5 US TV Shows That, Inexplicably, Don’t Have A UK Broadcaster

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In recent years, partly thanks to Netflix & Amazon, UK broadcasters have, generally, become much better at bringing over US tv shows in a timely fashion. However, there are some shows which have yet to make it over to this side of the pond. Here we’re not talking about new shows that have yet to air in the US, but shows which have already aired, and it some cases, are multiple seasons into their US run. Here are just 5 which, inexplicably, do not currently have a UK broadcaster.

The Good Place

Given the stars and the pedigree behind this show, I’m completely at a loss as to why it’s yet to make it to UK screens. ‘The Good Place‘ stars Kristen Bell (‘Frozen’, ‘House of Lies’, ‘Gossip Girl’) as Eleanor Shellstrop, who starts the series by dying. Despite not being the nicest of souls, due to an admin error, she’s sent to the ‘Good Place’ rather than the ‘Bad Place’ where she really belongs. Not wishing to be damned for all eternity, she set out to shed her old way, and convince the Good Place’s head honcho Michael (Ted Danson – ‘CSI’, ‘Cheers’), who is unaware of his error, that she is the good person he believes her to be.

Not only does the show have two pretty major stars, it’s created and exec produced by Michael Schur, the man behind ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’, ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘Master of None’. The show has a rating on Rotten Tomatoes of 90% and is already renewed for a 2nd season. I’m not entirely sure what else a UK broadcaster could want from a show to convince them to pick it up!

Speechless

https://youtu.be/4u55WK6AbaM

‘Speechless‘ is another show which seems bizarre it hasn’t made the transition to UK tv screens. It stars Minnie Driver (‘The Riches’, ‘Will & Grace’, ‘Grosse Pointe Blank’) as Maya DiMeo, a mum on a mission who will do anything for her husband Jimmy and her kids – Ray, Dylan, and JJ, her eldest son with cerebral palsy. As Maya fights injustices both real and imagined, the family works to make a new home for themselves, and searches for just the right person to give JJ his “voice.”

You have a British actress in the lead, on a show which handles a difficult subject in a wonderfully funny way. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a rating of 98%, and it’s already renewed for a 2nd full season of 23 episodes. What’s not to love?

Berlin Station

Again,‘Berlin Station‘ is another show with a hugely popular British lead (albeit playing an American), and, as the title suggests, it’s based in Europe, so you would think this would be a ‘shoe in’ for finding a UK home. Richard Armitage (‘The Hobbit’ movies, ‘Spooks’, ‘Strike Back’) stars as Daniel Miller, an undercover agent who arrives in Berlin with a clandestine mission: determine the identity of a now-famous whistleblower. Guided by a jaded veteran, Daniel contends with agent-running, deception, danger and moral compromises.

Given the popularity of spy thrillers in the UK, and having a major UK star in the lead, it’s extremely surprising this has yet to land anywhere over here. The 1st season ran towards the end of last year in the US, with a 10 episode 2nd season due later this year.

The White Princess

‘The White Princess‘ is a bit of an oddity, as it’s technically a follow-up to ‘The White Queen’ mini-series which was made by the BBC and US network Starz in 2013. When Auntie Beeb decided not to be involved with the sequel, Starz moved ahead on their own. Based on the Philippa Gregory novel, ‘The White Princess’ is a tale of power, family, love and betrayal, charting one of the most tumultuous times in British history uniquely from the point of view of the women. The tempestuous marriage between Elizabeth of York (Jodie Comer – ‘Thirteen’, ‘Doctor Foster’) and King Henry VII (Jacob Collins-Levy – ‘Glitch’), officially marks the conclusion of The War of the Roses, but the real battle for the throne is far from over.

So, we’re now in a position where the US got a show with a mainly British cast, about British history, but it isn’t airing in Britain… Given it’s a follow up to a BBC show, that may be putting off buyers, but it is only a mini-series, so you would have thought someone in the UK would deem it worthy of broadcast!

Suits

https://youtu.be/LRxa59S3Kyk

Last week we exclusively broke the gut-wrenching news that, after 6 seasons, UKTV Channel Dave would not be picking up the 7th Season of ‘Suits‘. The official statement read “Suits has been an important and much-loved part of Dave’s schedule for a number of years, but as the channel evolves so must its programme offering. We can confirm that Dave will not be renewing its licensing deal for Suits following the sixth season of the show.”

It’s a truly bizarre decision, given the heightened interest in the legal drama following Meghan Markle’s relationship with Prince Harry. It also leaves fans high and dry as the show heads into a new area following the departure of Jessica (Gina Torres – ‘Firefly’) leaving Harvey (Gabriel Macht) as head of the firm, and Mike’s (Patrick J. Adams) return as a full-time lawyer. We are hoping that Netflix, who have some of the previous seasons, may step in and save it, but, as yet, it is without a UK home.

Special Mention – Gotham

Technically, ‘Gotham‘ does have a UK broadcaster in Channel 5... However, they have been sitting on Season 3 since Autumn last year. They originally said it would probably return in the Summer, but we’re now in July, and there is still no sign of it coming to air. Channel 5 are even ducking press requests about the show at this point, and things have gone eerily silent…

Given the ‘Gotham Season 3’ DVD/Blu-rays are out at the end of August, we’re beginning to think they may have lost the rights to air it, but don’t want to face the backlash when that news comes out. Even if they did start airing it now, unless they were putting it on daily, it wouldn’t complete before the disc release. We’re still waiting Channel 5…

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