BritBox’s March offerings have landed, and I’m here, your streaming guide, to sort through it all. Surprisingly, it’s not just period dramas and comfy mysteries – though there’s a healthy dose of those if you’re into that sort of thing. (No shame; my grandma’s a big fan.)
The one that caught my eye is Ludwig. Why? David Mitchell. Yes, the David Mitchell. The perpetually confused one from Mitchell and Webb, a master of awkward comedy. He’s starring as a… detective? More accurately, a puzzle creator who stumbles into sleuthing. The set up involves, and I’m quoting here “John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor’s (Mitchell) identical twin, James, disappears off the face of the earth, John takes over his brother’s identity in a quest to discover his whereabouts.”
I’m expecting lots of stuttering, confused looks, and general “fish out of water” scenarios – essentially, David Mitchell doing what he does best. It arrives on March 20, and I’m cautiously hopeful.
Then there’s Douglas is Cancelled, coming March 6. This screams “of the moment.” Hugh Bonneville (forever Lord Grantham in my mind) and Karen Gillan (yes, Nebula) play co-hosts embroiled in a “cancel culture” controversy. Apparently, Douglas tells a sexist joke, it goes viral, and chaos ensues. I foresee many think pieces. Much discussion about free speech and internet outrage. Me? I just hope it’s well-made. Because a show about “cancel culture” could easily go off the rails. Steven Moffat is behind this, the man known for both Sherlock and Doctor Who.
For those craving classic mysteries, there is Travels With Agatha Christie & Sir David Suchet. It’s exactly what you think: David Suchet, beloved as Poirot, follows in Agatha Christie’s footsteps. It launches on March 8, and I imagine it’ll be charming, though perhaps not groundbreaking. Ideal for a quiet Sunday with tea and a snack.
If you are after more socially aware fare,Lost Boys and Fairies (March 4) seems promising. A drama centered on a gay couple’s journey through adoption and confronting past trauma. The blurb promises “a glittering, moving, and groundbreaking drama.” I’ll wait to see it before passing judgment, but it sounds potentially impactful.
There is also, on March 1, a film called Misbehaviour starring Keira Knightley and Keeley Hawes, it is a period drama, that deals with real events, about the 1970 Miss World competition.
Then on, March 14, I Literally Just Told You, a gameshow presented by Jimmy Carr.
Finally on March 25, Dead in the Water is released, a documentary about a journalist’s search for her brothers killer.
So, there you go. BritBox’s March selection. Comedy, drama, mystery, and… David Mitchell as a detective.
