American Reacts to Top 10 British Sci-Fi Shows!

Dive into the world of British science fiction as we check out the top ten British sci-fi shows of all time! From time-traveling adventures to dystopian futures, the UK has produced some of the most iconic and imaginative series in the genre!
Original Video: • Top 10 Greatest Britis...
Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoff...
Grab a mug! jjlareacts.cre...
Support the channel! patreon.com/jjlareacts
#BritishSciFi #SciFiShows #AmericanReacts

[@donnasnowdon3459]

An honourable mention to Sapphire and Steel starring Joanna Lumley and David McCallum which scared the living daylights out of me as a child

[@almostyummymummy]

I kinda loved the ending, but hated it, too.

[@KeithChastney]

I rewatched it a few years ago - excellent stuff. And yes, it gave me nightmares too as a kid, especially floating killer-pillows.

[@simonoleary9264]

I rewatched it on Britbox a few years ago. It's low budget is obvious but the stories and the lead actors are compelling. Definitely worth an honourable mention.

[@mimimusick9734]

I don't remember any of the episodes, only that they were time travellers, but I loved that show as a kid. Kinda reluctant to rewatch it as an adult because I don't want to be disappointed, but I might one day. Also I'm surprised The Tomorrow People didn'tget a nod, but I don't know if it fits the Mojo category as it was a kids' show even though it had adult topics. The one with the melting Hitler alien was scary as hell!

[@davidwebb4451]

​@@mimimusick9734All irregularities will be handled by the forces controlling each dimension. Transuranic heavy elements may not be used where there is life. Medium atomic weights are available: Gold, Lead, Copper, Jet, Diamond, Radium, Sapphire, Silver and Steel. Sapphire and Steel have been assigned

[@scottythedawg]

Red Dwarf is a sci-fi sitcom, like alien is a sci fi horror and passengers is a sci-fi romance.

[@listerofsmeg884]

The first 2 series were very much sitcom, the sci-fi elements only really took hold from 3 onwards

[@scottythedawg]

@@listerofsmeg884 stasis, mutated virus, holograms, it's all sci fi. Being sci- fi doesnt prevent it from being sit-com.

[@listerofsmeg884]

@@scottythedawg never said it didn't. Stop arguing for no reason 🥱

[@scottythedawg]

@@listerofsmeg884 what argument?

[@scottneil1187]

Passengers is creepy af. Weirdo guy dooms a girl to a life alone with him because of his thirst.

[@kcjstanley9608]

"Torchwood" is an anagram of Doctor Who

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

thanks for that info

[@stephenlee5929]

Its part of a Dr Who plot line.

[@Wingtail_onpaws]

⁠@@stephenlee5929yea, in 2006 or 7 :3

[@MrGBH]

You seem to have looked up the movie version of Hitch-Hiker's Guide and not the TV version The TV version has far less celebrities, but is a much better product

[@AnnaBellaChannel]

100%

[@colingregory7464]

Loved The Hitchhiker's Guide TV series and the original radio series

[@dorcas9370]

The radio and subsequent TV series were top notch! Peter Jones' voice of the book was so humorous and heart-warming. Sapphire and Steel gave me the heebie-jeebies as a child. Both programmes seem somewhat stilted and old-fashioned now, but that only adds to the charm I think.

[@alistairmilton6007]

Radio series was absolutely the best version.

[@Joanna-il2ur]

The best though was the original radio version in the seventies.

[@pobsdad]

What about The Tomorrow People? A kid's tv show from 1973 to 1999.

[@ericcooley9407]

Tomorrow people had a recent reboot but didn't do so well

[@mccorama]

MoJo dropped the ball by talking about Blake's 7 and not mentioning Servalan, the iconic villain, who my generation are still talking about

[@markharris1125]

Talking about, dreaming about . . . 🥰

[@Millennial_Manc]

They’re not trying to do a proper top 10 of anything. They’re just click farming.

[@MrRjhyt]

Also mentioned as a factor in inspiring Firefly. The oppressive government, and band or renegades... If only it could've gone further.

[@ragnarthered2179]

Yer mojo is trash, I'm actually unsubscribing now because of the amount of mojo you react to. Videos are lazy and inaccurate. If you want to learn about anything and are over the age of 5 don't watch mojo.

[@johnnyshinnichi1785]

@@MrRjhyt Yeah, but what an ending! Has there ever been another like it?

[@janolaful]

Red dwarf absolutely deserves to be number 2 it's a lighthearted si fi comedy. Sifi doesn't always have to be dark.

[@andrewroberts299]

No mention of the father of British sci-fi television, Nigel Kneale, who created Professor Bernard Quatermass. Kneale wrote four TV stories in which Quatermass would battle aliens from outer space and aliens already on earth. The first series was The Quatermass Experiment (1953), the second was Quatermass II (1955), the third was Quatermass and the Pit (1959) and then the final instalment, Quatermass (1979). Hammer films made the first 3 serials into feature films, all of varying quality (I like all 3 with Quatermass II - both the serial and film version being my favourites.)

[@Russ_Keith]

Quatermass and the Pit scared the bejeesus out of me as a nine year old. But I was fascinated by it so I watched anyway. It might have been responsible for my life long fascination with SciFi.

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

Quatermass and the pit scared the crap out of me , but i had to watch the next episode every one was a cliff hanger.

[@robcrossgrove7927]

@@Russ_Keith I've never seen it. When it was on TV, I was at boarding school, and we had to be in bed by 9.30 😐

[@Russ_Keith]

@@robcrossgrove7927 I don't think it was after the watershed (which didn't exist then anyway).

[@thriddoctor]

Dead right.

[@IanDarley]

I think that UFO (1970-1971) should have had a mention.

[@davidharris5736]

Space 1999

[@glo0115]

Red Dwarf wraps up lots of sci fi concepts as a comedy, but they're all there

[@ziggythedrummer]

Well, one glaring exception - no aliens! Every creature ever encountered has origins on Earth (or an Earth colony) at some point in the three-million-year time skip 😊

[@OEDODRAGON]

@@ziggythedrummer Even the aliens where the females also have beards?

[@ziggythedrummer]

@@OEDODRAGON if you mean the one Lister had to marry, they're GELFs - Genetically-Engineered Life Forms - which were created by humans. Pretty much every non-human in the series is either created by humans (GELFs, mechanoids, simulants etc) or is an earth animal evolved into a humanoid form (the Cat race)

[@gerose1964]

Where’s Sapphire and Steel - I would have expected that on the list - enthralled me as a youngun xx 💚

[@David-The-YorkshireMan]

it's in my top 3

[@wodmarach]

It's often listed as a thriller/supernatural series rather than Sci-fi

[@gabbymcclymont3563]

I loved it but rewatched a while ago, what were they smoking?

[@lillired857]

I was gonna ask that.

[@Maerahn]

Scared the bejaysus out of me as a kid, but on some recent rewatches through my now adult eyes I can't help but think "Wow, those writers were on some powerful shit!"

[@antonymash9586]

No thunderbirds? No space 1999? Shocking.

[@Bunyipp66]

Or UFO - loved that show as a kid

[@johnnyshinnichi1785]

@antonymash9586 Anyone who puts out a video entitled "Top 10 British Sci-Fi Shows!" and doesn't mention any of Gerry's stuff clearly has no idea what they are talking about. His shows influenced sci-fi producers all around the world. Way ahead of his time.

[@scotmax8426]

space 1999 was awesome! lol i had an eagle craft, die cast metal, clicked the wee button to release the shuttle bit lol

[@trendingrightnow21stcentur66]

Typical watch mojo missing out a classic , space 1999

[@davidb1565]

@scotmax8426 loved that show. My Eagle had a winch to lower down those radioactive waste containers. Really wanted/want one of the SHADO interceptors from U.F.O. though.

[@helenwood8482]

Blake's 7 was fantastic and is my number 1.

[@RaceDayReplay]

Avon's first line always makes me chuckle, Paul Darrow boiled down his whole character into the delivery of that one word. Jenna: What have you got there? Avon: Nothing 😅

[@PeterPrestonUK]

Not a single mention of anything from Gerry & Sylvia Anderson? Watchmojo often seems like AI made content - even the “British” narrator often mispronounces place names. Space:1999, UFO, Thunderbirds…

[@CoffeeConnected]

Lots of youtubers now seem to use Watchmojo as a term of reference for reaction videos. I wish they wouldn't because I agree with you about the quality of it and these reaction channels go away from it with often not the best takes. You say that it seems that many of these Watchmojo videos seem like AI, well you've pointed out something about the British accent mispronunciation of places which suggests that at least with some videos they may well be AI produced.

[@jerry2357]

Thunderbirds was the best Gerry Anderson series.

[@LisaBeta-42]

They started with puppets and spectacularly exploding model-crafts. Tried to sell their series to the American Market, with made them invent a new show every season - explains the ridiculous big zippers on the uniforms, the space 1999 crew have to wear

[@georgesibley7152]

@@CoffeeConnected I remember at uni when we had been smoking a lot, late at night around 1am we had left the tV on when this weird programme came on, Nothing was scheduled. it freaked us out until we realised it was a puppet show. It was the first Captain Scarlett episode that they were trialing unscheduled.

[@dees3179]

Agreed, watch mojo is always at least fifty percent wrong. Either content or pronunciation or something else is wrong. I won’t be surprised if it does turn out to be an AI channel. Often great subjects, but content farm and no nuances or subtlety mean there isn’t a lot to react to and a lot of it is just lazy of misinformation. It’s just like five minute crafts.

[@kirstygunn9149]

Fun fact the actress that played trillion in HHGTTG was married to Peter Davison, who played the 5th Doctor in Doctorwho,who had a daughter Georgia Moffat who played the doctors daughter opposite David Tennant playing the 10th Doctor .they then went on to marry and david adopted Georgias son ty ( who is the actor ty Tennant from House of Dragons) and had 4 other children together. So the doctors daughter, played the doctors daughter, who married the doctor and then gave birth to the doctors daughters.

[@vaudevillian7]

They also composed the theme tune for Button Moon

[@NearlySane101]

And Davison appears in THHGTTG as a cow that was dish of the day in the restaurant at the end of the universe.

[@austinbeardshaw9344]

- Where am I? - In the Village - What do you want? - Information - Who's side are you on? - That would be telling, we want information, information, information - You wont get it - By hook or by crook we will - Who are you? - I am number 2 - Who is number 1? - You are number 6 - I am not a number, I am a free man

[@KevFrost]

Ha ha ha ha Ha HA HA HA ha Ha HA HA HA HA

[@julianaylor4351]

Be seeing you.

[@RabidJohn]

I was 4yrs old in 1967 and a big fan of 'Danger Man', starring Patrick McGoohan, so I was keen to watch this new thing he was in. I didn't know what was happening and I had nightmares about being chased by the Rover...

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

I watched the Prisoner every week thinking to my self this must be the episode that will explain everything to me, I was as clueless at the end as i was at the beginning.

[@cmlemmus494]

“I will not make any deals with you. I’ve resigned. I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered. My life is my own.”

[@Shoomer1988]

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was a BBC Radio 4 show first, then a book, then a TV show and then the film (which was rubbish)

[@julianaylor4351]

Goodbye and thanks for the fish. 🐬 Don't forget your towel. ❤

[@tmcb2000]

Worst of all, it was also a stage play featuring a rock band in the most ridiculous masks.

[@tonyhughes9741]

@@julianaylor4351 You mean "So Long and Thanks for all the Fish" It was also an audio record (with a different script to the radio series and the TV series)

[@LisaBeta-42]

Douglas Adams was practically the "showrunner" - or scrip-fixer - on Tom Baker's Doctor Who run (-> Pirate Planet / Shada) while he was doing his radio show "The Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy" in the 1970s. He died in the US, while preparing for the big cinema film, that gets you all so disappointed (spoting two heads might be interpreted from different viewpoints) He should never have tried to explain, WHY Zaphoed Beeblebrox greeted his cousin as "Ford" although they had not seen each other a long time even before the name-change. Just remeber what a Bable-fish REALLY does (and the audience, linked to English Arthur Dent, learns the story from his perspective). *Don't Panic* in large and friendly letters on a portable computer, with travelling infos on EVERY planet available at your fingertips (quite daring 50 years ago!)

[@tonyhughes9741]

@@LisaBeta-42 not really! The term "showrunner" didn't exist back then and if it did then Douglas would not have fit that role as it was invented in the current day for directors/executive producers. DNA was a script editor and script writer ... (and possibly genius) but he was not the show runner

[@sueKay]

Red Dwarf is equal parts sci fi and comedy, and it's one of my all-time favourite shows!

[@prdriskell]

I recall a great series called Doomwatch. It dealt with a team of scientists investigating real world problems such as a plastic eating virus designed to reduce garbage "escaping" into the wild where it downs aircraft after eating the wiring insulation. I also can't believe that Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Joe 90, UFO and Terrahawks don't appear in the list - perhaps because they were kids shows.- where you should also mention The Tomorrow People, and another Dr Who spin off, the Sara Jane adventures. Great stuff.

[@andrewcoates6641]

Most of the programs were concieved, written, filmed and produced by Gerry Anderson and his wife Sylvia who also performed the voice of most of the female characters in Thunderbirds, as well as the body parts close up shots such as picking up the tea-pot that doubled as a part of the communication system in the home of the British agent of International Rescue Lady Penelope.

[@elemar5]

I named my daughter after Jenna from Blakes 7. Hitchhiker's tv show is a thousand times better than the film. It's also a comedy. Take back what you said about Red Dwarf.

[@Yandarval]

Captain Jack Harkness was a pre existing character in Dr Who. Torchwood is that characters spinoff show.

[@doctordunc]

Life on Mars is definitely worth a watch. It had a spin off, Ashes to Ashes, which was also great.

[@Reani71]

I came here to say the same... I'm actually surprised that Ashes to Ashes isn't included in the list.

[@ziggythedrummer]

The full story, as revealed in Ashes to Ashes, makes both shows supernatural rather than sci-fi. Though the US remake was revealed to be sci-fi by its own, very controversially different, ending.

[@jeanbellabasura1539]

the sequel to Life On Mars is called Ashes To Ashes

[@Jill-mh2wn]

I really like Life on Mars, but had to endure Ashes to Ashes because of that stupid woman and moving it to London ( why?). The last two episodes of Ashes to Ashes where the mystery of the two is worked out were very good .

[@daveaglasgow]

Yes red dwarf is most definitely a sci-fi and definitely deserves to be at the top of this list. It deals with everything sci Fi from space to time travel to paradoxes to aliens and so on.

[@dscott1392]

John Barrowman has the ability to speak fluently with both a fully Scottish accent and American

[@tonyhughes9741]

That would be because he was born in and came from Scotland before moving to the USA

[@moggie-wf5pg]

I saw John Barrowman in a programme once, I can't remember what it was, I think it was a documentary about the Doctor Who/Torchwood franchise. His parents were in in, they were Scottish but living in the USA. When JB spoke to the camera he did so in his American accent gut he spoke to them in a Scottish accent. It's not uncommon. I live near London and know a lot of Cockneys who alternate between two accents

[@KenFullman]

@@moggie-wf5pg I was born and bread Cockney but nowadays only use a cockney accent when talking to other Cockneys. When I was growing up it was quite normal to regard the Cockney accent as vulgar. So it became natural to adapt to other accents just to fit in.

[@ginak921]

I always thought he was American but now i know better.

[@LisaBeta-42]

Captain Jack Harkness is a rogue time agent from the 51st century, born on a far away planet, who impersonated an American aicraft pilot (whom he meets in his own show), just to mingle with WWII soldiers, while pulling off a deception-stunt with other presumed time-agents (i.e. the 9th Doctor and Rose in the 1st revival-series of the "old" Doctor Who francise). The actor of "Rose's boyfriend" was accused of sexual harrassment and threw John Barrowman under the bus, by claiming he had been showy-offy of HIS sexuality too on set (when being gay was not yet considered normal, which might have led to "not quite normal" open-ness) - that accusations made work for both men quite challanging (because it had already dried up, due to Covid) - 15 years AFTER their first "transgressions" ... Where to turn to as ordinary hire, if the stars of a show just can't behave properly??? How about a suggestion box, that keeps you anonymous, but highlights the issue... As Soon As Possible

[@robharris8844U]

1960s there was also "Quatermass and the pit" which I suppose may have been a forerunner of the "Alien" franchise !

[@CoffeeConnected]

You assert that Red Dwarf shouldn't be on the list, but have you watched Red Dwarf? Red Dwarf is probably richer in sci-fi ideas than many on this Mojo list. To say it shouldn't be on the list because it's a comedy is like saying something shouldn't be on it because it's a drama. The Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy is a comedy yet you have no issue with that. Sci-fi is sci-fi regardless of how its ideas are put across. But if there is one of these shows that probably shouldn't be on the list then it's going to be Life on Mars. It might feel like sci-fi but from what we've seen there's no definitive evidence that it is. It's likely simply fantasy. Having said that it may be my favourite show on the whole list along with The Prisoner. I highly recommend you give it a watch, the British version that is.

[@Randomaited]

Doctor Who definitely deserves the number 1 spot on the list, but it's a shame they left off Quatermass, which came out originally in 1953-59 (with remakes in 1979 and 2005) and is one of the earliest examples of popular sci-fi on television in the UK

[@davidgray8863]

You would love Red Dwarf, the humour is amazing... whether you watch it as a Sci Fi or a brilliant comedy... it is unmissable

[@georgesibley7152]

It was great for a few series but when they added canned laughter it lost something.

[@germantoenglish898]

What about UFO and Space 1999. I love these series as a kid. 👾

[@TheThird1977]

I pass the area where the village set for THE PRISONER is located (a place called Portmeirion). You can go visit it whenever you want and it is a fantastic little place to tour.

[@robt2778]

Blake's 7 was really Robin Hood in space, Blake always wore green just like Hood

[@bobsteele9581]

Much much darker than Robin Hood though. I remember being devastated after the final episode when they all were killed and basically the evil Federation ended up the winners. Although one of my favourite series at the time, I've never been able to bring myself to re-watch it.

[@xolf.]

@@bobsteele9581 Oh, it's a *gloriously* dark ending - no predictable happy fairytale of the good guys winning out in the end, just that beautiful, bleak, slightly ambiguous conclusion.

[@nicw5574]

I'm surprised, but really glad Life On Mars made the list. That and the follow on series Ashes To Ashes are two of my favourite tv programmes ever. Gene Hunt is such a great character. Red Dwarf is absolutely brilliant! Great reaction as always 🙂

[@barrygentry5364]

I loved Life on Mars, although many found it very confusing. The humour in it was brilliant and the character DCI Gene Hunt (Phil Glenister) was outstanding.

[@Spiklething]

The first episode of Dr Who was aired on 23/11/1963 The show's launch was overshadowed by the assassination of John F. Kennedy the previous day, resulting in a repeat of the first episode the following week.

[@terrypeaker]

No video tape in those days so the show was re acted the following week resulting in some subtle differences in the two performances

[@Adam_Boots]

​@@terrypeaker What are you on about? Video tape has been around since 1951. The differences you are refering to are between the unaired pilot version and the broadcast version. If there was no video tape then how are we able to watch it now? It was never broadcast live.

[@croceyzx2433]

Sarah Jane Smith is another good show that takes place in the Dr Who franchise. Sarah Jane herself has been in a few Dr Who eps too I believe, but think she’s more known for her own spin off show “Sarah Jane Adventures” which was on CBBC (BBC kids channel).

[@robcrossgrove7927]

Sarah Jane was one of the third doctors companions, and one of the fourth doctors companions too.

[@davidwebb4451]

​@@robcrossgrove7927 She also appeared in the New Who episode "School Reunion" with Tennant's Doctor and had a bit of a set to with Rose.

[@grahamgresty8383]

torchwood is an anagram of doctor who! Patrick Troughton's grandson played Dudley Dursley in Harry Potter.

[@doris1475]

I disagree with you, red dwarf is one of the best comedy scifi i have seen and they are still making popular series after all this time with the same cast members

[@natg81]

Popular demand….but he doesn’t know

[@natg81]

I love Red Dwarf…..grew up on that and Black Mirror was brilliant

[@charlottehardy822]

Mr Flibble is very angry with the lack of appreciation 😂

[@ziggythedrummer]

Patrick Stewart is on record as saying when he first saw Red Dwarf, he thought it was a rip-off of Star Trek: TNG, until he paid attention and noticed the comedy (and vastly different premise!)

[@nilianstroy]

they tried an American version and it failed miserably.

[@klaxoncow]

Blake's 7 is awesome. Also, you can totally watch it all on KZbin. Full episodes have been uploaded - I re-watched the series a few years ago via KZbin - and no-one seems to be asking them to take them down, as I just checked and episode one is still up. It's basically extremely well-written and acted. Avon is the best and wittiest anti-hero ever. p.s. it was always a bit low budget in its effects, but the story and characters are amazing - you soon stop noticing that, even at the time, it looked a bit cheap. As Joss Whedon's Firefly (which surely took major inspiration from Blake's 7) is "cowboys in space", Blake's 7 is "Robin Hood in space". And, yes, there's a touch of "the Dirty Dozen" or "the Magnificent Seven" about it as well - deliberately so, which is why it's called "Blake's 7" to kind of echo the names of those movies.

[@geetee4459]

Yeah - Doctor Who should be #1 - going for 60 years it has to be. Misfits is also great.

[@jakesinclair69420]

It is in its 61st year now

[@TheThird1977]

UTOPIA was such an amazing show. Deserves a much bigger audience.

[@CoffeeConnected]

What annoys me is that when you mention Utopia most Americans think of the bad American remake of the series and are completely unaware that the far superior British original version even exists.

[@ben-tendo]

Doctor Who is the longest running science fiction show in the world and has many many world records behind it as well as television awards. It is without a doubt, the best sci-fi product the UK has to offer (arguably the world going by its track record). Red Dwarf is 100% a Science Fiction sitcom, and is still going to this day with feature length specials.

[@KenFullman]

Shame they finally destroyed it by going woke.

[@lenaoxton8827]

@@KenFullmanThe latest series of Doctor Who has been incredible!

[@CoffeeConnected]

Popularity and longevity doesn't quantify something as the best, neither does television awards. So it is not without a doubt the best sci-fi product. Popularity does not mean the best.

[@Robonord427]

@@CoffeeConnected I would argue Doctor Who isn't even Sci-fi at all: it firmly sits in the fantasy genre.

[@KenFullman]

@@lenaoxton8827 Yes you're right. Latest series of Doctor Who has lost all credibility.

[@vaudevillian7]

Red Dwarf is very much a sci-fi, one thing you’ll find in British TV in general is that we’re much happier mixing genres - a drama can be really funny as well as being incredibly dark, same for comedy or anything. In the US things tend to be in their own box more, perhaps because it’s easier to sell to studios and studios think trying to be too different will confuse audiences

[@DanPyjamas]

Sci-fi is the setting. Comedy is the execution. Just like Dr Who, Drama is the execution

[@stevenmclaren2730]

Sci fi isn't a setting

[@DanPyjamas]

@@stevenmclaren2730 whatever

[@annamae859]

"Is he the Doctor, no he's not" Yes JJLA, he is the Doctor, the first Doctor played by William Hartnell (not the same guy that made the Queens frocks!) I was 7 years old when Doctor Who was launched, I remember it like yesterday. It's all we kids talked about in the school playground.

[@jeankennedy5445]

Yes, I was five when it first aired. The daleks, the Zarbies, the Ice Warriors and many more. Great childhood nightmare fodder.

[@SNMG7664]

I love that you were so worried about Tom Baker maybe having been cancelled but then when John Barrowman came up you were wishing him well with no research lol

[@seileach67]

ikr? lol

[@PeterPrestonUK]

Not a single mention of anything from Gerry & Sylvia Anderson? Watchmojo often seems like AI made content - even the “British” narrator often mispronounces place names. Space:1999, UFO, Thunderbirds…

[@julianaylor4351]

Probably can't get the rights to clips, Anderson's estate have their own channel.

[@CEP73]

Hitchhikers 1980sTV show is brilliant (despite slightly dodgy sets). The prisoner...love it! ...but still makes me feel uneasy..

[@TerenceDixon-l6b]

Dr Who regenerates every so often, usually a couple of years or so, thus allowing different actors and many series.

[@def_not_dan]

Goodnight Sweetheart never makes these lists, but it's one of the best time-travel scifi ever made.

[@InaMacallan]

For quite a long term me it was the only SF series being made by the BBC (they never acknowledged that it was sci fi.)

[@andybryson8008]

@@InaMacallan Really, the only reason it could be called sci-fi is the time travel aspect, which only affects Gary and (on one occasion) his mate Ron

[@klaxoncow]

Charlie Brooker explained the name. Hold up your mobile phone, but keep it turned off. It's a black mirror. Look at your computer screen when it's turned off. It's a black mirror. That's what the Black Mirror is. It's the screens we all look at - and, being mirrors, that look back at us. Through a TV screen, darkly.

[@tmcb2000]

Hitch Hikers Guide was first popularised as a brilliant radio series, where the pictures were much better than the crappy film.

[@nolasyeila6261]

Diana Rigg, Emma Peel in The Avengers in the '60s, played Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones.

[@davidb1565]

She's also the only woman to get 007 to the altar.

[@MrRjhyt]

@@davidb1565 ... and died for it. The best damned scene in the whole movie. A mourning James Bond.

[@Stannington]

It doesn't even mention the Gerry Anderson classics of UFO and Space 1999 🙄

[@sianneish]

Primeval should've been in the list. Also there are great children's shows such as The Sarah Jane Adventures, MI High, The Queens Nose, The Ghost Hunter and The Demon Headmaster.

[@KevFrost]

Blakes 7 was basically Rogue One back in the 70s. Hitchhiker was radio, then TV, then book, then computer games, then a towel, then a film. There's rumours that Christopher Nolan is doing a Prisoner remake

[@CoffeeConnected]

Blake's 7 was also Firefly/Serenity.

[@austinbeardshaw9344]

A Chris Nolan remake of The Prisoner could work, I'd like to see it filmed in Portmeirion tho, it's as much of a character as anyone else. There was a TV remake in 2009 which wasn't great, only got 6 episodes, it was filmed in an old German holiday village in Namibia which didn't help it

[@julieharris4700]

I thought HHGttG was radio, book, TV, books, computer game, towel, then film. I think there was a play and a vinyl record too. The audience for the play apparently didn't like the bits of 'whale' dropping on them. I tried playing the computer game once (and Douglas Adams other computer game), it was very unforgiving if you didn't do the steps in the right order (don't forget to eat the sandwich). As well as the books having the book of the radio series is a must.

[@PiersDJackson]

​@austinbeardshaw9344 you are correct... the added issue was whereas the original was playing off the cold war paranoia, and could be created by any of the blue team allies, even a consortium.... the remake was invested with a more nuanced terrorist attack, extremists and global domination... with an undercurrent of eugenics. The key to the original was that everyone was numbered, but sometimes they changed numbers, so rarely was the antagonist "Number 2" the same actor, Leo McKern played the role thrice, Colin Gordon twice.

[@mikerusby]

Blakes seven was awesome. ending was a bit of a shocker though The avengers was not a sci fi at all??

[@BadMoonandStars]

Nope JJ, Doctor Who was in the correct position! I was six when Blake's 7 ended and was traumatised by the final episode 😲😭😭😭. I both adored and was terrified by Servalan. Why did they not mention such an icon!? Love Red Dwarf and highly recommend Life on Mars and the follow up Ashes to Ashes. The tv version of Hitchikers is bloody brilliant. Unlike the film.

[@Twowings2fly]

I would 100% recommend you check out Life on Mars, the UK version. I hear the American remake was a disaster.

[@Fwhole]

Hitchhiker's the series was a classic. But, yes, the film was embarrassingly poor.

[@johncrwarner]

I would recommend that you listen to the radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. As a teenager listening to the radio on headphones at ten thirty at night - it was hilarious and gripping too. BTW Douglas Adams was the Script Editor for Doctor Who just around the time HHGTTG took off Famously he rewrote "City of Death" in a weekend and it is a classic fourth doctor story.

[@Jill-mh2wn]

Doing the family ironing one night, I caught the last 5 minutes of the first ever episode of `Hitch hiker`s' on the radio. Luckily the repeat was just a few days later and from then on we followed every episode. Saw the film ,saw it as a play at the local Theatre ,even saw Douglas Adams live when he was touring in Suffolk .Oh ,and also had it on an LP record and read the books.

[@vereybowring]

The hitchhikers guide radio shows are most definitely worth a listen, the radio version came first, then the books, then TV, the film much, much later. Douglas Adams was truly a unique writer, each version was basically rewritten by Adams hinself. I think they can be bought on CD.

[@georgesibley7152]

The radio series became a cult from the start, personally, I think it is the best (along with the book) s your imagination is always better than anything you see usually. That is why Journey into Space was so good. Also why the radio series of Dan Dare (both Radio Luxembourg and the BBC) were better than the TV series.

[@helenwood8482]

Red Dwarf is very strong SF as well as a comedy. Humans should have been on the list.

[@patcecil1685]

Not mentioning the Quatermass groundbreaking series is criminal.

[@mccarthy86]

The Prisoner is one of the greatest tv shows ever made. It’s so ahead of its time it’s still ahead of us now.

[@robertlonsdale5326]

Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who

[@grahamsregan]

Life on Mars is well worth a watch, was filmed locally to where I grew up. Also the prisoner is filmed in Port Merrion which is a fascinating place in its own right.

[@davidcronan4072]

A few years ago I was at Liverpool Street railway station in London gazing up at the departure board and heard a very recognizable voice. I turned round and there was Tom Baker also checking the train times.

[@georgesibley7152]

he used to get some strange requests. i remember when Stan Cohen was telling a tale when he was with Tom Baker in a resteraunt and Tom Bak had to go to the toilet. there he was asked to sign a man's; p.***is..

[@jessbelen]

sorry but black mirror isn't better that doctor who 😂

[@RaceDayReplay]

Blake's 7 is a must-watch. Which other show would you see where, in the first episode, the main character is up on child abuse charges? From that point on you know you're in for something different to what's come before

[@bernadetteshields3726]

I have seen every episode of Blake's seven 😊

[@bigbird2100]

Great video 👍 Blake's seven character "Avon" magic! What about "Project UFO".

[@vezhopkins714]

yes that was DR Who William Hartnell was the first doctor and the girl he was with was his grand daughter (not in RL) a subject they went back to on the most recent episode with Ncuti Gatwa (sp?) the 15th doctor ;) I have watched black mirror and a lot of the episodes freaked me out especially the one with the dog like robots 😱

[@zinnia2980]

British sci -fi shows have been pioneers , trailblazing and so influential. Love them 👋👌

[@andrewwmacfadyen6958]

Day of the Triffids The Flipside of Dominic Hyde Quatermas and the Pit Midwitch Cuckoos Good Omens The Sandman

[@Jamienomore]

John Barrowman still speaks Scottish when he is talking to his Sister. In Torchwood Bloopers he goes back to his Scottish Accent. I don't understand why you can't see Red Dwarf as a Sci-Fi Comedy.

[@davidhyams2769]

Survivors (the original, not the remake), Sapphire & Steel, Day of The Triffids, Bugs, The Tomorrow People,

[@lenaoxton8827]

Doctor Who just brought back a villain from 1975 and he’s voiced by the same actor, now 91 years old! I love when they do things like that and use the old legacy. The current season of Who is genuinely fantastic 🪐

[@Nobby76]

The prisoner was also remade a few years back, but was very americanised. stil lfollowed the basic plot of the original but very much had that american flavour to it. The original Prisoner was all shot in Portmeirion in Wales. The place actualy looks more like a picture perfect film set than a real location.

[@Iilolian]

Tomorrow People ('73-'79)... a bunch of pacifist teenagers who can read minds and teleport. Survivors ('75-'77, remade in '08)... the original 'post apocalypse' show, created by Terry Nation, the guy who came up with The Daleks. Outcasts ('11)... Cancelled after only one season of eight episodes. Deserved more. Hitchikers was ORIGINALLY a radio show, and the british TV adaptation has most of the same cast.

[@aluk2408]

Liked Humans and going back decades (I'm very old) I watched Survivors when I was young ...though can't honestly remember much about it

[@WanderlustZero]

Red Dwarf may be a sitcom but it covers many sci-fi concepts;' It's surprisingly hard sci-fi most of the time. Contrast with Doctor Who, which long ago ditched the science. 'It's all just a bunch of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff'. Quite.

[@elaineireland2411]

The Prisoner is so memorable. Well worth tracking down. Wouldn't have called it sci-fi but maybe it is in a way - leaping around with reality in an unreal, well it was then(!), world... possibly imagination sparked by '1984'.

[@seeker1432]

My Favourite Sci Fi apart from Red Dwarf, Is UFO. Just when i was getting into it, Americans took it over and cancelled it for Space 1999. I didnt even like it and found it boring. I still like UFO all these years later.

[@K8E666]

Stephen Fry was best friends with Douglas Adams. We bought John Barrowman’s car roof box from him at his home in Wales and use it to travel to France every year… Red Dwarf is one of my all time favourite sci-fi/sitcoms ever

[@leehallam9365]

Hitch Hikers Guide was a Radio Series first, the first book came out while it was running, and the TV series was in 1981, the year after the end of the Radio version. The film was awful.

[@trendingrightnow21stcentur66]

Blake’s 7 pisses all over the rest , watch mojo blah as usual , was a tad camp funny plus suspense and agree why wasn’t Survalan ,space 1999 also good retro sci fi (not syfy) doctor who died after Matt Smith , you have to watch Blake’s 7 and torchwood

[@davidhanmer82]

To call The Prisoner and Avengers sci-fi is a bit of a stretch mind! Also, where's Quatermass!

[@keithalanbaker535]

Not sure you can have a top ten British Sci Fi tv shows and not include Space 1999 and Sapphire and Steel besides not really sure you can class Life on Mars as Sci Fi as apart from the time travel element it's mostly just a cop show.

[@squattingnevil]

Why not had Red Dwarf on the list, it's literally a sci-fi show, it just also happens to be a comedy. Your rational is ridiculous.

[@CoffeeConnected]

When you looked up The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy you internet searched the most inferior version of it. The film with Martin Freeman is not the definitive version to look to. The radio series, the book, the original TV series. The modern film is not where you should look to first.

[@iainabprice75]

Struggling to see why you think sitcom and sci fi are exclusive. The setting is sci fi. It really is that simple.

[@legend9335]

John Barrowman is in disgrace after allegedly exposing himself to cast members and crew. All Blake Seven`s crew were killed en mass in a shoot out in the final scene

[@ms.antithesis]

john barrowman had some pretty serious allegations drop against him around the time he stopped working so uh... i might think twice about your best wishes towards him, esspecially since he basically doubled down and argued all the sexual harrassment he did was actually ok

[@gw6627]

The Hitch Hikers tv series is way better than the “crappy movie”, hilarious and a must watch. Was also a radio show before it went to tv.

[@djalice]

Blake's 7 is the best! Very shocking seeing lead characters die all the time. I think the final scene of the last episode won in a pole of best finales. The Liberator is still the coolest ship design. Genius!

[@DavidSmith-cx8dg]

Douglas Adams Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy books worked best as a radio show , it was so successful they adapted the first series into a tv show with most of the radio cast . The movie was ok .but not as good .

[@vaudevillian7]

How does a being a comedy make Red Dwarf less science fiction? I’m not sure there’s a scale with sitcom at one end and sci fi at the other 😄 Hitchhikers is a sci fi comedy and Misfits is a sci fi comedy drama but you seemed perfectly happy to allow those on the list

[@robp2545]

Don't watch Hitchhikers's Guide. Listen to the radio series for the best experience.

[@davidmontgomery9846]

Red Dwarf is brilliant but special mention must be made to Life On Mars and Ashes to Ashes .