Favorite British TV Shows

We were very excited to learn when we moved here that a lot of American TV shows are actually shown on British TV.  We don't have to miss our favorite Travel Channel, Food Network, and primetime shows (well at least most of them!  British TV doesn't have the Amazing Race).  We also started watching some British shows though.  These shows gave us a good understanding of life and culture over here, especially when we first moved.  Here are our favorite shows and information about them.  Let us know if you've seen them in the States!

• Come Dine with Me - I first found this show when we were living in the hotel for 6 weeks.  The premise is that 5 strangers get together every night for 5 days, and they rotate hosting and cooking a 3-course meal.  At the end, everyone scores each other secretly, and the winner receives 1,000 GBP.  This show is great because it introduced us to British cooking and the names for British ingredients - this is where we learned that aubergine is actually eggplant and courgette is actually zucchini.  It also gave a great insight into culture around the UK.
• The Hotel Inspector - Brian and I have stayed in more than 70 European accomodations, so this show is a great favorite of our's.  A renowned hotel expert visits struggling hotels and B&Bs to find out what the owners are doing wrong and then offer recommendations.  We definitely think we could be Hotel Inspectors at this point!  =)
• Anything with Gordon Ramsay - Gordon Ramsay is so much different on shows here in the UK than in the US. He is a lot nicer for some reason; we've noticed the same thing with Simon Cowell. Ramsay just completed a show called "Ramsay's Best Restaurant" where he test restaurants of different types of cuisines to see who was the best in the country.
• UK Border Force - Anyone who has tried to enter the UK, either with a visa or just on vacation, knows they take immigration and border control very seriously.  They take it so seriously that they have an entire series devoted to it called the UK Border Force.  The reality show follows immigration and border control officers, both at the airport and throughout the country.  It sounds weird, but it's actually a fascinating show to watch and gives you real insight into how many people try to smuggle their way in and why the UK is so strict.
• Relocation, Relocation - This show allows you to indulge in real estate fantasties.  It follows couples who are looking for two homes: one in the UK and one abroad somewhere in Europe usually.  We love seeing the different houses and how they are affected by the cultures of the country they are in.  Plus it's always fun to dream about buying a chalet in Switzerland or a villa in Italy!  =)\

My grandmother who moved to the States from Germany when I was a teenager said she used to watch American TV to learn the language better.  Now I see why.  Watching British TV has definitely given us a great insight into this country, especially when we first moved here.  We're going to miss our new favorite shows.  Thank goodness for BBC America!  Hopefully we can find some of them on there when we move back to Florida.