The articulation of Britishness on German screens: From Barnaby to Bridgerton

This study examines the articulation of Britishness to young German audiences through crime and period dramas, as well as the role Britishness occupies within their marketing strategies. Employing textual, genre, and promotional analyses of Midsomer Murders, Sherlock, Killing Eve, Downton Abbey, Peaky Blinders , and Bridgerton , Britishness is conceptualised as a fluid, genre-specific signifier within transnational cultural exchange and as a promotional strategy. By balancing heritage with modernity, these dramas exemplify how national identity is a flexible asset in global content flows. This fluidity highlights the enduring significance of nationhood as a marker of cultural identity and competitive differentiation within global media markets.