In its prime, BBC America was the gateway between America and a lot of great comedy and drama series from the United Kingdom.
But there have been a lot of changes since then, and BBC America isn’t the stalwart of British content it once was.
Casual channel flippers may have noticed that the former Fox procedural series Bones takes up considerable space on BBC America, including some days where there’s nothing on but that show.
Regardless, there are still a handful of things to enjoy on BBC America that aren’t Bones or Law & Order repeats. The following programs are the five best BBC America shows to watch right now.
‘My Life is Murder’ (2019 – 2024)
My Life is Murder is one of the few remaining BBC America original series. Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess) headlines the show as Alexa Crowe, a former police detective who has relocated to New Zealand for a quiet life and the chance to be closer to her brother, Will (Martin Henderson).
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But since Alexa is so good at solving murders, she ends up consulting with Auckland police detective Harry Henare (Rawiri Jobe) alongside her hacker friend, Madison Feliciano (Ebony Vagulans). Most of the cases are self-contained, and Alexa’s never between murder investigations for too long.
‘Sherlock’ (2010 – 2017)
Sherlock was once a mainstay on BBC America, but it doesn’t show up on the schedule as often as it once did. Thankfully, the first three seasons of this modern reboot of Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective are streaming on BBC America’s official site.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman became international stars after headlining this series as modern-day versions of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, respectively. Sherlock’s a brilliant guy, but not easy to get along with – even John gets tired of his shtick. But the way Sherlock operates in the present is fascinating to watch, and this is one of the most entertaining takes on the classic character to date.
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‘Planet Earth’ (2006)
Planet Earth is still well-represented on BBC America as the long-running documentary franchise has plenty of episodes to draw upon. The original Planet Earth miniseries debuted in 2006 and it amazed audiences with its gorgeous high-resolution footage of nature.
Nearly two decades later, the Planet Earth documentaries are still addictive to watch and a good way to appreciate the scope of our world’s other inhabitants and the wild places they live.
‘Weird Wonders of the World’ (2015 – 2016)
Nature can be very beautiful, but it can also be very strange. Weird Wonders of the World takes a look at real phenomena that take place in the wild and offers viewers a chance to more thoroughly understand it.
Some of the topics explored in the show include unusual animal friendships, bizarre science facts and potentially unsettling weather patterns. The show does tend to have a flair for the dramatic when presenting its information and footage, but it is also educational and entertaining.
‘Doctor Who’ (2005 – Present)
New episodes of Doctor Who are strictly for Disney+ these days, while Max has the streaming rights for all of the previous seasons of the show’s modern run. There’s not much left for BBC America, but it is fun to revisit the older era of the show when David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Peter Capaldi gave viewers their own spin on one of British television’s most beloved heroes, The Doctor.
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These early seasons of the revival series are arguably Doctor Who at its best, and also largely responsible for expanding the fanbase in America. But since Bones is taking up so much programming space during the weekdays, you may not be able to catch these Doctor Who repeats until the weekend.
