How to Get Better at Understanding Different English Accents
The best TV series and films for advanced English listening and accent practice
If you’re preparing for C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency, IELTS or simply want to understand real English more confidently, one of the best things you can do is watch great television.
The key word is great.
Life is too short to watch mediocre series simply because they feature a particular accent. The programmes below are either ones I’ve watched and loved myself, or those that come highly recommended and are firmly on my own watch list.
Listening to a wide variety of English accents is one of the fastest ways to improve your comprehension. In real life, you’ll hear far more than “BBC English” or “General American”. A conversation in Dublin sounds very different from one in Birmingham. A detective in Louisiana doesn’t sound like a NASA engineer in Houston, and someone from Yorkshire speaks very differently from someone in London.
Normal People
Irish English | Moderate
A beautiful, naturalistic drama with Irish accents from Sligo and Dublin. It is excellent for everyday conversational English, quiet emotional dialogue and natural speech.
This is one of the strongest choices for advanced students who want to hear modern Irish English in a realistic setting.
Bad Sisters
Irish English | Easy
A dark, funny drama with contemporary Dublin accents, sharp dialogue and plenty of suspense. The conversations feel natural and authentic, making it an excellent introduction to modern Irish English.
This is one of the easiest Irish series to recommend because the story is gripping, the humour is unmistakably Irish, and the accents are generally more accessible than in many other Irish dramas.
Department Q
Scottish English | Moderate
A gripping crime drama set in Edinburgh, featuring modern Scottish English alongside clear, natural dialogue. The conversations feel authentic without being overwhelming for advanced learners.
This is one of the best choices for students who enjoy detective stories and want to become more confident understanding contemporary Scottish accents.
Outlander
Scottish English | Moderate to Challenging
A sweeping historical drama set in the Scottish Highlands, featuring a mixture of Scottish accents alongside one very clear English accent from one of the main characters. This contrast makes it especially useful for students, because you can compare the easier English voice with the stronger Scottish voices around her.
The dialogue is more stylised than contemporary drama, but it is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience Scottish English while exploring the country’s history, culture and landscapes.
Keeping Faith
Welsh English | Moderate
A gripping legal and family drama set in rural Wales, featuring clear South Wales accents and plenty of natural, everyday conversation. The dialogue is easy to follow, while the mystery keeps the story moving.
This is one of the best introductions to Welsh English because the speech is generally clear, the pacing is measured, and you’ll hear authentic Welsh accents throughout.
Hidden / Craith
Welsh English | Challenging
A dark psychological crime drama set in North Wales, featuring both Welsh and English dialogue with authentic regional accents. The slower pace helps, but the atmosphere and occasional bilingual scenes make it more demanding.
This is an excellent choice for advanced learners who want to experience a different side of Welsh English and discover how language and culture are closely connected in modern Wales.
Slow Horses
Mixed British English | Moderate
A witty, fast-paced spy drama set in London, featuring a rich mixture of London, Scottish, Northern and Received Pronunciation accents. The dialogue is sharp, contemporary and full of dry humour.
This is one of the strongest recommendations in this guide because it exposes students to several British accents while remaining thoroughly entertaining.
Humans
Southern British English | Easy
A thought-provoking science fiction drama set in an alternative present where lifelike robots are part of everyday life. The dialogue is clear, natural and easy to follow.
This is an excellent starting point for students who want to become more confident with contemporary Southern British English before tackling stronger regional accents.
The Crown
Received Pronunciation English | Easy
A lavish historical drama following the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the British Royal Family. You’ll hear clear, carefully spoken English alongside a range of regional accents as new characters are introduced.
This is one of the best series for students who want to become familiar with Received Pronunciation and more formal British English.
Bend it Like Beckham
London English | Easy–Moderate
A feel-good comedy-drama film about a young British-Indian woman determined to pursue her dream of playing football despite her family’s traditional expectations. It combines London English with British Asian English, family language and everyday conversation.
Although this is a film rather than a TV series, I couldn’t leave it out. It beautifully illustrates how English changes across generations, cultures and communities within modern Britain, making it essential viewing for advanced learners.
Clarkson’s Farm
Rural Southern English | Easy–Moderate
A hugely popular documentary series following Jeremy Clarkson as he attempts to run a farm in the Cotswolds. Alongside Clarkson, you’ll hear farmers, contractors, vets and local residents speaking natural rural Southern English in authentic, unscripted conversations.
This is an excellent choice for students who want to hear real everyday Southern English while learning the language of farming, food, wildlife and rural life.
Peaky Blinders
Birmingham English | Challenging
An acclaimed crime drama following the Shelby family as they build their criminal empire in post-First World War Birmingham. The series features authentic Birmingham (Brummie) accents, regional slang and fast-paced dialogue.
This is one of the most challenging recommendations in the guide, but it offers excellent exposure to Midlands English and one of Britain’s most iconic television dramas.
Happy Valley
Yorkshire English | Moderate–Challenging
A gripping crime drama set in West Yorkshire, following police sergeant Catherine Cawood as she investigates serious crimes while dealing with personal tragedy. The series showcases authentic Yorkshire accents and natural everyday conversation.
This is one of the finest British dramas ever made and an outstanding introduction to Yorkshire English. The dialogue is realistic and rewarding, making it an excellent choice for confident C1 and C2 learners.
Vera
North East English | Moderate
A long-running detective drama set in Northumberland and Newcastle, following the brilliant but unconventional DCI Vera Stanhope as she investigates murders across the North East of England. You’ll hear a mixture of Geordie and Northumberland accents throughout the series.
This is an excellent introduction to North East English because the dialogue is generally clear, the stories are gripping, and the spectacular landscapes are an added bonus.
The Detectorists
East Anglian English | Easy–Moderate
A gentle comedy-drama about two friends who spend their weekends searching the Suffolk countryside with their metal detectors. The dialogue is understated, natural and full of quiet humour.
This is a wonderful choice for students who prefer slower-paced conversations and want to hear a softer regional English accent that is rarely featured on television.
Made in Heaven
Indian English | Moderate
A stylish drama following two elite wedding planners in New Delhi as they navigate lavish weddings where modern ambitions clash with family tradition. The dialogue features sophisticated, educated urban Indian English with natural, contemporary speech.
This is one of the strongest recommendations in the guide because it was written and performed primarily in English, making it an outstanding choice for C1 and C2 learners who want to experience authentic Indian English.
Decoupled
Indian English | Challenging
A witty comedy-drama about a successful writer and his wife navigating divorce, family life and modern society in Delhi. The dialogue is fast, intelligent and packed with contemporary humour and cultural references.
This is an excellent choice for confident C1 and C2 learners who want to hear natural, educated Indian English as it is spoken by professionals in modern urban India.
The Newsreader
Australian English | Easy–Moderate
A compelling drama set in the fast-paced world of Australian television news during the 1980s. The dialogue is clear, professional and easy to follow, while still sounding authentically Australian.
This is one of the best introductions to Australian English because the speech is measured, natural and less regional than many other Australian dramas.
Mystery Road
Australian English | Moderate
A beautifully filmed detective drama following Indigenous detective Jay Swan as he investigates crimes in the Australian outback. You’ll hear rural Australian English alongside Indigenous Australian voices and expressions.
This is an excellent choice for students who want to move beyond city accents and experience the rich diversity of Australian English in a stunning landscape.
The Tourist
Australian & British English | Moderate
A gripping mystery thriller about a man who wakes up in the Australian outback with no memory of who he is or why someone wants him dead. The series combines Australian accents with British and Irish English, making it easy to compare different varieties of spoken English.
This is a fantastic choice for advanced learners because the mystery keeps you hooked while exposing you to a wide range of authentic English accents.
Top of the Lake
New Zealand English | Moderate
A gripping mystery drama set in the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand, following a detective investigating the disappearance of a young girl. The series features a mixture of New Zealand and Australian accents, creating an interesting comparison between the two varieties of English.
This is an excellent choice for advanced learners who enjoy atmospheric dramas and want to become familiar with the distinctive sound of New Zealand English.
The Brokenwood Mysteries
New Zealand English | Easy–Moderate
A charming detective series set in a small New Zealand town, where each episode follows a new mystery. The dialogue is clear, natural and easy to follow, with plenty of everyday conversation.
This is one of the most accessible introductions to New Zealand English, making it an excellent starting point before tackling stronger regional accents.
One Lane Bridge
New Zealand & Māori English | Moderate
A crime drama set in Queenstown, following a young detective whose investigations become intertwined with Māori culture and local traditions. Alongside contemporary New Zealand English, you’ll also hear Māori English and occasional Māori words and expressions.
This is a fascinating choice for students who want to explore the cultural and linguistic diversity of modern New Zealand while enjoying a compelling mystery.
For All Mankind
American English | Easy–Moderate
An ambitious alternative-history drama imagining what might have happened if the global space race had never ended. The dialogue features clear, educated American English, especially in professional and technical settings.
This is one of the best starting points for American English because the speech is generally clear and careful, while still offering some regional variety. If you love this, you’ll also love Star City.
Breaking Bad
Southwestern American English | Easy–Moderate
A gripping drama following a chemistry teacher whose life changes dramatically after a devastating diagnosis. Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the series features clear American English with influences from the American Southwest and Hispanic culture.
This is one of the greatest television dramas ever made and an excellent choice for students who want to hear natural, contemporary American English in a compelling story.
House of Cards
Washington American English | Moderate
A gripping political drama following the ruthless rise of a power-hungry politician in Washington, D.C. The dialogue is sophisticated, persuasive and full of political, legal and business vocabulary.
This is an excellent choice for advanced learners who want to hear polished, educated American English while exploring the language of politics, negotiation and power.
Orange is the New Black
New York & Multicultural American English | Moderate–Challenging
A comedy-drama set in a women’s prison, featuring an extraordinarily diverse cast from many different cultural and social backgrounds. You’ll hear a fascinating mixture of New York, Hispanic American, African American and standard American English.
This is one of the best series for discovering the incredible diversity of spoken American English, with authentic everyday conversations, humour and memorable characters.
The Sopranos
New Jersey & New York American English | Moderate
A landmark crime drama following a New Jersey mob boss as he struggles to balance family life with organised crime. The dialogue is packed with authentic New Jersey and New York accents, Italian-American speech patterns and memorable expressions.
This is an outstanding introduction to one of America’s most recognisable regional varieties of English, with richly written dialogue and unforgettable characters.
Schitt’s Creek
Canadian English | Easy
A warm, award-winning comedy-drama about a wealthy family forced to rebuild their lives in a small rural town. The dialogue is clear, natural and full of everyday conversation.
This is one of the easiest introductions to Canadian English, making it an excellent starting point for students who want to become familiar with a standard Canadian accent and natural spoken English.
Orphan Black
Canadian English | Moderate
A gripping science fiction thriller following a woman who discovers she is one of many identical clones. Set primarily in Toronto, the series features contemporary Canadian English alongside a remarkable range of accents and speech styles performed by Tatiana Maslany.
This is an excellent choice for advanced learners because you’ll hear clear Canadian English in a fast-moving, intelligent drama, while also appreciating the subtle differences between the many characters’ voices.
Blood and Water
South African English | Easy–Moderate
A gripping mystery following a Cape Town teenager who transfers to an elite private school after becoming convinced that a famous swimmer may be the sister who was abducted at birth. The dialogue features contemporary urban South African English with clear Cape Town accents and natural teenage conversation.
This is one of the best introductions to South African English because the speech is generally clear, modern and easy to follow, while the mystery keeps you hooked from the very first episode.
Savage Beauty
Johannesburg South African English | Moderate
A stylish revenge drama following a young woman who infiltrates one of South Africa’s most powerful and wealthy families. The dialogue showcases polished, educated Johannesburg English in professional and high-society settings.
This is an excellent choice for advanced learners who want to hear sophisticated South African English while enjoying a compelling story of ambition, power and betrayal.
Riviera
International English | Moderate
A glamorous art-world thriller set on the Côte d’Azur, following a wealthy American woman drawn into a world of secrets, money and corruption. The series mixes clear American English with upper-class British English and fluent European English.
This is useful for advanced learners because it reflects the kind of international English you may hear in business, travel and high-society settings, where no single accent dominates the conversation.
The Night Manager
International English | Moderate
A sleek spy thriller following a former soldier and hotel night manager as he infiltrates the inner circle of a powerful arms dealer. You’ll hear crisp British English, Australian English and international professional English in luxury hotels, diplomatic spaces and business settings.
This is an excellent choice for C1 and C2 learners because the language is controlled, sophisticated and full of the kind of careful, strategic speech used in high-pressure professional situations.
Succession
International Business English | Challenging
A darkly funny drama about an ultra-wealthy media family fighting for control of a global empire. The dialogue is fast, sharp and full of corporate, financial and legal language, with a mixture of American, British and European English.
This is one of the best series for confident advanced learners who want to understand fast, sophisticated, high-status English in meetings, negotiations and power games.
White Lotus
Global English | Moderate
A sharp social satire set in luxury resorts around the world, where wealthy guests and local staff from different countries collide. Each season introduces a fascinating mixture of American, British and international English alongside a wide variety of cultural perspectives.
This is an excellent choice for learners who want to practise adjusting quickly to different accents and communication styles within the same conversation.
The Diplomat
Global Diplomatic English | Moderate–Challenging
A fast-paced political drama following the newly appointed US Ambassador to the United Kingdom as she navigates international crises and complex diplomatic relationships. The series combines American, British and international English in formal political and diplomatic settings.
This is a superb choice for advanced learners interested in politics, international relations or professional communication, with sophisticated dialogue that reflects English as it is used on the global stage.
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