Netflix reveals its most-watched series – and the top four are all British

Netflix has announced the most-watched series of the year, with British series leading the way.

According to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, Fool Me Once, Baby Reindeer, Bridgerton and The Gentleman are the four most-watched series in the world.

In total, the shows were viewed 360 million times in the first six months of this year.

Speaking at the Royal Television Society conference, he said: ‘That’s why Netflix is ​​investing more here than in any other country outside the US.

‘Since 2020, we’ve invested $6 billion (£4.53 billion) into the UK creative community and worked with over 30,000 actors and crew.’

Fool Me Once, based on the novel by Harlan Coben and starring former Coronation Street actor Michelle Keegan and Joanna Lumley, is the most popular series on Netflix this year with 108 million views.

Netflix has revealed that British series have emerged as the most popular in 2024, with Fool Me Once, starring Michelle Keegan (pictured), taking the top spot with 108 million views.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said Fool Me Once, Baby Reindeer, Bridgerton and The Gentleman are the four most-watched series worldwide, with Bridgerton alone having been viewed 92 million times

Next up is Bridgerton, which drew 92 million views. Baby Reindeer, which won six Emmy Awards on Sunday night, had 88 million viewers.

Finally, the drama series The Gentleman, starring Theo James, had a whopping 76 million viewers.

Sarandos added: ‘I’ve seen first-hand the scope and ambition of these British shows and films. This wealth of talent is a great British success story. Because it didn’t happen by accident.

‘Filming here in Britain is always a privilege, never a sacrifice. In other words, Britain became one of the best countries in the world for TV and film because you made it possible.’

Elsewhere, Sarandos defended Baby Reindeer, claiming the hit series is a “drama, not a documentary,” after the streaming service was taken to court by a woman claiming to be the real-life stalker Martha.

He said the series is the personal account of creator Richard Gadd, who also plays the lead role of comedian Donny Dunn, and his own experience with a stalker.

Fiona Harvey claimed she was the inspiration behind Martha and claimed the story was false, filing a lawsuit against Netflix.

At the beginning of the first episode, the text appears on the screen: ‘This is a true story.’

Baby Reindeer, which won six Emmy Awards on Sunday night, had 88 million viewers

Finally, the drama series The Gentleman, starring Theo James, had an impressive 76 million viewers

Reflecting on his own struggles and battles with mental health issues, the star added: “Look, 10 years ago I was down and out, right? I never thought I would get my life together. I never thought I would be able to straighten myself out and get back on my feet.

“We’re facilitating storytellers to tell their stories,” Sarandos said. “Baby Reindeer is his (Gadd’s) story, he told his story, it’s not a documentary.”

“There are elements of the story that are dramatized,” Sarandos said. “It’s very clear that there is dramatization. This debate (about the true story status of Baby Reindeer) is not happening anywhere else in the world. Only in the United Kingdom.”

In his Emmy Awards acceptance speech on Sunday, Gadd urged aspiring writers to take risks.

“The only constant in television success is a good story,” he told the audience.

‘Good storytelling is a modern phenomenon… take risks, push boundaries, explore the uncomfortable, dare to fail to achieve something.’