10 Best Brand New British Historical Dramas Released in 2023

Although the writers' strike is over, the SAG-AFTRA demonstrations show no signs of abating, further hindering many Hollywood productions. Luckily, there is a thriving film and TV industry across the pond. More importantly, British television has seen a surge in releases this year, with many more shows premiering every week, meaning there's plenty to watch if you've run out of ideas.

Specifically, British TV is brimming with various period dramas this year. And just like candles and bubble baths, the words 'British' and 'period dramas' combine to create something beyond human capacity to fully savor.

Here are ten best and newest British historical dramas that have emerged in 2023.

Stonehouse (4th January, 3 episodes)

Based on real-life events of the 1970s, this miniseries follows the mystical disappearance of John Stonehouse, a disgraced Labour ex-Postmaster General, from the beach of a luxurious Miami hotel. Having initially to deal with only a pile of Stonehouse's neatly folded clothing, the audience learns that the politician has faked his own death. The reasons behind this unbelievable decision are gradually revealed throughout the show, as is Stonehouse's fate after the incident.

Nolly (2d February, 3 episodes)

Starring Helena Bonham Carter, this fictionalized documentary explores the path to success of one of England's most famous female TV presenters and soap opera stars – Noele Gordon. In just three episodes spanning the 1960s to the 1980s, Nolly chronicles the rise of the future icon and her sudden downfall after an unexpected betrayal.

Funny Woman (9th February, 6 episodes)

Although this show's premise has the words 'sitcoms' and 'comedy' in it, it is a true drama, revolving around Barbara Parker, more widely known as Sophie Straw, who in the 1960s became, perhaps, the first female comedy star in the traditionally masculine industry.

The Gold (12th February, 6 episodes)

This crime drama focuses on the infamous 1983 Brink's-Mat robbery, in which £23 million (£95.7 million adjusted for inflation) worth of gold, diamonds and cash was stolen from a warehouse near Heathrow Airport. Starring Hugh Bonneville as the chief investigator, the show explores both the heist and the worldwide events and investigations that followed.

Great Expectations (26th March, 6 episodes)

Based on Charles Dickens' famous novel of the same name, this reimagining tells the story of Pip, a young orphan who strives to make a better life for himself in late 19th-century England. As he makes his way in this world with the help of various people, Pip learns that life is far more complex and people far more cruel than he ever imagined. The show stars Olivia Coleman as the villainous Miss Havishem and Fionn Whitehead (The Children Act) as Pip.

Tom Jones (30th April, 4 episodes)

Based on Henry Fielding's 1749 novel The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling, this quaint and warm romantic drama follows the life of the titular character as he tries to find his niche in this world. The show also features a heartfelt love story between Ton and Sophia Western, his childhood friend, as they battle social prejudice in order to be together.

Ten Pound Poms (14th May, 6 episodes)

Set in the middle of the 1950s, this drama series revolves around a group of British immigrants who have left their devastated post-WWII country for a better life on the other side of the world. Dubbed Poms by the locals, the newcomers attempt to start their lives anew in Australia, a fabled promised land of prosperity that turns out to have as many issues as Britain. Only now, they are immigrants with all the side effects.

The Gallows Pole (31st May, 3 episodes)

This historical drama features the Cragg Vale Coiners, a group of counterfeiters, at the dawn of the industrial revolution (18th century) in Yorkshire. Centered on David Hartley, the show follows him and his gang as they commit one of the most impactful frauds in British history.

The Long Shadow (25th September, 7 episodes)

The fictionalized story of a real-life serial killer Peter Sutcliffe is set in late 1970s England as the police are conducting a manhunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. In just seven episodes, the show details five years of searches and investigations and stars Toby Jones and David Morrissey as the lead detectives on the case.

Three Little Birds (22d October, 6 episodes)

Premiering tonight, this drama revolving around Leah, Chanterelle, and Hosanna, 1950s Jamaican immigrants to Britain, is named after Bob Marley's hit song. Exploring the hardships that the Windrush generation came across in their new lives on the other side of the world, the show follows the three women's adventures as they arrive in Notting Hill and eventually move to Midlands in order to raise their families in new homes.