Beloved actor Toby Jones' highest-rated TV show, according to Rotten Tomatoes, is BBC sitcom Detectorists, currently sitting with a perfect 100% critics score. First airing in 2014 and having been created and written by Mackenzie Crook, now is the perfect time to revisit the three-season hit, as Crook's latest series Small Prophets remains a trending hit for the broadcaster's streaming service.
The award-winning comedy show centred on two friends Andy and Lance, played by Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones, who have bonded over their shared love of metal detecting (which, they describe, makes them as close as you can get to being time travellers).
The cast boasts Pearce Quigley – who, along with Crook, also stars in Small Prophets – as well as other recognisable stars such as Rachael Stirling (who has appeared in episodes of Midsomer Murders and Grantchester), Sophie Thompson (Feel Good, Inside No. 9) and Divian Ladwa (Silent Witness, Black Ops).
Detectorists has been widely critically-acclaimed, with The Post NZ describing it as "a triumph of beautiful writing and characters with real depth and humanity to them."
"We're talking nerds, and nerdy male friendship, midlife crises, all that," wrote the Guardian. "But it's sharp, nicely observed, good to look at, with lovely understated performances from Crook and Toby Jones."
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Meanwhile (via Rotten Tomatoes), The Times branded it "beautifully acted and written", also describing it as "a rare treasure", and The Australian called it "one of the best, if zaniest comedies of recent times".
When it comes to Toby Jones' roles in scripted drama, as listed by critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, Detectorists tops Mr Bates vs the Post Office, which also stands strong with a 95% review score, and is closely followed by ITV's A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story (with 94%).
Detectorists won the BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy in 2015, with Toby Jones also awarded for Best Male Comedy Performance a few years later.
In a celebratory piece written for BBC Culture in 2022, the show was described as "a global hit", transcending the UK and having wide appeal. The editor of monthly magazine Treasure Hunting was also quoted as calling Detectorists an "amazing series", saying that it "has just become part of metal-detecting culture" too.
All three series of Detectorists are available to watch on BBC iPlayer right now, so if you've not yet delved into this beloved British sitcom and you're on the lookout for something to watch tonight, consider this your recommendation.
Detectorists aired on BBC Four and is now on BBC iPlayer.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
