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20 British TV Shows To Watch If You Loved What We Do In The Shadows

For those still shouting BAT! whenever they leave a room.

With a jaw-dropping cliffhanger and surprise cameos, season two of What We Do In The Shadows left us wanting more. 

Still reeling from the gang’s invite to the most prestigious vampire event in existence, the Théâtre des Vampires, we’re waiting eagerly to see what’s in store for Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) and Guillermo (Harvey Guillen). 

Check out our exclusive chat with the What We Do In The Shadows cast in the video above.

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If like me, you just can’t wait for What We Do In The Shadows’ season three to light up your screen, then look no further for that fix of humour similar to this mockumentary, comedy-horror TV series. We’ve come up with a list of 20 British comedy shows you’ll love if you’re a fan of What We Do In The Shadows

Now I’m no comedian, but I believe one of the arts of successful humour is observational comedy, and the key to great British TV is matching it with a touch of awkwardness. In the UK this goes a long way; there’s a pause for the audience to question what they’re watching, have a proper cringe, and then stifle a laugh and continue the series with joy. 

Grab a drink, some popcorn, and jump into these British TV series. We can’t wait for you to spot some familiar faces...

The IT Crowd 

Starring Richard Ayoade (The Mandalorian, Paddington 2) Chris O'Dowd (Bridesmaids, Moone Boy), Katherine Parkinson (Humans, Sherlock) and familiar face Matt Berry (What We Do In The Shadows), this BAFTA and Emmy award-winning series follows the lives and antics of a dysfunctional I.T. Department. These "standard nerds" spend most of their time reading comics, averting cannibals, and solving all office I.T. issues with the question: “Have you turned it off and on again?”

In the US, you can watch The IT Crowd on Netflix

In the UK, you catch it on Netflix, Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon Prime Video

The Mighty Boosh 

The Mighty Boosh is one of a kind. This surreal comic fantasy features Noel Fielding (The IT Crowd, The Great British Bake Off) and Julian Barrett (Killing Eve, Truth Seekers) as they take the audience “on a journey through time” with numerous non-sequiturs and extravagant musical numbers across electro, heavy metal, funk, and rap genres. Just look out for the legend of Old Gregg. 

In the US, you can watch The Mighty Boosh on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video

In the UK, you can watch it on BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime Video

Stath Lets Flats

We’ve all got horror stories about properties we’ve rented, but have you met the UK’s worst lettings agent? Just wait until you meet Stath, the character of Jamie Demetriou (Fleabag, Paddington 2) – the most enthusiastic, yet incredibly incompetent young man who loves his job. He’s joined by his sister and fellow familiar face Natasia Demetriou (What We do in the Shadows), Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts, Friday Night Dinner), Al Roberts (Truth Seekers, Red Dwarf) and cue classic British awkward and observational comedy. 

In the US you can watch Stath Lets Flats on HBO Max

In the UK you can watch it on Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon Prime Video

Peep Show

For peak British awkwardness, Peep Show is the answer. I’m talking excruciatingly awkward. The kind where you’re cringing, laughing, and can’t quite take your eyes off of the screen because you want to see how the scene unfolds. It’s clever and showcases the cringe-worthy moments that make up our 20s and 30s. 

They say that everyone is either a Mark (David Mitchell) or a Jez (Robert Webb)—you really know you're in trouble when you're both. Some very notable scenes also with Olivia Coleman (The Crown, Fleabag), Matt King (The End of the F***ing World, Paddington), Jim Howick (Ghosts, Sex Education), Isy Suttie (Skins, Damned), and Paterson Joseph (The Leftovers, Noughts + Crosses, Aeon Flux). 

In the US you can watch Peep Show on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video

In the UK you can watch it on Netflix, Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon Prime Video

Ghosts 

Ghosts.jpg

Charlotte Ritchie (Fresh Meat, Raised By Wolves) and Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Stath Lets Flats, Friday Night Dinner) play a cash-strapped couple who inherit a country mansion, unaware of its collection of ghosts from different historical periods, who each died a ridiculous death. There will be some tears, lots of laughs and huge love for these invisible new friends you’ll make along the way. 

In the UK you can watch Ghosts on BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime Video

Spaced

Back in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, Spaced was groundbreaking in the comedy genre and struck a chord with audiences that is still relevant today with a cult following, thanks to its bevy of pop culture references. Created by Simon Pegg (MI, Star Trek, Ready Player One) and Jessica Hynes (Shaun of the Dead, The Royle Family) and directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver), this show follows misadventures of the two twenty-something Londoners and their kooky friends played by Nick Frost (Truth Seekers, Shaun of the Dead) and Mark Heap (Stardust, Friday Night Dinner, Green Wing). 

In the US you can watch Spaced on Netflix

In the UK you can watch it on Netflix, Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon Prime Video

Truth Seekers

Mobile network engineer by day and paranormal investigator by night, Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Spaced) shares spooky adventures with new recruit Elton John (played by Samson Kayo, Bloods, Youngers), Elton’s nervous cosplayer sister and Gus' grumpy father-in-law Richard. Also co-created by and starring Simon Pegg, this ragtag group of investigators uncover the truth when it comes to ghosts, the paranormal and internet service providers. 

In the US you can watch Truth Seekers on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video

In the UK you can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

Black Books

Written and co-created by comedian Dylan Moran, Black Books is set in a London bookshop and follows the lives of Bernard Black (Dylan Moran) who has a big hatred of the outside world and all the people who inhabit it; his best friend Fran (Tamsin Greig, Green Wing) and his new colleague Manny (Bill Bailey, Hot Fuzz). If you want retail customer service advice, this is the wrong show for you. For comedy, you’ve come to the right place. 

In the US you can watch Black Books on Amazon Prime Video

In the UK you can watch it on Netflix, Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon Prime Video

Green Wing

Fans of Mary Wardwell (Michelle Gomez) from Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will love seeing this awesome Scot in a very different role as Sue White in comedy series Green Wing. Think absurd sketch-like scenes, improv and soap-opera like portrayals of characters - all set in a hospital with no medical storylines. Green Wing boasts a huge cast where you might recognise some faces including Olivia Coleman (The Crown, Fleabag), Pippa Haywood (Bridgerton, Bodyguard), Tamsin Greig (Black Books, Friday Night Dinner), Mark Heap (Spaced, Stardust), Stephen Mangan (Episodes, Postman), Julian Rhind-Tutt (Stardust, Black Books), Karl Theobald (Primeval), Sarah Alexander (Stardust, Jonathan Creek), Paterson Joseph (The Leftovers, Peep Show), Oliver Chris (Dolittle, The IT Crowd). 

In the US you can watch Green Wing on Amazon Prime Video

In the UK you can watch it on Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon Prime Video

Fresh Meat 

A group of students are about to embark on the most exciting period of their lives so far...university. What could go wrong? With Jack Whitehall (Bad Education, Good Omens) paving the way of student life with Greg McHugh (A Discovery of Witches), Joe Thomas (The Inbetweeners), Kimberley Nixon (Outlander, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging), Zawe Ashton (Wanderlust, Velvet Buzzsaw) and Charlotte Ritchie (Ghosts, Raised by Wolves), these friends weave their way through uni life with some hilarious adventures along the way.

In the US you can watch Fresh Meat on Amazon Prime Video

In the UK you can watch it on Netflix, Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon Prime Video

Plebs 

Think The Inbetweeners meets Ancient Rome, and you have Plebs. Three young men from the suburbs try to hold down jobs, try their luck with the ladies, and climb the social ladder in the big city of Rome. Produced by and starring Tom Basden (After Life), the comedy cast includes Tom Rosenthal (Friday Night Dinner, Broadchurch), Ryan Sampson (The Crown, The Frankenstein Chronicles) and Joel Fry (Game of Thrones, Paddington 2). The character Grumio will become a firm favourite from the beginning. 

In the US you can watch Plebs on Amazon Prime Video

In the UK you can watch it on Britbox, ITV Hub or Amazon Prime Video

Friday Night Dinner

Most of us have a story or two about chaotic family dinners and get-togethers where there’s sibling rivalry, the odd neighbour next door who is a little too nosey, and distant relatives who make an appearance. Now imagine that every. single. week. This well-written comedy showcases a regular dinner experience of the middle-class British Goodman family every Friday night, featuring Simon Bird (The Inbetweeners), Tom Rosenthal (Plebs), Tamsin Greig (Black Books, Green Wing), Mark Heap (Spaced, Green Wing) and Paul Ritter (Chernobyl). Squirrel anyone? 

In the US you can watch Friday Night Dinner on Amazon Prime Video

In the UK you can watch it on Netflix, Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon Prime Video

Dead Pixels

Hilarious gamer comedy Dead Pixels is all about three friends who are obsessed with fictional massive multiplayer online role-playing game ‘Kingdom Scrolls’. Created by writer Jon Brown (Misfits, Succession), the series brings gamer life to TV among friends and some quirky avatars, tarring Alexa Davies (Raised By Wolves, Cuckoo) and Charlotte Ritchie (Fresh Meat, Ghosts), Sargon Yelda (Spectre) and Will Merring (Poldark, Skins). 

In the US you can watch Dead Pixels on Amazon Prime Video.

In the UK you can watch it on Amazon Prime Video or Channel 4 On Demand

Phoneshop 

The ‘00s was a golden era for workplace comedies like The IT Crowd mentioned above and another gem on the list is Phoneshop. The series follows the antics of the dysfunctional staff of a South London branch of a mobile phone retailer, starring Martin Trenaman (The Inbetweeners), Tom Bennett (After Life, Red Dwarf), Andrew Brooke (After Life), Javone Prince (Horrible Histories). You might recognise a young Kayvan Novak (What We Do In The Shadows) throughout the series as Razz Prince. 

In the UK you can watch it on Channel 4 On Demand

Cuckoo 

Cuckoo follows the plights of a family when their daughter returns home from a gap year with a surprise...a new husband in the form of Cuckoo (aka Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine Nine, The Lonely Island). Starring Taylor Lautner (Twilight), Andie MacDowell (Four Weddings and a Funeral), Greg Davies (The Inbetweeners), Tamla Kari (The Inbetweeners), Esther Smith (Black Mirror), Tyger Drew-Honey (Outnumbered), Helen Baxendale (Friends, Noughts + Crosses), Matt Lacey (Eastenders), and Kenneth Collard (Black Mirror). 

In the US you can watch Cuckoo on Netflix

You can watch it on Netflix, BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime Video

Chewing Gum 

If you’re a fan of Fleabag, you’ll love Chewing Gum. Created and semi-autobiographically written by Michaela Coel (Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, I May Destroy You), the series follows Beyonce fanatic Tracey Gordon as she leaves behind adolescence and enters womanhood, and takes the audience along for the ride. 

In the US you can watch Chewing Gum on Netflix

In the UK, you can watch it on Netflix, Britbox, Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon Prime Video

Skins 

Now while this series might not necessarily be a comedy, it has its humorous moments and is a critically acclaimed coming of age series that follows the lives of a group of teenage friends. You may recognise some young faces from the cast including Nicolas Hoult (X-Men, Mad Max: Fury Road), Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones, One of Us), Hannah Murray (Game of Thrones), and Kaya Scodelario (The Maze Runner, Moon) among many more. 

In the US, you can watch Skins on Amazon Prime Video

In the UK, you can watch it on Netflix, Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon Prime Video

Misfits 

Always wanted superpowers? The weirder the better, right? This sci-fi comedy-drama series follows a group of young offenders who get struck by lightning during community service when a strange electrical storm hits, only to start discovering they now have powers. With nothing in common with each other, they have to navigate their way not only through their teens, but also how to handle these new abilities. Starring some very familiar faces including Robert Sheehan (Umbrella Academy), Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones), Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor), Karla Crome (Carnival Row), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Utopia), Joseph Gilgun (This is England), and Natasha O’Keefe (Peaky Blinders). 

In the US, you can watch MIsfits on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video

In the UK, you can watch it on Netflix, Britbox, Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon Prime Video.

The Office (UK)

So, some of you may have watched The Office with Steve Carrell, an ultimate fan favourite for this author (!) but did you know it started out as a UK series? Featuring Ricky Gervais (After Life, Derek), Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, Sherlock), Mackenzie Crook (Pirates of the Caribbean), and Lucy Davis (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Wonder Woman 1984), this series was one those who gave birth to awkward observational comedy in British TV. Want to see the original manager you love to hate and hate to love, Gervais’ performance is gold. 

You can watch The Office on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video

Flight of the Conchords 

Ok, ok. Flight of the Conchords isn’t British, I know, but if you haven’t watched it yet, please do as it showcases Jermaine Clements’ legendary duo writing, acting and musician skills with Bret McKenzie. And if you liked What We Do In The Shadows, you’ll love Flight of the Conchords. The New Zealand duo refer to themselves as "New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo". The series sees their fictional characters try to achieve success as a band in New York and features Rhys Darby (What We Do In The Shadows), Arj Barker (What We Do In The Shadows), and Kristen Schaal (Bob’s Burgers, BoJack Horseman) alongside notable cameos. 

In the US, you can watch Flight of the Conchords on HBO Max, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video

In the UK, you can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

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About the Author

Annie Byrne

Contributor

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