Everything British Worth Streaming in January 2025

As 2025 rolls in and the 21st century settles down for the long haul of making it through the next 75 years, the entertainment landscape is also settling after a long period of upheaval that arguably began 20 years ago with the launch of YouTube in February 2005. We'll have a more comprehensive breakdown of where the streaming services rank regarding who has the best programming for Anglophiles a quarter century in, but for now, as it is New Year's Day, we'll focus on what there is to watch in January 2025.

This time last year, we had a list that included every prominent American streaming service as everyone tested the wintertime waters to see if PBS' continued ownership of the first weeks of the year was strong enough to counter. For 2025, it's clear how the results shook out for the competition: Badly. Even BritBox, which has a roster of shows coming that rivals Netflix, is keeping its powder relatively dry this month, content to let PBS dominate the next six-eight weeks with the quadruple whammy of Miss Scarlet, All Creatures, Vienna Blood, and Funny Woman.

I do not want to suggest that things aren't still heading our way on commercial streamers in January; there are several titles for Anglophiles to check out in the next few weeks. But there's a notable lack of competition going up against public television for once, a sign that — at least in some quarters — those in charge have recognized that (in some areas at least) the old guard will not be disrupted from their routines.