Finding the right show to watch on a rainy Tuesday shouldn't feel like actual archaeology. But here we are. If you’ve been hunting for Mackenzie Crook’s masterpiece of pastoral comedy, you probably already know that the streaming landscape is a bit of a mess. One day it’s on Netflix; the next, it’s vanished into the digital ether like a misplaced Roman coin. Honestly, if you're asking where can i watch the detectorists, the answer depends entirely on whether you want to pay a subscription, buy it outright, or risk the weird, ad-supported corners of the internet.
It’s a quiet show. No explosions. No high-stakes betrayals. Just two guys in a field in Danebury, listening for the beep of a metal detector. Yet, it has this cult following that makes people desperate to find it the moment they feel a bit stressed out.
The Current Streaming Landscape for Andy and Lance
Right now, your best bet for streaming all three seasons plus the specials is Acorn TV. Since The Detectorists is a BBC production (mostly), Acorn has held the North American rights for a long time. They have everything. The 2014 pilot, the heartbreakingly beautiful Christmas specials, and that final, bittersweet 2022 feature-length episode. If you have an Amazon Prime account, you can actually just add the Acorn channel to your existing bill. It’s cleaner than managing fifteen different logins.
Speaking of Amazon Prime Video, they often have the seasons available for "free" with a Prime membership, but this fluctuates. Licenses expire. Sometimes you’ll see Season 1 and 2 included with Prime, but Season 3 requires a separate purchase or the aforementioned Acorn subscription. It’s annoying. I know.
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Then there’s Tubi.
Tubi is the Wild West of streaming. It’s free, but you have to sit through ads for insurance and snack cakes. At the time of writing, Tubi often carries the early seasons. The quality is surprisingly good, usually 1080p, which is essential because you really need to see the dew on the grass and the subtle rust on Lance's Triumph TR7 to get the full "Danebury Metal Detecting Club" vibe.
Is it on Netflix or Hulu?
Short answer: Usually no.
Netflix used to carry it in several territories, but they’ve pivoted heavily toward their own original content. They’d rather spend $200 million on a spy thriller than keep paying the BBC for a show about middle-aged men looking for buttons. Hulu occasionally gets a license for BBC titles through their partnership with Disney, but The Detectorists hasn't been a staple there for a while.
Why the 2022 Special is Harder to Find
If you’ve already seen the original run, you’re likely looking for the 75-minute special that aired in late 2022. This one is tricky. It didn't roll out globally at the same time as the original series.
In the UK, it’s perpetually on BBC iPlayer. If you are in the UK, you’re golden. Just log in, confirm you have a TV license, and enjoy. If you’re outside the UK, you might find it on BritBox or Acorn TV, but sometimes there's a delay of several months between the UK broadcast and the "International" release.
- Check Acorn TV first.
- Check the "Buy" tab on Apple TV or Google Play.
- If you’re desperate and have a VPN, BBC iPlayer is the source of truth.
The Case for Buying the Physical Discs
I’m going to say something controversial in 2026: just buy the DVD or Blu-ray.
Digital licenses are fragile. You "buy" a movie on a digital storefront, the studio has a disagreement with the platform, and suddenly your library is missing a season. With a show as re-watchable as The Detectorists, owning the physical media is a power move. There’s a "Complete Collection" box set that usually includes the Christmas specials.
The specials are important.
If you skip the Christmas specials because they aren't labeled as "Season 2, Episode 7," you are missing some of the best writing in British television history. The 2015 Christmas special, in particular, bridges the emotional gap between the first two seasons in a way that makes the finale of Season 3 land much harder.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Show
People think it’s a sitcom. It isn't, really. It’s more of a filmed poem about friendship and the passage of time. If you go into it expecting The Office, you’ll be disappointed. But if you go into it wanting to see the landscape of England through the eyes of people who actually love the dirt, it’s perfect.
Mackenzie Crook, who wrote and directed it (and plays Andy), is an actual detectorist. That’s why the gear is right. That’s why the terminology—nighthawks, gold dance, swing frequency—is used correctly. It’s authentic. That authenticity is why the show feels so "comfy."
International Viewing Options
If you are in Australia, ABC iview is your best friend. They have a long-standing relationship with the BBC and frequently cycle the show through their free streaming service.
In Canada, it’s a bit of a toss-up between CBC Gem and BritBox.
For the rest of the world, YouTube actually has a surprisingly legal presence for the show. The official "Channel 4" or "BBC" YouTube channels sometimes upload full episodes as part of their promotional cycles, though they are usually geo-blocked to the UK.
Technical Details You Should Know
When you finally figure out where can i watch the detectorists, make sure you’re watching the right version. There’s a slight difference in some international edits regarding the music.
The theme song, "Detectorists" by Johnny Flynn, is integral. It sets the mood. I’ve seen some low-budget streaming versions in Eastern Europe where the theme was replaced due to music licensing issues. It ruins the experience. Ensure the version you’re watching features Johnny Flynn’s folk track. It’s the soul of the show.
- Resolution: Look for 1080p. The cinematography by Jamie Cairney is stunning. It’s shot like a high-end film, using natural light and long takes of the Suffolk countryside. Watching it in 480p on a pirate site is doing the show a disservice.
- Subtitles: The dialogue is often whispered or spoken in thick Suffolk/Essex accents. Having English subs turned on helps you catch the dry, blink-and-you-miss-it humor.
How to Watch If You’re Traveling
If you’ve started the show at home and find yourself in a hotel room in a different country, your app might tell you the show is "unavailable in your region." This is the bane of modern life.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the standard workaround here. By routing your traffic through a server in your home country, you can access your paid subscriptions like Acorn or BritBox without the "region lock" blocking your progress. Just keep in mind that some streaming services have gotten quite good at detecting and blocking VPN IPs, so it's not always a 100% guarantee.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Binge
Stop scrolling through endless menus and follow this hierarchy to get the show on your screen in the next five minutes:
- Check your existing Amazon Prime account. Search "Detectorists" and see if it says "Watch now with Acorn TV." If it does, grab the 7-day free trial of Acorn. You can finish the whole series in a week.
- Search the "Free" apps. Open Tubi or Pluto TV. Use the search bar. If it’s there, it’s free, provided you can handle a few ads for car insurance.
- Check your local library's digital wing. Apps like Hoopla or Kanopy often carry BBC titles for free if you have a valid library card. This is the most underrated way to watch high-quality TV.
- If you want to own it forever, buy the digital seasons on Vudu (now Fandango at Home) or Apple TV. It’s usually about $15 per season.
- Verify the Specials. Before you start Season 3, ensure your source has the 2015 and 2017 Christmas specials. If they don't, find a source that does. They are not optional "extras"; they are part of the main story.
By following this order, you’ll spend less time searching and more time appreciating the quiet brilliance of Andy and Lance’s quest for "the big find."