Happy New Year! Sixteen new and returning British and Canadian programs premiere nationally this month, with another thirteen streaming titles available for binge-watching.
For updates about shows from the UK, Canada, and Ireland added to US channels and streaming services throughout the month, see the British TV Viewing Guide. For details about shows from Australia and New Zealand, visit The Down Under TV Place.
NATIONAL PREMIERES
Lovesick: Season 3 (UK)
In the new season of this comedy series, Dylan (Johnny Flynn, Genius) and his best mates Evie (Antonia Thomas, Misfits) and Luke (Daniel Ings, The Crown) continue to navigate their way through their twenties. Evie must come to terms with her feelings for Dylan as he gets more serious in his relationship with Abigail (Hannah Britland, Fresh Meat), while Luke struggles to find love. Lovesick: Season 3, a Netflix Original series, premieres in the US on Monday, January 1st, exclusively on Netflix.
Supply & Demand: Series 1 & 2 (Complete) (UK)
Created and written by Lynda La Plante (Prime Suspect), this crime drama follows the Elite Specialist Undercover Squad (ESUS), which investigates cases that are beyond the remit of regional police forces or MI5’s Special Branch. Featuring Eamonn Walker (pictured, Chicago Fire), Benedict Wong (Top Boy), Miriam Margolyes (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries), Larry Lamb (New Tricks), and Martin Kemp (EastEnders), Supply & Demand: Series 1 & 2 premieres in the US on Monday, January 1st, exclusively on Acorn TV. (Image courtesy of Acorn TV)
Vera: Series 8 (UK)
Two-time Oscar® nominee Brenda Blethyn (pictured, Little Voice) returns as the irascible DCI Vera Stanhope in four new feature-length stories based on the protagonist in Ann Cleeves‘s novels. The new stories include “Blood and Bone” (guest starring Broadchurch‘s Carolyn Pickles), “Black Ice,” “Home,” and “Darkwater.” Vera: Series 8 premieres in the US on Sunday, January 7th — day and date with its UK debut on ITV — exclusively on BritBox. (Photo © ITV, courtesy of BritBox)
Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams (UK/US)
This anthology sci-fi series, based on ten stories by multiple-award-winning author Philip K. Dick, includes “The Hood Maker,” “Impossible Planet,” “The Commuter,” “Crazy Diamond,” “Real Life,” and “Human Is,” amongst others. Cast members include Richard Madden (Game of Thrones), Geraldine Chaplin (Beyond the Walls), Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner), Sidse Babett Knudsen (1864), Anna Paquin (Bellevue), and series Executive Producer Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad). Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams premieres in the US on Friday, January 12th, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
Victoria: Season 2 (UK)
Already renewed for a third season, Season 2 of this lavish period drama, starring Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) as the young Queen Victoria, opens a month after the birth of the monarch’s first child with Prince Albert (Tom Hughes, The Game). Soon thereafter, we learn just how ill Lord Melbourne (Rufus Sewell, The Man in the High Castle) is. Victoria: Season 2 premieres in the US on Sunday, January 14th, at 9 PM ET, on PBS. (Check your local listings)
Detectorists: Season 3 (Final) (UK)
Co-produced by Acorn TV, the final season of this hilarious, BAFTA-winning comedy series finds Andy (Mackenzie Crook, The Office) and Lance (Toby Jones, Marvellous) in new living arrangements and once again going up against “Simon and Garfunkel” in their hunt for hidden treasures. Read this article for more details. Detectorists: Season 3, an Acorn TV Original series, premieres in the US on Monday, January 15th, exclusively on Acorn TV.
The BBC Lost Sitcoms (UK)
This tribute to classic British comedies features theatrical performances of scripts from three shows that had been lost from the BBC archives. Hancock’s Half Hour, Steptoe and Son, and Till Death Us Do Part are presented in front of a studio audience, while Funny is Funny: A Conversation With Norman Lear is a BritBox-exclusive interview with the Emmy®-winning TV pioneer, who talks about the influences of Till Death Us Do Part and Steptoe and Son on his sitcoms All In The Family and Sanford and Son, respectively. The BBC Lost Sitcoms premieres in the US on Wednesday, January 17th, exclusively on BritBox.
Escape To The Country: Series 18 (UK)
This BBC factual series follows presenters Alistair Appleton (Cash in the Attic), Jules Hudson (Countryfile), Nicki Chapman (Pop Idol), and Jonnie Irwin (A Place in the Sun – Home or Away) as they help prospective buyers who want to swap city living for a home in the country. Escape To The Country: Series 18 premieres in the US on Saturday, January 20th, exclusively on BritBox.
Planet Earth: Blue Planet II (UK)
Presented by BAFTA winner Sir David Attenborough and scored by Oscar® winner Hans Zimmer (The Lion King), this new installment of the Emmy® Award-winning Planet Earth wildlife documentary series takes viewers on another journey into the mesmerizing world of our oceans — the most undiscovered place on our planet. Planet Earth: Blue Planet II premieres in the US on Saturday, January 20th, at 9 PM ET, as a simulcast on BBC America, AMC, IFC, WEtv, and SundanceTV. Subsequent episodes will screen on Saturdays at the same time on BBC America only.
Bellevue (Canada)
Oscar® winner Anna Paquin (Alias Grace) leads the cast of this crime drama that follows Detective Annie Ryder’s (Paquin) investigation into the disappearance of a transgender teen. Foul play is suggested, which casts suspicion on the people Ryder has known all her life. What’s more, she is confronted by a mysterious person from her past. Featuring Shawn Doyle (The Expanse), Sharon Taylor (Stargate: Atlantis), and Allen Leech (Downton Abbey), Bellevue premieres in the US on Tuesday, January 23rd, at 10 PM ET, on WGN.
Schitt’s Creek: Season 4 (Canada)
What parents Johhny and Moira Rose and their children David and Alexis get up to in the new season is anyone’s guess, but what’s certain is that the actors who play them — Eugene Levy (America Pie), Catherine O’Hara (Beetlejuice), Dan Levy (Stage Fright), and Annie Murphy (The Plateaus) — will be delivering more laughs. Schitt’s Creek: Season 4 premieres in the US on Wednesday, January 24th, at 8 PM ET, on Pop.
Silent Witness: Series 21 (UK)
The longest-running procedural crime drama series in the UK returns with five new stories starring Emilia Fox (Delicious) as Forensic Pathologist Dr. Nikki Alexander. Along with Forensic Scientist Jack Hodgson (David Caves, Jackie), Forensic Examiner Clarissa Mullery (Liz Carr, Le Accelerator), and Forensic Pathologist Dr. Thomas Chamberlain (Richard Lintern, Spies of Warsaw), she works to uncover the underlying truths behind murders. Silent Witness: Series 21 premieres in the US on Saturday, January 27th, exclusively on BritBox. (Photo courtesy of BritBox)
Queen Elizabeth’s Secret Agents (UK)
This three-part documentary looks at the world’s first secret service, run by Queen Elizabeth I’s spymasters Robert and William Cecil. This secret network helped to keep the monarch in power for more than 40 years and protected her from assassination attempts and uprisings. Queen Elizabeth’s Secret Agents premieres in the US on Sunday, January 28th, at 10 PM ET, on PBS. (Check your local listings)
Girlfriends (UK)
BAFTA-winning writer Kay Mellor’s latest series is this drama that stars two-time Oscar® nominee Miranda Richardson (Tom & Viv), BAFTA winner Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey), and BAFTA nominee Zoë Wanamaker (My Family) as friends struggling with the responsibilities that come with being modern women of a certain age. Read this article for more details. Girlfriends, an Acorn TV Original series, premieres in the US on Monday, January 29th, exclusively on Acorn TV.
Retribution (aka One of Us) (UK)
Written by Harry and Jack Williams (The Missing), this four-part drama centers on the aftermath of the brutal double-murder of honeymooners just returned to the remote Scottish Highland village of Braeston. Things take an even darker turn when the grieving families discover that the badly-injured man who showed up on their doorstep is the killer. Featuring Juliet Stevenson (The Politician’s Wife), Adrian Edmondson (War & Peace), Joanna Vanderham (The Paradise), Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones), John Lynch (The Fall), Julie Graham (Shetland), Laura Fraser (The Loch), and Gary Lewis (Outlander), Retribution, a Netflix Original series, premieres in the US on Tuesday, January 30th, exclusively on Netflix.
LOCAL/REGIONAL PREMIERES
The first five series below begin their US or broadcast premieres on public TV stations starting this month. Air dates and times vary by market, so check your local listings or contact the station that serves your area for details. If your station isn’t on the list(s) for the show(s) you’d like to see, contact its Viewer Services department or American Public Television.
The Art Detectives (UK)
This 3-part documentary follows art historians Dr. Bendor Grosvenor (Fake or Fortune) and Jacky Klein (What Is Contemporary Art?) as they travel to Swansea, Wales, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, in search of lost treasures that could be hidden in plain sight in local museums, galleries, stately homes, and government buildings. The Art Detectives is confirmed for airing on the following public TV stations and regional networks:
| STATE | CITY | STATION |
|---|---|---|
| CONNECTICUT | Fairfield, Hartford, New Haven, Norwich |  |
| OHIO | Cincinnati |  |
| OHIO | Cleveland |  |
| UTAH | Salt Lake City |  |
Capital (UK)
Based on John Lanchester’s best-selling novel, this drama follows the lives of residents on (the fictional) Pepys Road in London, who one day get a postcard stating “We want what you have” from an anonymous sender. So begins the mystery of who wants what and the interconnected stories of the postcard recipients. Featuring Toby Jones (Marvellous), Gemma Jones (Unforgotten), Adeel Akhtar (River), Rachael Stirling (Detectorists), and Wunmi Mosaku (Vera), Capital is confirmed for airing on the following public TV stations and regional networks:
| STATE | CITY | STATION |
|---|---|---|
| ARIZONA | Tucson |  |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | Washington, DC |  |
| FLORIDA | Miami |  |
| LOUISIANA | Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Shreveport |  |
| MONTANA | Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, Missoula |  |
| NEW YORK | Buffalo |  |
| NEW YORK | Rochester |  |
| OHIO | Columbus |  |
| OHIO | Dayton, Oxford, Portsmouth |  |
| PENNSYLVANIA | Harrisburg |  |
| RHODE ISLAND | Providence |  |
| WISCONSIN | Green Bay-Appleton, La Crosse-Eau Claire, Madison, Menomonie, Park Falls, Wausau-Rhinelander |  |
| WISCONSIN | Milwaukee |  |
Inside the Tube: Going Underground (UK)
You don’t need to mind the gap to watch this documentary that reveals the hidden history of how London’s iconic metro was built. With special access to the Tube and assistance from London Underground staff, engineer Rob Bell (The Great Fire) tracks the history of this famous underground railway system — from its secret stories and critical role during events such as the Blitz, to its abandoned stations and importance in today’s world. Inside the Tube: Going Underground is confirmed for airing on the following public TV stations and regional networks:
| STATE | CITY | STATION |
|---|---|---|
| IDAHO | Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, Pocatello, Twin Falls |  |
| MONTANA | Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, Missoula | |
| NORTH CAROLINA | Asheville, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Concord, Edenton, Greensboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Linville, Lumberton, Raleigh-Durham, Roanoke Rapids, Wilmington, Winston-Salem |  |
| PENNSYLVANIA | Harrisburg | |
| RHODE ISLAND | Providence | |
The Mystery of the Roman Skulls (UK)
Narrated by actor Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), this hour-long documentary investigates one of the most intriguing mysteries of archaeology in London: the discovery of hundreds of human skulls from more than 2000 years ago. Researchers, archaeologists, and other specialists discuss their research and possible explanations for how and why so many skulls have been found beneath the capital city, and offer theories about who the victims were and why were they beheaded. The Mystery of the Roman Skulls is confirmed for airing on the following public TV stations and regional networks:
| STATE | CITY | STATION |
|---|---|---|
| CONNECTICUT | Fairfield, Hartford, New Haven, Norwich | |
| FLORIDA | Miami | |
| IDAHO | Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, Pocatello, Twin Falls | |
| IOWA | Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Iowa City, Mason City, Red Oak, Sioux City, Waterloo |  |
| MINNESOTA | Minneapolis, St. Paul |  |
| NEW YORK | Binghamton, Elmira |  |
| NEW YORK | Buffalo | |
| TEXAS | Austin |  |
| TEXAS | Dallas |  |
| UTAH | Salt Lake City | |
SAS Rogue Warriors (UK)
Britain’s Special Air Service (SAS) is the world’s most famous combat unit, and the story of its formation in World War II has been a closely-guarded secret. Until now. This three-part documentary brings viewers into the inner circle of one of the toughest and most elite fighting forces, and reveals tales of humanity and bravery, as told in the words of former members. Packed with revelations covering the organization’s formative years from 1941 to 1947, the program features classified recollections on film, including exclusive interviews with the four living veterans of the original SAS. SAS Rogue Warriors is confirmed for airing on the following public TV stations and regional networks:
| STATE | CITY | STATION |
|---|---|---|
| LOUISIANA | Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Shreveport | |
| MINNESOTA | Minneapolis, St. Paul | |
| MONTANA | Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, Missoula | |
| OHIO | Cleveland | |
| TEXAS | Austin | |
| WISCONSIN | Milwaukee | |
In Plain Sight
Also premiering this month on local public TV stations is this BBC true-crime miniseries about Peter Manuel (Martin Compston, Line of Duty), a serial killer in 1950s Scotland, and William Muncie (Douglas Henshall, Shetland), the detective who doggedly pursued him. Check your local listings or contact your public TV station to see if it will air this three-part crime drama. Viewers in the Washington, DC broadcast area can tune into the program on WETA UK starting Thursday, January 25th, at 10 PM ET.
NON-PREMIERE PROGRAMS ADDED TO STREAMING SERVICES
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Acorn TV and the Acorn TV channel on Amazon.
The Yorkshire Vet: Series 3 (UK)
Narrated by actor Christopher Timothy (All Creatures Great and Small), this observational documentary series follows Julian Norton (aka “The Yorkshire Vet”), his veterinarian partner Peter Wright (who trained under Alf Wight, better known as author James Herriot), and the staff at Skeldale Veterinary Centre in Thirsk, North Yorkshire (the original practice of Alf Wight), as they tend to their two- and four-legged clientele. The Yorkshire Vet: Series 3 begins streaming Monday, January 1st.
McCallum: Series 1 & 2 (Complete) (UK)
John Hannah (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) stars as the eponymous forensic pathologist who solves crimes at St. Patrick’s Hospital in London’s East End with the help of his team, including Dr. Angela Moloney (Zara Turner, The Brief). Nathanial Parker (Inspector Lynley Mysteries) leads the final special episode. McCallum: Series 1 & 2 begins streaming Monday, January 8th.
The Story of Math (UK)
Presented by Oxford professor, mathematician, and author Marcus du Sautoy (The Music of the Primes), this four-episode edutainment series makes math accessible, engaging, and relevant by showing how numbers explain our universe and reveal unseen worlds. The Story of Math begins streaming Monday, January 29th.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Amazon Prime Video.
Doctor Who: Season 10 (UK)
The third and final full season of this worldwide sci-fi hit series to star Peter Capaldi (The Thick of It) as The Doctor finds the Time Lord and his companions, Bill (Pearl Mackie, Doctors) and Nardole (Matt Lucas, Pompidou), facing alien monsters, Missy (Michelle Gomez, Bad Education), and The Master (John Simm, Life on Mars). And The Doctor starts to regenerate… Doctor Who: Season 10 begins streaming as an Amazon Prime Video title on Monday, January 1st.
Prime Suspect: Tennison (UK)
Stefanie Martini (Doctor Thorne) takes on the role made famous by Helen Mirren in this prequel series to Prime Suspect. Set in 1973 Hackney, the six-part mystery-crime drama centers on 22-year-old Jane Tennison, a young, naive, and inexperienced WPC with the Metropolitan Police who assists in the murder investigation of a runaway teen-aged girl. Prime Suspect: Tennison begins streaming as an Amazon Prime Video title on Tuesday, January 9th.
My Mother & Other Strangers (UK)
This period drama set in 1943 Northern Ireland stars Hattie Morahan (The Bletchley Circle) and Owen McDonnell (Single-Handed) as Rose and Michael Coyne, whose lives, and those of their neighbors, are turned upside down when an American air force base is set up in their farming community and droves of airmen descend on their village. My Mother & Other Strangers begins streaming as an Amazon Prime Video title on Tuesday, January 16th.
Grantchester: Season 3 (UK)
Based on the mystery stories by James Runcie, this season finds murders and more in the Cambridgeshire village. Sidney (James Norton, Happy Valley) and Amanda’s (Morven Christie, The A Word) relationship is strained, Geordie’s (Robson Green, Wire in the Blood) marriage is on the rocks, Leonard’s (Al Weaver, Secret State) inner turmoil bubbles over, and Mrs. Maguire’s (Tessa Peake-Jones, Unforgotten) husband returns after a decade away. Grantchester: Season 3 begins streaming as an Amazon Prime Video title on Tuesday, January 30th.
Remember Me (UK)
This paranormal mystery miniseries stars Michael Palin (Monty Python’s Flying Circus) as pensioner Tom Parfitt, who escapes to a care home, only to find that strange things (continue to) happen to those who come in contact with him. When Tom disappears, young care assistant Hannah (Jodie Comer, Thirteen) searches for him, leading her to discover a dark secret from his past. Remember Me begins streaming as an Amazon Prime Video title on Tuesday, January 30th.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on BritBox and the BritBox channel on Amazon.
Ruth Rendell: The Next Chapters: Series 4-6 (UK)
Created by the late Ruth Rendell, this mystery series is based on the Edgar Award-winning author’s thriller and psychological mystery stories. This season’s murder mysteries include the multi-part adaptations of “Bribery and Corruption,” “May and June,” “Going Wrong,” “Road Rage One” and “Road Rage Two,” as well as eight single-episode tales. Ruth Rendell: The Next Chapters: Series 4-6 begins streaming Wednesday, January 3rd. (Photo courtesy of BritBox)
Rev.: Series 1-3 (Complete) (UK)
Tom Hollander (The Night Manager) stars in this award-winning sitcom as Rev. Adam Smallbone, a vicar promoted from a sleepy rural parish to the inner-city one of St Saviour’s in Hackney, East London. His long-suffering wife Alex (Olivia Colman, Broadchurch) does her best to support him while parishioners like the skint Colin Lambert (Steve Evets, One of Us) always pops by their house. Rev.: Series 1-3 begins streaming Wednesday, January 10th.
Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs: Series 1 + Special (UK)
Presented by comedian and dog-lover Paul O’Grady, this reality series explores the unbreakable bond between man and dog. It’s filmed at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, the world’s oldest animal home, where the caring staff are dedicated to helping each homeless hound with a heartbreaking story have a happy ending. Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs: Series 1 + Special begins streaming Wednesday, January 24th.
Detectorists: Series 2 (UK)
Metal detectorist Andy (Mackenzie Crook, Pirates of the Caribbean) and teacher Becky (Rachael Stirling, The Bletchley Circle) are now parents of a baby boy, and fellow treasure-hunter Lance (Toby Jones, Capital) begins seeing a woman who’s young enough to be his daughter. Meanwhile, another DMDC member offers help to a German visitor looking for a crashed World War II bomber. Detectorists: Series 2 begins streaming Friday, January 5th, on Hulu.
Episodes: Seasons 1-5 (UK/US)
Golden Globe® winner Matt LeBlanc (Friends) plays a fictionalized version of himself in this hilarious BAFTA-nominated sitcom. Costarring Stephen Mangan (Houdini & Doyle) and Tamsin Greig (Friday Night Dinner) as TV writers, the series follows the trio through professional and personal ups and downs while working in Hollywood on an American adaptation of the writers’ hit Brit show. Episodes: Seasons 1-5 begins streaming Saturday, January 6, on Netflix.
Did you miss any of the new shows from previous months? Check the British TV Viewing Guide 2017 Archives to find out.
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