What to watch on BritBox – quick links
BritBox: new this week
Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors – 17 March
Documentary. Over the past decade, Queen Camilla has dedicated herself to raising awareness of domestic and sexual abuse, and this intimate 90-minute documentary takes an unprecedented deep dive into her advocacy work.
From hosting roundtables with teenagers to celebrating International Women’s Day at Buckingham Palace, the Queen meets survivors, campaigners and change makers, exploring the root causes of abuse and how to break its cycle. With candid reflections on what drives her advocacy, this documentary offers a rare glimpse into her private meetings and official engagements over the course of a year.
BritBox: recently added
Motherland Seasons 1-3 – 4 March
Series. Anna Maxwell-Martin (Bleak House, Line Of Duty, South Riding) stars as Julia Johnstone, a working mum navigating a chaotic parent group and an absent husband, along with the trials of modern motherhood.
When her mother decides to stop helping out with the grandchildren, Julia is left with no choice but to take a more active role in her kids’ lives. She begins navigating the local parents group, meeting fellow working mum Liz, stay-at-home dad Kevin, and the confident, acerbic mum Amanda. Together, they navigate the trials, traumas and absurdity of modern parenting, forming an unexpected camaraderie.
Both brutally honest and utterly hilarious, Motherland is a critically-acclaimed, binge-worthy sitcom that delves into the unromantic and chaotic side of middle-class motherhood to deliver a hilariously honest and relatable portrayal of the hyper-competitive world of modern parenting.
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Seasons 7-8 – 10 March
Series. Comedian Jimmy Carr hosts this popular British comedy panel show crossover, which sees the cheeky and articulate format of 8 Out of 10 Cats tackle the mathematical challenges and word games of Countdown.
The show began as a series of specials, the first of which was broadcast as part of a special ‘mash-up night’ for Channel 4’s 30th anniversary celebrations in 2012, but the cross-over proved so popular that this led to the channel commissioning more and more seasons – and as of August 2024, 162 episodes of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown have aired.
Out There Season 1 – 10 March
Series. This compelling new drama stars Martin Clunes (Doc Martin, Men Behaving Badly, Reggie Perrin) as Nathan Williams, a Welsh farmer whose quiet life is turned upside down when urban gangs begin using the British countryside to move drugs and money.
Nathan is a widower struggling with grief while raising his teenage son on a family farm that has been passed down generations. As criminals encroach on his land, Nathan risks everything to defend his family, his land and his legacy in this tense, thrilling drama.
From the team that brought you Manhunt, this drama will keep you on the edge of your seat. Dubbed the ‘Breaking Bad of Wales’ by The Times, Out There will leave viewers hooked.
Shetland Season 10 – 19 February
Series. Detective Ruth Calder, played by Ashley Jensen (Arthur Christmas, The Lobster, Ugly Betty) and Alison McIntosh, played by Alison O’Donnell (Do No Harm, Pet Sematary, Holby City), are faced with discovering the body of retired social worker Eadie Tulloch.
As the murder investigation unfolds, hidden relationships, past wrongs and Eadie’s social work with the troubled Jameson family point to a dark underworld. With betrayals, cover-ups and personal stakes running high, the detectives must navigate deception to uncover the truth.
The Pact Season 1 – 12 February
Series. In this six-episode crime thriller, four colleagues at a brewery make a reckless decision after their tyrannical young boss humiliates them at a centenary party. As a drunken prank, they abduct him and decide to leave him abandoned in the woods overnight to fend for himself. The next morning, they return only to discover him dead.
Bound by a fragile pact of silence, the women navigate a tense web of police investigations, blackmail and suspicion. As secrets unravel, shocking revelations surface, and one friend takes the fall, altering their lives forever.
Starring Rakie Ayola (Grace), Laura Fraser (Irvine Welsh’s Crime, Breaking Bad), Julie Hesmondhalgh (Broadchurch, Happy Valley), Eiry Thomas (Keeping Faith), Jason Hughes (Midsomer Murders, Marcella) and Aneurin Barnard (Steeltown Murders, The Catch).
