Amazon signs up the BBC for Doctor Who, Sherlock and more on Prime Instant Video

Amazon has signed a content deal with BBC Worldwide, which will see top shows from the Beeb's current line-up, as well as a selection of cult classics appearing on the Prime Instant Video service for the first time. This deal expands the amount of BBC content available on Amazon's service, and brings it closer to competing with rival Netflix .

Modern highlights from the deal include several series' worth of Doctor Who and Sherlock, along with vCall the Midwife and Life on Mars. Classic comedies including Absolutely Fabulous, The Office, Only Fools and Horses, Blackadder and Red Dwarf will also be available. This content is already available on Netflix, with the BBC having agreed a deal with Amazon's main streaming rival a month beforehand, but today's announcement slightly restores the balance between the two services.

Selected episodes of Top Gear will also be available through Prime Instant Video, which was formerly known as LoveFilm. Under the new name, the service also includes Amazon Prime one-day delivery and access to the Kindle lending library of over 500,000 eBooks. However, while Netflix charges £6 a month, Prime Instant Video costs £79 upfront for a year's subscription which may put off fans of streaming TV series that like to binge-watch content then cancel their subscription.

You can find out more about Prime Instant Video at amazon.co.uk/primevideo