With the turbulence caused by Brexit calming down, and American Independence Day being tomorrow, it feels like a good time to celebrate Great Britain's notable contributions to global media. What follows are some of the TV shows I've thoroughly enjoyed which come from the UK. This list is by no means exhaustive, in fact even a casual viewer probably has heard of the majority of them. Nevertheless, if you're looking for something to watch and haven't seen one of them, they're worth checking out.

This list is roughly sorted by popularity, and is not ranked based on my or anyone's opinion of the quality of the shows. Any show on this list comes with my highest recommendation.

1. Doctor Who

I don't imagine there are many people left who haven't heard of this series. While it originally started in the 1960's, the show was recently rebooted by Russell T Davies in 2005, after which it really caught on in the States. The popularity of the show owes to its blend of soft science fiction, adventure, and wit. Originally intended to be a family show, it's still quite approachable for all ages. While on initial viewing some of the predominant antagonists will definitely seem extremely cheesy or campy, this is done deliberately as an homage to the show's original run's pre-CG, low-budget, roots. To really enjoy Dr. Who you definitely have to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the ride-along through space and time with The Doctor in the Tardis.

2. Top Gear

Another extremely popular reboot from a bygone era, Top Gear is an exploration of automobiles and car-culture. The appeal of the show is mainly in the dynamic of the three announcers: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. The real highlight of the show are the episodes in which they go on journeys together, e.g., to Vietnam or some of our southern States. Much of the camera work on the car test drives done with perfectly matched background music is blissful eye-candy.

Over the years the show has become less about honest reviews of the various high-end vehicles they get to race around their track, and more about annoying producers and teasing each other. It makes the show enjoyable, but loses it some credibility with the "petrolhead" crowd. The presently airing series has a different line-up due to an incident with Jaremy Clarkson that forced the BBC to fire him, so I can't comment on the quality of the currently running show, but series 1-22 are definitely worth checking out!

3. Misfits

A dark comedy about teens who are forced to do community service developing super hero powers. The Misfits classlessly addresses a lot of issues relevant to angsty teens. Most of the original cast is gone by the 4th season, marking a shift in the appeal of the show. Personally I felt it was still worth watching all the way through. Despite the show being focused on the activities of delinquents, to me it demonstrates that people innately desire to be good, all they need is nurturing.

4. IT Crowd

This often quoted on Reddit sitcom is about the adventures of two underappreciated IT workers and their computer-illiterate boss. The show only had four 6-episode seasons, and a special movie released sometime later. While it takes a few episodes to acclimate to the strange tone and pacing of the show, it becomes hilarious and certain events will stick in your memory for months after you finish watching it.

5. Peaky Blinders

This period-piece (set shortly after World War 1) crime drama is about a local gang and the man who turns it into something great through hard work and perseverance. In slight modification of the standard formula, the show features a present-day soundtrack featuring mostly rock music. Despite being anachronistic, it fits with the show's tone quite well, and adds to its character. The third season just finished airing, but unfortunately I felt it was less invigorating than the previous seasons. Watching a criminal enterprise being built from the ground up in the first two seasons is somehow much more enjoyable than watching it maintain its status.

#6. Spaced

A sitcom created by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright from Shaun of the Dead fame, along with female lead Jessica Stevenson. The show concerns two 20-somethings who move in together to save money. Although in the standard sitcom format, and with only two seasons, the show is extremely entertaining, and has developed a cult-following in the States and elsewhere.

#7. Elizabeth R

Filmed in 1971, this show is quite different from everything else on this list. Being set in Elizabethan times, however, means that this period piece feels completely current. I stumbled on this drama, based on the history of Elizabeth I, after finishing The Tudors on Showtime and wanting to see what became of the heirs of Henry VIII. Despite having 90 minute episodes, the time just flies by watching this show as the tense Shakespearean drama unfolds. Set up like a play, the acting is the focus of this show, and it is performed brilliantly by the whole cast.

Feel free to give your impression of these shows, or other recommendations in the comments! "And On That Bombshell, Goodnight!"

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