New And Exlusive To Britbox This Septepmber: Explore Agatha Christie’s Britain with Alan Carr

Pining for some vintage British comedy? Just arrived for August on BritBox is Blackadder II – widely regarded as the funniest British sitcom ever made – as Lord Blackadder, Baldrick and company celebrate their 40^th anniversary with a diabolically scheming cackle. Pure comedy gold, courtesy of Rowan Atkinson, Ben Elton and Richard Curtis!

Springtime offers the perfect excuse to join comedian Alan Carr on a whimsical road trip to visit some of the “quintessentially British” locations made famous by Agatha Christie’s iconic mystery novels – channelling characters such as Miss Marple and Poirot in the process! Hop in the car and join the fun with Alan Carr’s Adventures with Agatha Christie, new and exclusive to BritBox South Africa in September.

Plus, two comedies debut on BritBox this month: Avoidance, starring BAFTA winner Romesh Ranganathan as a man whose chronic aversion to conflict causes friction in his family life; and Friday Night Dinner, introducing a quirky British-Jewish family that meets every Shabbat – with uproarious consequences.

And here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming to BritBox in October: Claridge’s: The Megabuild offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the extraordinary feat of engineering that played out during renovations to this five star luxury hotel in the heart of upmarket Mayfair, while wealthy guests remained oblivious to the massive renovations taking place behind the scenes.

The BritBox app is now available in South Africa on the DStv Explora Ultra and Streama devices and as an add-to-bill option for all DStv subscribers. The app is also available on Android TV, including enabled Smart TVs, Google Chromecast with GoogleTV, Nvidia Shield, MiBox and MiStick, plus Android and Apple mobile/tablets, FireTV, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV and selected Hisense, Toshiba and OEM branded VIDAA smart TVs. Enjoy one week’s free trial, sign up at R99,99 per month and register for email updates at www.britbox.com.

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Just arrived on BritBox for August

Indulge in a classic comedy binge as Blackadder turns 40!

Blackadder II (new to BritBox SA)

Thursday 17 August 2023

Off with their heads! Blackadder – the iconic period sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson as a scheming, Machiavellian antihero – turns a remarkable 40 years old this year. To celebrate this milestone, Britain has issued a set of eight commemorative Blackadder stamps – and BritBox South Africa is adding season two to its classic comedy catalogue. With the arrival of the second season, you can now binge all four on BritBox.

Blackadder II, set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II (played by Miranda Richardson), sees Ben Elton joining Richard Curtis on writing duties, leading to some choice insults – particularly directed at the hapless Baldrick (Tony Robinson). Atkinson plays Edmund, Lord Blackadder, a Tudor courtier trying to win ‘Queenie’s’ favour while skilfully avoiding execution. Other familiar faces include Stephen Fry as Lord Melchett, the Queen’s Lord Chamberlain, Tim McInnerny as Lord Percy, and Patsy Byrne as Nursie.

Coming to BritBox in September

Discover Agatha Christie’s quintessentially British locations with Alan Carr

Alan Carr’s Adventures with Agatha Christie (new & exclusive to BritBox) 

Thursday 7 September 2023 

In this funny, celebratory and fact-packed travelogue, renowned comedian and lifelong Agatha Christie fanboy Alan Carr sets off on a very personal three-hour Great British Adventure inspired by his literary heroine.

An Agatha Christie novel is not only clever, twisting, and satisfying – it’s also intrinsically British. From the quaint, genteel villages of Miss Marple to the metropolitan elegance of Poirot, Alan Carr’s Adventures With Agatha Christie is a glorious romp through Britain’s most beautiful landscapes, celebrating the woman who immortalised them in her writing and offering a fresh new perspective on her life and work. Climb aboard for the ride!

Conflict-averse beta-male sets the scene for a clever sitcom 

Avoidance (new & exclusive to BritBox)

Season 1

Thursday 14 September 2023

Double BAFTA-winning comedian Romesh Ranganathan (The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, The Cynic) writes and stars in new comedy-drama Avoidance, about a man with severe conflict-avoidance issues who runs away with his son when his wife announces she’s leaving him.

Newly separated Jonathan (Ranganathan) has no home, no friends and no ambition. Can a slightly useless single dad find some much-needed backbone? This warm-hearted comedy co-stars some of the biggest hitters on the current UK comedy scene, including Jessica Knappett (The Inbetweeners, Ghosts) and Mandeep Dhillon (After Life, Peacock).

“This gentle, truthful, beautifully performed comedy about the ultimate beta male is painful in its accuracy – and will speak to so many of us.” – The Guardian

Belly laughs and gags galore as a British-Jewish family runs riot

Friday Night Dinner (new to BritBox)

Season 1

Thursday 21 September 2023

Long-running BAFTA-nominated sitcom Friday Night Dinner depicts Shabbat dinner in the secular Jewish Goodman family – with plenty of slapstick and pranking thrown in for good measure.

Twenty-something brothers Adam (Simon Bird – The Inbetweeners) and Jonny (Tom Rosenthal – Plebs) unfailingly go back to Mum and Dad’s London house for dinner every week – and each Friday Mum (Tamsin Grieg – Episodes) and Dad (Paul Ritter – Quantum of Solace) get ready for an evening of domestic squabbling, food-related pranking and lashings of “crimble crumble”.

In season one, there is much speculation that Jonny has invented his girlfriend Alison, and not even the Internet can sort out a suitable partner for Adam. Could it be because Adam writes jingles for toilet roll adverts, and Jonny’s favourite party trick is to jump out of bin-liners onto unsuspecting victims?

“The joyous Jewish sitcom that became a national treasure.” – The Guardian

Coming to BritBox in October

Go underground to witness the remarkable remodelling of a famous landmark

Claridge’s: The Megabuild (new & exclusive to BritBox)

Thursday 5 October 2023

Claridge’s Hotel – an icon of old-school glamour and a favourite of celebrities and royalty – is undergoing its biggest transformation of modern times. Filmed over six years, this remarkable documentary series follows the incredible logistical challenges involved in digging out a five-storey mega-basement in central London, adding four new floors to the top of the hotel and creating the city’s most expensive penthouse – all without disturbing the day-to-day business at one of the world’s most luxurious destinations.

Although well-heeled guests continue to check in and out as usual, despite all appearances the hotel is a busy building site. The ultimate aim: to ensure this Mayfair classic sets the standard for the next generation of uber-luxury locations. Narrated by actress Emilia Fox (Silent Witness, Signora Volpe), this fascinating documentary traces the hotel’s ambitious and intricate feat of engineering.