for laughs! The other characters — his wife Sybil, chambermaid Polly and Spanish waiter Manuel try to run the hotel along with him, despite all the comical incidents. Unfortunately only 12 episodes were aired but nevertheless, John Cleese’s series is a must watch!

The royals The show has oodles of drama, scandal, royalty and paparazzi issues — sounds like a perfect recipe for binge-watching, doesn’t it Elizabeth Hurley plays the matriarch queen consort Helena, of a fictional contemporary royal family in Britain. Her twin children, Prince Liam and Princess Eleanor have problems of their own. Helena tries to battle with the burdens of being royalty, all the while being under the public eye. There is definitely something for everybody in this show.

Doctor who Ah Doctor Who, where do we even begin The Doctor is a mysterious, charming alien who is a 2,000 year old time-traveller who goes through space and time, trying to save the universe from destruction. One of the best science-fiction shows on television, the fact that it is still going strong after its first episode in 1963 is evidence. The TARDIS, his companions and Daleks have become household names, and not without cause. The contemporary Doctor Who is currently going on its 10th season and you can’t miss out!

Sherlock Arguably one of the most well-known characters in television history, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock has made a place in everyone’s heart. The British-American crime and drama series brings together the forces of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson to solve the most mind-boggling mysteries and crimes. Cumberbatch’s egotistic and eccentric rendition of the world’s greatest detective has earned him many accolades and a fan following that can’t be messed with. We can’t even wait for the fourth season in 2017, it’s plain torture!

Monty python The show was originally called Monty Python’s Flying Circus and was surreal comedy group Monty Python’s creation. The sketch comedy show dealt with everything from black comedy to satire and seemed to have a humongous influence on pop culture then. Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin together took the show from television sets to tours, films, albums, and even a musical! Safe to say, this cult status was not undeserving because the show pushed boundaries of the content available in 1969. Blackadder Surprisingly, Rowan Atkinson was a bigger name before essaying the role of Mr Bean! He starred as Edmund Blackadder in the sitcom Blackadder and we all know, the British take their comedy very seriously. He plays an anti-hero in the four series that are set in different historical periods while Tony Robinson plays a junior officer. The humour is dry and sarcastic — just how we like it ! If that doesn’t sell you on the show, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie play recurring characters in each series.

Downton abbey Set in fictional Downton Abbey, the drama series depicts the life of the Crawley family who are aristocrats in the post-Edwardian era. The show that began in 2010 ended last year in December with the rise of the working class. It is a look into the lives of the wealthy and their servants, and how events change the course of all their lives. The drama also stars Maggie Smith of Harry Potter fame, and she is just as much of a force on the show as she was in the films.