Janu-worry blues? Leave the festive excesses behind you and binge instead on new and exclusive BritBox fare, such as rags-to-riches drama The Syndicate and Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh’s gritty adaptation of his thriller Crime.

Season Four of BAFTA-winning writer Kay Mellor’s critically acclaimed and hugely popular series The Syndicate arrives exclusively on BritBox South Africa this month. A star-studded “cat-and-mouse” drama, it features familiar faces such as Neil Morrissey (Line of Duty, Unforgotten) and is peppered with the comedy, pathos and high drama that audiences have come to expect from The Syndicate.

Starring Dougray Scott and Ken Stott, Crime is a cracking BritBox Original that The Telegraph says “crackles with unpredictability and energy and takes you to places that you don’t expect.” Scottish author Welsh adapts this uncompromising police thriller from his novel of the same name, and it makes for authentically gripping viewing.

Looking for something lighter? BritBox has a choice of options to help you grin and giggle your way into the new year. Watch husband-and-wife acting team Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar (The Kumars at No. 42) in the comedy sketch series Goodness Gracious Me, while Tom Hollander stars alongside A-lister Olivia Colman in the sitcom Rev. as a rural priest who becomes the vicar of an inner-city London church with an array of colourful parishioners.

Or why not board your time machine to join Keeley Hawes and the cast of supernatural crime drama Ashes to Ashes as they travel back from 2008 to 1981? Series 1 to 3 of the Life on Mars sequel will be available to binge this month, set to a fabulous post-punk and New Romantics soundtrack.
New year, new resolutions, new focus and a freshly updated BritBox watchlist packed with new favourites – what better way to get 2022 off to a great start?
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BritBox South Africa New & Exclusive highlights in January

The Syndicate 
Thursday 13 January 2022
Season Four

Created by BAFTA winner Kay Mellor (Band of Gold), Season Four of this entertaining drama series sees the owners of Woodvale Kennels trying to keep their business afloat by joining a betting syndicate. After taking a gamble on the lottery and then being robbed of their prize money, they set out for the French Riviera to find the culprit and take back what’s rightfully theirs. The cast features some of Britain’s most recognisable talent, including Neil Morrissey (Line of Duty, The Good Karma Hospital), Katherine Rose Morley (Last Tango in Halifax) and Taj Atwal (Line of Duty) on a cat-and-mouse mission to track down their stolen millions. 

Before you tuck into Season Four be sure to binge the equally enjoyable third season of The Syndicate, set in the crumbling Hazlewood Manor, where the few remaining downstairs staff are about to take a dramatic leap upstairs when their betting syndicate wins the lottery. Starring South African actress Alice Krige (Thor: The Dark World, A Christmas Prince, The Devil’s Advocate, Star Trek: Voyager, Midsomer Murders, Waking the Dead), Lenny Henry (Broadchurch, Chef!) and Anthony Andrews (Brideshead Revisited). 

“Kay Mellor’s show is like a candlelit bath – warm, comforting and good for the soul.” – The Guardian

Crime
Thursday 20 January 2022
BritBox Original Drama

Adapted by Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh from his best-selling novel and directed by James Strong (Broadchurch, The Liar), this highly-anticipated BritBox Original arrives fresh from the UK and stars Dougray Scott (Mission: Impossible 2, Batwoman) as DI Ray Lennox, tasked with finding a missing Scottish schoolgirl while struggling with his own addictions. If you enjoy gritty crime thrillers, don’t miss this gripping, twisting six-parter shot on location in Scotland and featuring a high-profile supporting cast, including Ken Stott (Plunkett & Macleane, The Debt Collector, Charlie Wilson’s War), Joanna Vanderham (Warrior, Legends of Tomorrow), Angela Griffin (Midsomer Murders, Holby City) and Jamie Sives (Annika, Rush, Get Him to the Greek).

“It’s dark … but sexy as hell!” – Daily Mail

Beat the Janu-worry blues with these brilliant box sets

The best way we can think of to start the year on a fresh note is with a box-set binge! From tongue-in-cheek sketch comedy to time-travelling science fiction, all studded with British acting royalty, BritBox has a Janu-worry antidote that’s perfect for you.

Goodness Gracious Me
Thursday 6 January 2022
Season Two

If the titles of uproarious sketches like The Delhi Tubbies, Not Saving Private Narayan and The Six Million Rupee Man tickle your curiosity, you’ll fall hard for Goodness Gracious Me. Sending up British-Asian stereotypes with mischievous glee, this classic series will have you in stitches. It stars husband-and-wife comedy duo Sanjeev Bhaskar (Unforgotten) and Meera Syal (Anita and Me), who both went on to feature in the hit comedy series The Kumars at No. 42. Sketch comedy at its hilarious best!
Rev.

Thursday 6 January 2022
Season One

Tom Hollander (BAFTA winner for The Night Manager) co-wrote and stars in this sitcom that turns the “country vicar” cliché on its head. He plays a priest who leaves his rural parish to become the vicar of an inner-city London church – and finds himself looking after an urban flock with all its many problems. Olivia Colman, who has scooped Oscars, Emmys, BAFTAs and Golden Globes over the past decade for roles in The Favourite, The Crown, Broadchurch and others, features as the reverend’s wife. Rev. scooped a BAFTA for Best Scripted Comedy plus a British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Drama. Well worth watching for some outstanding performances!

Ashes to Ashes
27 January 2022
Seasons One to Three

If you were intrigued by supernatural fantasy-meets-police procedural drama Life on Mars, you’re in for a treat with Ashes to Ashes, its acclaimed sequel. Keeley Hawes (Spooks, Line of Duty) stars as Alex Drake, an officer with the London Metropolitan Police, who is shot in 2008 and mysteriously regains consciousness in 1981. Part of this time-warp show’s appeal is its throwback ’80s soundtrack featuring songs by British groups such as The Clash, The Stranglers, OMD, Ultravox, Roxy Music, Duran Duran and, of course, David Bowie, whose songs give both series their titles.