25 Best Scottish TV Shows That You Need to Watch

Are you addicted to watching Scottish TV shows and movies set in Scotland like I am? Some of the best television programs are about Scotland or set in Scottish cities and towns. The best Scottish TV series come from a variety of genres: comedies, dramas, crime dramas, and even reality television.

Viewers simply can’t get enough of TV shows set in Scotland. Both the Shetland and Outlander series have fans from all around the world. The second season of the reality TV show, The Traitors, becomes Peacock’s most watched reality premiere ever.

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And with Google searches for “Ardross Castle” (where the show takes place) and “flights to Scotland” more popular than ever before, those watching these Scottish TV shows are flocking to destinations like the Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow and others.

Feeling inspired? Here are my top 25 TV shows about Scotland and TV series set in Scotland that you need to watch ASAP. Before you know it, I’m sure you’ll be booking your flights directly to Scotland, too.

Table of Contents

Quick Summary: 25 Best Scottish TV Shows

Don’t have time to read the whole article and simply want a quick list of the best TV shows in Scotland? Here are 25 Scottish TV shows that you need to watch if you love Scotland.

Annika
Burnistoun
Case Histories
Crime
Hamish McBeth
In Plain Sight
Karen Pirie
Lovesick
Monarch of the Glen
Outlander
Rab C Nesbitt
Rebus
Scot Squad
Shetland
Still Game
Taggart
Take the High Road
The High Life
The Loch / Loch Ness
The Nest
The Traitors
The Vital Spark
Traces
Tutti Frutti
Two Doors Down

Best Scottish TV Shows: Annika (2021 – )

Starring Nicola Walker as Detective Inspector Annika Strandhed, Annika is the lead of the newly formed Marine Homicide Unit (MHU) in Glasgow. Annika and her team are tasked with solving murder cases that take place in Scottish waters.

Annika’s relationship with her daughter, Morgan, also takes center stage throughout the episodes. Interestingly, the character of Annika often breaks the fourth wall by speaking directly to the audience. You can watch Annika on the PBS Masterpiece Amazon Prime Video Channel (USA and Canada), BBC iPlayer (UK), Now (UK) and Sky Go (UK).

Places Featured in the TV Series: Glasgow

Best Scottish TV Shows: Burnistoun (2009 – 2019)

Burnistoun is a comedy sketch show written and performed by Robert Florence and Iain Connell, and originally broadcast by BBC Scotland. Set in the fictional town of Burnistoun near Glasgow, the show portrays a variety of odd characters including the local serial killer, “Jolly Boy John”, and an aspiring female pop band.

The comedy sketches are relatable, observational humour filled with Scottish cultural quirks. The program had three seasons for a total of 18 episodes, though there have been more TV specials throughout the years. You can stream Burnistoun on Amazon Prime and BBC iPlayer in the UK. I haven’t been able to find streaming anywhere in Canada or the US.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Greater Glasgow

Best Scottish TV Shows: Case Histories (2011 – 2013)

Case Histories is a British crime drama television series based on the Jackson Brodie books by Kate Atkinson. It stars private investigator, Jackson Brodie, formerly a solider and policeman. Despite his own personal struggles, he continually comes to the rescue to bring peace to victims and their families, solving their unexplained mysteries.

However, Jackson himself is the ultimate survivor as he tries to come to terms with his own traumatic past. Despite his tough exterior, Jackson has a big heart. Admire the stunning views of Edinburgh as you watch this engaging Scottish TV series. You can watch Case Histories on Amazon Prime TV in Canada, the US and the UK.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Edinburgh

Best Scottish TV Shows: Crime (2021 – )

Also known as Irvine Welsh’s Crime, Crime is a Scottish crime drama adapted from Irvine Welsh’s book of the same name. In the series, DI Ray Lennox and DS Drummond investigate an Edinburgh schoolgirl’s abduction. Lennox navigates the disappearance of the girl as he addresses his own inner conflicts.

Dougray Scott’s performance as DI Lennox pushes the boundaries on the typical narrative of the troubled detective, and he won an International Emmy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal. The series itself is set in Edinburgh, though it’s filmed in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. You can watch Crime on Britbox in Canada and the US, and ITVX in the UK (STV Player in Scotland).

Places Featured in the TV Series: Edinburgh, Glasgow

Best Scottish TV Shows: Hamish McBeth (1995 – 1997)

Hamish Macbeth is a Scottish mystery comedy-drama starring a police constable in the small fictitious town of Lochdubh. Accompanied by his dog, a West Highland terrier named Wee Jock, Hamish aims to maintain the peace in his small town and doesn’t hesitate to bend the rules to his liking. The series is loosely based on the mystery novels by M. C. Beaton.

In addition to Hamish, you’ll get to know some of the eccentric townsfolk. Even though Hamish is intertwined in small town living with them, he also asserts himself as the voice of the law, which can be an awkward situation at times. You can watch Hamish MacBeth on Acorn TV in Canada and the USA and Amazon Prime in the UK.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Kyle of Lochalsh, Plockton, Staffin (Isle of Skye), Balmacara

Best Scottish TV Shows: In Plain Sight (2016)

In Plain Sight is a Scottish three part mini-series drama that tells the story of the crimes committed by serial killer Peter Manuel in the 1950s. Peter, also known as “The Beast of Birkenshaw”, killed at least eight people between 1956 and 1958 in Lanarkshire.

Detective William Muncie, played by Douglas Henshall, strives to find the serial killer and bring him to justice. It was the first time that the local police dealt with this serious of a criminal and the victims were seemingly chose at random. Stream In Plain Sight on Britbox in the USA and Canada.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Many locations in Glasgow and the Central Belt of Scotland, Greenock, Dunlop in East Ayrshire.

Best Scottish TV Shows: Karen Pirie (2022 – )

Karen Pirie is a British crime drama based on the Inspector Karen Pirie series of books by Val McDermid. In season one, detective-sergeant Pirie reopens the 1995 cold case of a murdered barmaid after it was the topic of a true crime podcast. Her inquiry uncovers flaws in the original investigation as she hunts down the killer.

The first series aired across three episodes, and its producers are the same as for the popular series Line of Duty and Bodyguard. It’s one of the newer shows on this list, and one of the best Scottish TV shows to watch out for. You can stream Karen Pirie on ITVX and BritBox in the UK, and BritBox in Canada and the USA.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Glasgow, St. Andrews, Loch Lomond and other places in Scotland.

Lovesick (2014 – 2018)

Lovesick is a British sitcom, once known as “Scrotal Recall” during season one, that originally aired on Channel 4. Shortly afterwards, Netflix aired the first season and commissioned another two seasons, billing the program as a Netflix Original. Although it sounds like a show for teenagers, it’s truly one of the best Scottish TV shows for all ages.

This TV series follows a group of university pals living in the West End of Glasgow. When the protagonist of the show, Dylan, discovers that he has an STD, he reaches out to his past partners to inform them of his diagnosis. Along with his best friends, the characters navigate their friendships, relationships and heartbreaks. Stream Lovesick on Netflix in the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Glasgow (West End, Kelvingrove Park, University of Glasgow, Partick).

Monarch of the Glen (2000 – 2005)

Monarch of the Glen - Best Scottish TV Shows

Monarch of the Glen is a Scottish drama program with seven series in total. Young restaurateur Archie MacDonald is called back to his childhood home with the attempt to restore it. He has inherited the estate, Glenbogle, as well as his father’s title, the Laird of Glenbogle. Archie struggles with whether or not to return to London or forge a new life at Glenbogle.

The TV series is loosely based on the Highland Novels by Sir Compton Mackenzie. In total, there are 64 episodes, including a Hogmanay special. You can watch Monarch of the Glen on Tubi or Roku Channel in the USA, and Britbox in the UK. Sadly, I couldn’t find this anywhere to stream in Canada.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Ardverikie House (as Glenbogle estate), Broomhill Station (as Glenbogle station), Balavil House (as Kilwilly Castle), Cairngorms, Badenoch and Strathspey.

Outlander (2014 – )

The hit TV series, Outlander, is likely one of the most well-known Scottish TV shows on this list. After all, there are even Outlander tours when you travel to Scotland. Based on the Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon, this is a historical drama series where Claire Randall finds herself transported back in time from 1945 to the year 1743.

She meets the charming Highland warrior, Jamie Fraser, falls in love, and becomes part of the Jacobite uprising. Though the series moved to the USA for some of the later seasons, many portions representing North Carolina were still filmed in Scotland. Watch Outlander on Starz in the USA and the UK, and Netflix in Canada.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Doune Castle, Blackness Castle, Culross, Falkland, Pollok House in Glasgow, Rothiemurchus Forest, Linlithgow Palace, Loch Rannoch, Newtonmore, University of Stirling, and other places in Scotland.

Rab C Nesbitt (1990 – 2014)

Rab C Nesbitt is a Scottish comedy series about an alcoholic, unemployed Glaswegian who seems pretty proud of it. He embraces his life as a lowlife, spends most of his time drinking at the local pub, and talks to the camera about his views about society.

The external shots were filmed at an actual pub in Glasgow, The Two Ways pub. It’s in Finnieston at the top end of Argyle Street. Nowadays, it’s called “The Brass Monkey”. There are 10 series of Rab C Nesbitt and along with specials, 67 episodes in total. It’s one of the best Scottish TV shows to watch out for.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Glasgow

Rebus (2000 – 2004)

Rebus is a British detective drama series based on the Inspector Rebus books by the Scottish author, Ian Rankin. Detective Inspector John Rebus’s investigations lead us through the beautiful areas of Edinburgh and delve into the more sinister sides of the city.

There are four series of Rebus before it was cancelled in 2008. However, in 2022, there was an announcement that Rebus would return to television with a new adaptation produced by Viaplay, a Nordic streaming service. It will star Richard Rankin of Burnistoun and Outlander fame. Stream Rebus on Sky in the UK, and Britbox in Canada and the US.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Edinburgh

Scot Squad (2014 – )

Scot Squad is a mockumentary comedy series about a fictional Scottish police force, shot in the “fly on the wall” style. It follows officers through various departments of the police force. So far, there are eight series in total; the eighth one began in January 2023.

Scot Squad has two spinoff series as well: Scotland Unresolved and Scot Squad: The Chief Does Edinburgh. You can stream Scot Squad on Sky in the United Kingdom and Ireland, but it isn’t available anywhere else in the world. This one might be difficult to track down, but it’s one of the top Scottish TV shows if you can find it.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Primarily the Ruchill and Maryhill area of Glasgow.

Shetland (2013 – )

Shetland is a popular Scottish crime drama series based on the novels by Ann Cleeves. The first seven seasons star Douglas Henshall as Detective Inspector Jimmy Pérez, and from the eighth series, stars Ashley Jensen DI Ruth Calder. This is one of the best Scottish TV shows and one of the first ones that comes to mind when thinking of favourite TV shows set in Scotland.

The police team on Shetland unravel the various crimes that take place on the archipelago, and delves into the lives of this close knit community on the islands. You can watch Shetland on Britbox in the USA and Canada, and in the United Kingdom, stream Shetland on Britbox, Sky, and BBC iPlayer.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Primarily the Shetland Islands, but also west central Scotland, Glasgow, and other places in Scotland.

Still Game (2002 – 2019)

Still Game is a Scottish sitcom about two Glaswegian retirees, Jack and Victor. They reminisce about the good old days and how things have taken a turn for the worse in their fictional home, the Craiglang area of Glasgow.

The series was created by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, who played the lead characters, previously starring together in the TV sketch show, Chewin’ the Fat. Stream Still Game in the UK on Netflix, Sky, and BBC iplayer; you can watch it on Netflix in Canada and the USA.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Maryhill district of Glasgow.

Taggart (1983 – 2010)

Taggart is a Scottish detective series that originally ran as the miniseries, Killer, in 1983 before becoming a full series in 1985. The premise of the show surrounds a group of detectives in the Maryhill CID of Stratclyde Police. The team investigates gruesome murders throughout the city of Glasgow.

Taggart is one of the UK’s longest running television dramas. In total, there are 27 series with 109 episodes. Watch Taggart on Britbox in Canada and the USA. In the UK, stream Taggart on Britbox, STV Player, ITVX, and Sky.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Primarily around Glasgow, but also Edinburgh, Loch Lomond and the Scottish Highlands.

Take the High Road (1980 – 2003)

Take the High Road, also known as High Road (from 1994 to 2003), is a Scottish soap opera set in the fictional village of Glendarroch. This soap opera follows the lives of the residents of this sleepy, rural village as they deal with all sorts of problems.

These issues range everywhere from local politics and crop failures to drug abuse, alcoholism and infidelity. In total, there are 1517 episodes! In the UK, you can watch Take the High Road on the STV Player. It’s unavailable to watch anywhere else in the world.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Helensburgh, Luss, Loch Lomond.

The High Life (1994 – 1995)

The High Life is a Scottish situation comedy starring Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson (as Sebastian Flight and Steve McCracken). It chronicles the cabin crew and eccentric passengers at the fictional airline, Air Scotia, flying out of Prestwick Airport.

The High Life played on surrealism, childish humour, and song and dance. There’s only one series of The High Life with six episodes. A second series was completely written, though not produced due to Cumming’s successful Hollywood career. You can only watch The High Life in the UK on Britbox.

Places Featured in the TV Series: N/A, but the fictitious airline flew out of Prestwick Airport.

The Loch (2017)

The Loch, also known as Loch Fyne and Loch Ness in America, is a six-part Scottish television drama. It’s small town detective Annie Redford’s first murder case, which quickly turns into the search for a serial killer.

The small community is shattered after the body of a local man Niall Swift is found at the bottom of a cliff, and DS Redford struggles to cope with the case herself. You can stream The Loch on Britbox and ITVX in the UK, and AMC+ and Acorn TV in the USA (known as Loch Ness on Acorn TV).

Places Featured in the TV Series: Fort Augustus, Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands.

The Nest (2020)

The Nest is a five-part British drama series. When a married couple are unable to conceive, an 18-year old teenager offers to be their surrogate mother. The teenager is on parole and the complicated history of the teen’s live begins to unfold as she is pregnant with the couple’s baby.

You can stream The Nest on Acorn TV, AMC+, Hoopla and Sundance Now in Canada and the USA. In the United Kingdom, it’s possible to watch The Nest on Disney+, Britbox and Acorn TV.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Glasgow, Paisley, East Kilbride, Helensburgh, Loch Long.

The Traitors UK & US (2022 – )

The Traitors is a reality TV series based on the Dutch series, De Verraders. The show is an international production with a worldwide following: The Traitors has series in Australia, Canada, the UK, the USA, and New Zealand, and the list goes on – over 20 countries have their own version of The Traitors.

We’re going to focus on The Traitors USA and The Traitors UK here because they’re both filmed at the same Scottish castle, Ardross Castle. The Traitors UK host is Claudia Winkleman and the Traitors USA host is Alan Cumming.

The premise is similar to the party game “Mafia” or “Werewolf”: a small group of contestants are “the traitors” and the rest are “the faithful”. The goal is for the faithful to successfully identify all of the traitors; otherwise, the traitors will keep the prize pot and split it amongst themselves. Those in Canada can watch The Traitors on Crave, US viewers can watch on Peacock, and UK viewers can watch on Sky or BBC iPlayer.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Ardross Castle and its grounds, Loch Glass, Loch Glass Pink House.

The Vital Spark (1965)

The Vital Spark is a Scottish comedy TV series that follows a Scottish Clyde puffer as it ventures up and down the Argyll coast. Set in the western isles in the 1930s, we watch the adventures of captain Peter “Para Handy” MacFarlane and his crew aboard Vital Spark. They’d often get themselves involved in various hijinks and schemes.

In total, there are three series of The Vital Spark, but unfortunately some of the earlier episodes no longer survive. Some of the later episodes in the third series are remakes of the first two series, though this time in color and in more contemporary settings. Unfortunately, there’s nowhere to stream The Vital Spark, but you may have some luck finding some episodes to watch for free on YouTube.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Crinan Canal, Forth and Clyde Canal, River Clyde

Traces (2019 – 2022)

Traces is a British crime drama about three female forensic professionals, Emma Hedges, Sarah Gordon and Kathy Torrance. They’re coworkers at the fictional Scottish Institute of Forensic Science and Anatomy in Dundee, Scotland.

While taking a case study for an online forensic course, a young lab technician uncovers similarities between the case study and her personal past. In search of answers, she works with her two female professors to hunt down a killer. In the UK, you can watch Traces on Sky and UK TV Play. As for the US and Canada, it’s possible to stream Traces on Britbox.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Dundee, Scotland; Bolton, England.

Tutti Frutti (1987)

Tutti Frutti is a six-part Scottish drama series set in Glasgow. The lead singer of legendary rock band, The Majestics, perishes in a car crash. The band’s manager convinces the younger brother of the former lead singer to join the band as the new lead singer.

Trouble and drama ensues for the band members, as well as their loved ones, as we follow the band on their tour. Tutti Frutti achieved cult status and it took many years for the six episode series to be released on DVD. Nowadays, the series is re-airing on BBC Scotland and you can watch it on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Glasgow (Glasgow School of Art, Pollok Country Park, Pavilion Theatre).

Two Doors Down (2016 – )

Two Doors Down is a Scottish TV sitcom all about crazy neighbours in a middle-class Glasgow suburb. The neighbours are continually dropping by uninvited, overstaying their welcome, taking advantage of each other, and so on. The main couple of the show try to avoid their neighbours so they can enjoy some peace and quiet in their own home.

The series is still in production with seven seasons already broadcast. This is one of the best Scottish TV shows if you’re looking for a funny sitcom to follow along. You can only watch this show in the UK on Sky, Now, and BBC iPlayer.

Places Featured in the TV Series: Dumbarton, Bishopbriggs (East Dunbartonshire), Hamilton (South Lanarkshire), Prestwick Airport.

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