Over the years, the United Kingdom has produced some of the best, most iconic, and most memorablesci-fiTV shows ever made. The country shows no signs of letting up on its creative output in this regard, either, withNetflix’s superhero showSupacellproving to be very popular. There’s a specific charm associated with British-made sci-fi shows; they are invariably camp, quirky, and funny, while often challenging viewers to ponder some of life’s bigger questions.
Another great aspect of these properties is frequently pushing the boundaries of previously accepted notions of the genre. Whether they’re larger-scale productions, or lower-budget series, they all have one thing in common: leaving a lasting mark on audiences around the world. There’s a distinct difference in budget between American-made productions and some of the best sci-fi shows from the UK.TheX-Files, for example, has a more polished production design than some British series,but the writing and acting make the latter category shine.
Bugs
Cast
Bugs is a British television drama series that aired from 1995 to 1999 on BBC One. Produced by Carnival Films, the show combines action, adventure, and science fiction as a team of specialist crime-fighting technology experts confront threats involving computers and modern technology.
Bugsis one of the most underrated sci-fi shows to have come out of the UK,and its appeal helped it survive being almost canceled after season 3, only for a major cliffhanger to ultimately bring the story back for another chapter. Over its four seasons and 40 episodes,Bugscan be counted among90s sci-fi shows that still hold up today, namely for being way ahead of its time, as well as boasting some clever writing and a great cast.
8 Incredible Sci-Fi TV Shows Made Under A Budget
While sci-fi does well with large budgets that allow for amazing visual effects, sometimes the best TV shows are made with limited resources.
It’s a classic example of when Saturday night TV was a family event, and the tight scheduling meant that you had a specific time to all sit down and watch the latest episode. What makesBugsso great, however, is its intelligent storytelling and a cast of charismatic characters. The show also features some of the most compelling, and shocking, cliffhangers on TV of the time, and although it only lasted for four seasons, it’s well worth seeking out.
The Lazarus Project
The Lazarus Project is a sci-fi action/drama series that centers around a secret organization dedicated to saving the world - which is constantly besieged by never-ending threats. When George (Paapa Essiedu) wakes up one morning to discover that the calendar has been reset to six months prior, he sees no one else seems to notice. Due to his awareness, George is recruited to The Lazarus Project - a group of individuals who can re-wind time whenever the planet nears total extinction.
The time-loop genre has grown hugely popular, with the concept proving to be amazing in movies likeGroundhog DayandSource Code. However, TV also has its fair share of excellent series that focus on the plight of being stuck in one never-ending day, withThe Lazarus Projectserving as a great example. The deviation depicted in this show is thatprotagonist George, played by Paapa Essiedu, finds his life going back to July 1st every six months.
The cast helps to elevate the fantastic premise to great heights across its two seasons, with the likes of Carolin Quentin, Tom Burke, and Anjli Mohindra providing stellar support to Essiedu’s protagonist. The show deals with questions of fate, and its inquisitive nature, in which love is also a central theme, is infectious. It’s a shame it only lasted for two seasons, as the twists featured in season 1 especially make it a unique time travel story overall.
8Blake’s 7 (1978-1981)
Blake’s 7 Was Ambitious Low-Budget Sci-Fi From The BBC
Blake’s 7is another BBC show that, despite being made on a shoestring budget (which is certainly evident), demonstrates many fascinating features that make sci-fi television from Britain in the 1970s unique. Despite it not being quite as good as thebest sci-fi series from the 1970s, it’s still a classic British show in its own right. It was a series that wasn’t afraid to break formulas and evokes the likes ofStar Warswith its rebels vs the bad guys narrative.
Blake’s 7
Blake’s 7 is a British science fiction television series created by Terry Nation. It follows a group of renegades and outcasts led by Roj Blake, who wage a resistance against the totalitarian Terran Federation. The series, which aired from 1978 to 1981, combines space opera elements with themes of rebellion and explores the ethical and moral dilemmas faced by its diverse cast of characters.
Yetone of the most compelling reasons to watchBlake’s 7is that it was created by the legendary Terry Nation,who is also responsible for bringing audiences classics such asThe Avengers, as well as Davros and the Daleks inDoctor Who.Blake’s 7was also refreshingly ahead of its time by featuring a strong and diverse cast. The female characters are just as compelling as their male counterparts, given great storylines to match.
Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a dystopian anthology series that explores the unsettling and profound impact of modern technology on society. Premiering in 2011, it examines various scenarios where technological advancements intersect with human nature, creating thought-provoking narratives about contemporary and future issues.
Black Mirroris doubtlessly one of the very best sci-fi shows of the 2000s,with its stand-alone dramatic episodes evoking similarly thrilling series likeThe Twilight Zonefrom the 1950s. The series began in 2011 and has produced 33 episodes over its six seasons, with season 7 due to arrive in 2025. Each episode takes a fascinating look at what the future has in store for the human race, with everything from AI to social media, and the dark side of human nature.
What is your favorite Black Mirror episode?
Black Mirror does a great job of delivering on bizarre, twisted, and often scary episodes. They touch on social commentary and are creepy because they are things that often feel like they could happen and are not far out of reach. While there are many episodes that I think are perfect, Be Right Back is my favorite. Starring Haley Atwell and Domhnall Gleeson, it is way too realistic, especially considering the recent advancements of AI. When her husband passes away, she orders an android version to replace him. I will not ruin the episode for those who have not seen it yet, so let’s just say things get out of hand.
The best episodes ofBlack Mirroroffer a satirical, humorous, and often shocking portrayal of society as a whole. The very first episode features an unforgettable plot involving the Prime Minister of the UK being forced to have sex with a pig, that manages to be simultaneously hilarious and disgusting. Its satirical nature never lets up throughout the series, and it features some wonderful cameos from stars like Jon Hamm and Bryce Dallas Howard.
6Life On Mars (2006-2007)
Life On Mars Is Time-Travel Action In The 1970s
The best element of time travel is the mystery that draws the viewer into the action, andLife on Marsis a great example of this.The plot follows John Simms' character Sam Tyler, who’s suddenly, and mysteriously, thrust back to the 1970safter he’s involved in a car accident.Life on Marsis one of thegreat TV shows that re-writes time, as it’s fascinating to see Sam attempt to keep his head in the wild circumstances he abruptly finds himself in.
Life on Mars
British sci-fi series Life on Mars follows Sam Tyler (John Simm), a Greater Manchester policeman, who is hit by a car in 2006, and somehow awakens in 1973. Now working for the Manchester and Salford Police, at the same station and location as in 2006, he’s forced to reconcile with different sensibilities, and a new dynamic with DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister).
Sam becomes a detective in the Criminal Investigation Department, and it’s here that the series comes to life, mainly thanks to an eclectic mix of co-stars. DCI Gene Hunt, whose name is a clever piece of rhyming slang, is the perfect foil to Sam. They have a dynamic love-hate relationship that’s the beating heart of the show. This is despite Hunt clearly being a violent but somehow love-able bigot, from the first moment he’s introduced.
Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes is a British television series and sequel to Life on Mars. The show follows Detective Inspector Alex Drake, who, after being shot, wakes up in 1981. Starring Keeley Hawes, Philip Glenister, and Dean Andrews, the series delves into Drake’s efforts to understand her situation while navigating the challenges of her new reality. Ashes to Ashes blends elements of crime drama with science fiction and surrealism.
Serving as a kind of sequel toLife on Mars,Ashes to Ashesshares many similarities with its predecessor, albeit with a few different twists and turns.The action switches to focus on a different protagonist, Police Officer Alex Drake, played by Keeley Hawes, who’s shot and subsequently wakes up in 1981.
The decision to moveAshes to Ashesinto the 1980s worked well, as it helped to make sense of what happened inLife on Mars,and the world it had created. What differs quite considerably between the two shows is that Drake is clued up as to what happened to Sam in the 1970s because she has studied his life in the modern-day timeline. The one character that doesn’t change too much is Gene Hunt, who may have lost some of his edge as an officer but demonstrates many of the same character traits as before.
Doctor Who
An alien from the planet Gallifrey travels through time and space to explore, solve problems and fight injustice while also making friends with human beings. His spaceship, called TARDIS, resembles a police box, but it is much more than it appears to be.
One of the most well-known sci-fi shows to come from Britain is decidedlyDoctor Who. Starting in 1963 with William Hartnell as the First Doctor, the series has spanned generations, a further 14 doctors (not including alternative versions), and countless shrieking Daleks. The show has seen many ups and downs in terms of storytelling, but its lasting appeal speaks volumes about its popularity, while actors such as David Tennant and Matt Smith have given some once-in-a-lifetime performances as the Doctor.
10 Doctor Who Monster Redesigns, Ranked Worst To Best
Doctor Who has brought several classic monsters over to the rebooted series, but the modern redesigns aren’t all as frightening as the originals.
This show is a staple of British TV and one of the best things the BBC has ever produced.Doctor Who’s seasons may have fluctuated in qualityfrom time to time, demonstrating how such a long-running show is subject to great fluctuation. Some seasons are absolute stinkers, but they still feature a few great episodes. Other seasons are considered to be stellar installments, like season 1 or season 5, but have some bad episodes. However,Doctor Whois a classic and riotous example of British sci-fi,and will be for a long time to come yet.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy follows Arthur Dent, an average Englishman, as he is swept from Earth’s destruction into a cosmic adventure. Guided by his alien friend, Arthur explores the galaxy, encounters quirky characters, and seeks the meaning behind life, the universe, and everything with the infamous Guide.
Douglas Adams first released his story,The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,in 1973, and its popularity was so great that it spawned a radio play, a video game, a movie, and, in 1981, the excellent BBC-produced TV series.The show is a superb recreation of Arthur Dent’s exploration of the galaxy after surviving Earth’s destructionand is another example of classic British sci-fi.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxyincludes many wonderful characters with equally memorable names; such as Zaphod Beeblebrox, the many-headed president, Arthur himself, and the morose robot Marvin the Paranoid Android.The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxyalways deserves a re-watch when it is one of the best shows to come from Britain in the 1980s. The movie that was released in 2005 was fun, but the 1981 series has a nostalgic vibe that captures the source material perfectly.
Utopia
The Utopia Experiments is a legendary graphic novel shrouded in mystery. When a group of strangers find themselves in possession of an original manuscript, their lives suddenly and brutally implode.
Meanwhile,Utopiais one of the best sci-fi shows to come out of Britain in the last decade.It’s also, sadly, one of the most overlooked. The premise that a comic book can predict future events was original when it was released in 2013, and the series is incredibly fun. The plot follows fans of “The Utopia Experiments” who meet after finding a manuscript for a future publication.
The following events offer an exhilarating look into the conspiracy that the protagonists discover, and the show does a great job of showing how those with power can manipulate those without. It’s also beautifully designed, with superb production values for a show with a modest budget, while the violence is incredibly hard-hitting when it arrives.Utopia’s UK-made show is far superior to its American counterpart, and it’s a disappointment we only got two seasons.
1Red Dwarf (1988-Present)
It’s Cold Outside, There’s No Kind Of Atmosphere!
Such is the cult appeal of the series was proven byRed Dwarf’sreturn to screens in 2005. The show originally aired from 1988 to 1999 and featured an eclectic, hilarious cast including Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, and Robert Llewellyn. It is one of the most beloved, and successful, sci-fi comedies to come from the UK in the 1980s, if not arguably at the top of every ranking of sci-fi properties from this era.
re
Red Dwarf
Set in the distant future aboard the mining spaceship Red Dwarf, this British sci-fi sitcom follows the misadventures of Dave Lister, the last known human survivor, and his companions: a hologram of his dead bunkmate, a creature that evolved from his cat, and a neurotic android. Isolated in deep space, they encounter bizarre phenomena and alien creatures as they traverse the galaxy.
Everything aboutRed Dwarfis wonderfully nostalgic,but also set in a weird, quirky universe. For instance, Lister, one of the lead characters, is placed onboard the titular spaceship in suspended animation for smuggling his cat onboard. The cat then becomes a sentient, wise-talking guy, played by the great Danny John-Jules. These are just small examples of the creative delights the show has to offer, which deserve to be seen again before the newsci-fiseries airs.
