August brings a bumper crop of British TV premieres to the US — 21 titles, including 13 brand new series and 10 new seasons, specials, and on-offs.
For updates about shows from the UK, Canada, and Ireland added to US linear TV and streaming channels throughout the month, see the British TV Viewing Guide.
Programs and dates are subject to change without prior notice.
Videos below may contain content that is not suitable for everyone.
NATIONAL PREMIERES
Fridge Wars (Canada)
This culinary competition series pits tops chefs against each other to create extraordinary meals using only the ingredients taken from the fridges of ordinary families. Chefs have 45 minutes to get dinner on the table, then families taste and score the meals on flavor, look, and originality, without knowing who cooked what or who will win. Fridge Wars premieres in the US on Sunday, August 2, at 9 PM ET, on The CW.
Taskmaster (UK)
An International Emmy® and triple BAFTA nominee, this game show stars Greg Davies (Cuckoo) as the Taskmaster, who issues simple comedic and bizarre tasks — designed to encourage lateral and creative thinking — to five contestants, usually comedians, with series creator Alex Horne serving as his assistant. Taskmaster premieres in the US on Sunday, August 2, at 8 PM ET, on The CW.
Wild Bill (UK)
Six-time Golden Globe nominee Rob Lowe (The West Wing) stars in this police procedural as Bill Hixon, a high-flying US cop who arrives in the UK with his teen daughter to shake up the East Lincolnshire Police Force — and his own life in the process. Costarring Rachael Stirling (The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco) and Bronwyn James (Harlots), Wild Bill, a BritBox Original series, premieres in the US with its first episode on Tuesday, August 4, exclusively on BritBox. New episodes will debut weekly.
Coroner: Season 1 (Canada)
Serinda Swan (Ballers) stars in this mystery-crime drama series as Dr. Jenny Cooper, a recently widowed, newly-appointed coroner who uses her intuition as much as her intellect as she investigates suspicious, unnatural, or sudden deaths in Toronto. While working to solve mysterious deaths, she also deals with clinical anxiety, a teenage son who is still grieving the death of his father, and the prospect of starting a new relationship. Coroner: Season 1 premieres in the US on Wednesday, August 5, at 9 PM ET, on The CW.
Hitmen (UK)
Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, former hosts of The Great British Baking Show, star in this comedy series as Jamie and Fran, best friends trying to make their way in the world with only each other to rely on. They also kill people for a living. Fueled by their antics and frivolous bickering, each job inevitably gets derailed, leading the pair into bizarre misadventures full of oddball characters and unexpected dilemmas. Hitmen premieres in the US on Thursday, August 6, exclusively on Peacock.
Being Reuben (UK/Wales)
This reality series follows Reuben de Maid, a talented Welsh teen who shot to fame after an appearance on Little Big Shots. A singer, make-up expert, and social media influencer, Reuben is growing into his glamorous new life and high-profile career, while staying grounded in his life at home in Wales with his mum and two siblings. Being Reuben premieres in the US on Friday, August 7, at 9 PM ET, on The CW.
Moving On: Seasons 8-9 (UK)
Created by BAFTA winner Jimmy McGovern (Broken), this anthology series of stand-alone contemporary dramas explores addiction, infidelity, and other complex issues while following characters who reach a turning point in life and then move on. Featuring Warren Brown (Strike Back) and Sally Lindsay (Still Open All Hours), Moving On: Seasons 8-9 premieres in North America on Friday, August 7, exclusively on BritBox.
Endeavour: Season 7 (UK)
Set in 1970, the new season of this fan-favorite mystery features three new stories penned by series creator Russell Lewis, including the opener “Oracle,” which finds Thursday (Roger Allam) investigating a murder while Morse is in Venice. Endeavour: Season 7 premieres in the US on Sunday, August 9, at 9 PM ET, on PBS (check your local listings) and the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel.
We Hunt Together (UK)
This crime thriller explores the intoxication of sexual attraction and the dangerous power of emotional manipulation as two conflicted detectives track down a pair of deadly killers. Starring Eve Myles (Keeping Faith), Babou Ceesay (Into the Badlands), Dipo Ola (Baghdad Central), and Hermione Corfield (The Halcyon), We Hunt Together premieres in the US on Sunday, August 9, at 10 PM ET, on Showtime.
Mount Pleasant: Series 6 + Final Special (UK)
One of my fave Brit TV premieres of 2019, this dramedy follows the lives of Lisa Johnson (Sally Lindsay) and her husband Dan (Daniel Ryan) — who celebrate their 25th anniversary in the surprise-packed finale — and their friends and family in suburban Manchester. Mount Pleasant: Series 6 + Final Special premieres in the US on Monday, August 10, exclusively on Acorn TV.
The Other One (UK)
This comedy follows two girls named Catherine Walcott who had no idea the other existed until their father dies and they discover his secret family and their half-sister connection. Starring Siobhan Finneran (Downton Abbey), Rebecca Front (Love, Lies & Records), Ellie White (The Windsors), and Lauren Socha (Misfits), The Other One, an Acorn TV Original series, premieres in the US on Monday, August 10, exclusively on Acorn TV.
Come Home (UK/NI)
This drama stars Christopher Eccleston (The A Word) and Paula Malcomson (Broken) as Greg and Marie, a couple married nearly twenty years when Marie up and leaves him and their three children. The repercussions are enormous, but when secrets from the past are revealed, Marie and Greg realize they can’t just walk away from their lives. Come Home premieres in the US on Thursday, August 13, exclusively on Topic.
Glow Up: Season 2 (UK)
In the new season of this competition series, a new set of make-up artist hopefuls must step it up and come up with supreme technique and fierce creativity in the hopes of being named the next makeup star. Glow Up: Season 2, a Netflix Original series, premieres in the US on Friday, August 14, exclusively on Netflix.
QI: Season R (UK)
This popular panel show returns with presenter Sandi Toksvig rewarding points to permanent panelist Alan Davies and guest panelists, including John Barrowman (Torchwood) and Liza Tarbuck (Upstart Crow), for quite interesting answers to obscure trivia questions. QI: Season R premieres in North America with its first nine episodes on Friday, August 14, exclusively on BritBox. New episodes will debut weekly under the “Now” feature.
Lucy Worsley’s Royal Photo Album (UK)
In this new special, historian Lucy Worsley explores the royal family photo album — from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana to the current generation — and reveals how the monarchy used the power of the photograph to reinvent itself, engage the public, and ensure its survival. Lucy Worsley’s Royal Photo Album premieres in the US on Sunday, August 16, at 8 PM ET, on PBS (check your local listings), PBS.org, and the PBS Video App.
Dead Pixels: Season 1 (UK)
This comedy-fantasy series follows the tragicomic real lives of Meg (Alexa Davies, Raised by Wolves), Nicky (Will Merrick, Poldark), and Usman (Sargon Yelda, C.B. Strike), fans of the online fantasy game Kingdom Scrolls, as well as their computer-animated misadventures in the game. Dead Pixels: Season 1 premieres in the US on Tuesday, August 18, at 8 PM ET, on The CW.
The Suspect (Canada)
This four-part documentary revolves around the murder of millionaire Richard Oland of Moosehead Brewing, who was bludgeoned to death on July 6, 2011. His son Dennis became the police’s prime and only suspect, and the case turned one of Canada’s wealthiest families into the cast of a real-life, true-crime soap opera, complete with alleged police misconduct, media frenzy, and wrongful conviction. The Suspect premieres in the US with its first episode on Tuesday, August 18, exclusively on Sundance Now.
There She Goes: Season 2 (UK)
One of my fave Brit TV premieres of 2019 returns with more stories about the everyday struggles and triumphs of a family looking after their severely learning-disabled daughter/sister, who was born with a rare chromosomal disorder. Starring David Tennant and Jessica Hynes, and based on the real-life experiences of series creator Shaun Pye and his family, There She Goes: Season 2, a BritBox Original Co-Production, premieres in North America on Tuesday, August 18, exclusively on BritBox.
Singletown (UK)
This reality series follows five couples who put their relationships on pause and, with support from their celebrity mentors, embark on a summer full of exclusive dates, outrageous parties, and unforgettable experiences. Read this article for more details. Singletown, an HBO Max Original series, premieres in the US on Thursday, August 20, exclusively on HBO Max. (Photo: HBO Max / Keshet Productions)
Murder, Mystery and My Family: Season 3 (UK)
Criminal barristers Sasha Wass QC and Jeremy Dein QC (pictured) re-investigate ten more historical murder cases in the return of this award-winning true-crime docuseries. And in Murder, Mystery and My Family: Case Closed, Jeremy and Sasha revisit some of the cases they investigated previously, and catch up with the family members about developments since the original programs aired. Both Murder, Mystery and My Family: Season 3 and Murder, Mystery and My Family: Case Closed premiere in North America on Friday, August 21, exclusively on BritBox. (Photo courtesy of BritBox)
LOCAL/REGIONAL PREMIERES
Select public TV stations and regional networks will begin airing the program below on or after August 1. Check you local listings or contact the station that serves your area for air dates and times. To request the show, contact your public TV station or American Public Television.
The Poison Tree (UK)
Based on Erin Kelly‘s novel of the same name, this psychological drama follows Karen Clarke (MyAnna Buring, The Witcher), a wife and mother who will go to any length to protect her daughter and husband, just released from prison after serving 12 years, and the secrets she keeps from them. Costarring Matthew Goode (A Discovery of Witches) and Ophelia Lovibond (Elementary), The Poison Tree is confirmed for airing on Idaho Public Television, KENW, KERA, KUAT, Oregon Public Broadcasting, PBS Wisconsin, WDSC, WKYU, and WXXI.
NON-PREMIERE PROGRAMS DEBUTING ON LINEAR TV
Britannia: Season 1 (UK)
This historical fantasy drama series follows the 43 AD invasion of Britain by the Roman Imperial Army, as well as the resistance against it by Celtic tribes and Druids. David Morrissey (The Walking Dead) stars as Aulus Plautius, a shrewd Roman general charged by Emperor Claudius to conquer Britannia, a mythical land at the far edge of the Roman Empire. Britannia: Season 1 begins airing Sunday, August 2, at 9 PM ET, on Epix.
NON-PREMIERE PROGRAMS BEING ADDED TO STREAMING SERVICES
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Acorn TV and its digital channels, including Acorn TV on Amazon.
Civil War (UK)
Hosted by Dr. Tristram Hunt, this four-part docudrama charts the start of the English Civil War, the execution of the king, and the birth of parliamentary democracy. It details the religious policies of Charles I, Cromwell’s victory at Marston Moor and his rise to power, and Charles I’s tragic death. Civil War begins streaming Monday, August 3.
The Yorkshire Vet: Series 7, Series 8 & Countryside Specials (UK)
Narrated by Christopher Timothy of All Creatures Great and Small, this observational documentary series takes viewers into the world behind the hit series inspired by the books of Alf Wight (aka James Herriot), following Yorkshire vet Julian Norton and the Skeldale Veterinary Centre staff. The Yorkshire Vet: Series 7 begins streaming Monday, August 10; Series 8 and the Countryside Specials begin streaming Monday, August 31.
The Brilliant Brontë Sisters (UK)
In this documentary, Sheila Hancock (Delicious) examines the impact of Emily, Charlotte, and Anne Brontë’s legacy, and sheds new light on these remarkable and world-famous women. The Brilliant Brontë Sisters begins streaming Monday, August 17.
Churchill: Blood, Sweat & Oil Paint (UK)
Presented by Andrew Marr, this BBC special tells the story of Winston Churchill’s lifelong love for painting. During Marr’s research, he meets Churchill’s descendants and explores the connections between the man’s private passion for painting and his public career as politician and statesman. Churchill: Blood, Sweat & Oil Paint begins streaming Monday, August 17.
The Genius Of Roald Dahl (UK)
Actor and author David Walliams delves into the magical yet largely unknown world of renowned children’s storyteller Roald Dahl in this documentary — meeting along the way those who knew him best, including Dahl’s widow as well as longtime illustrator Quentin Blake, and revealing clues to how Dahl created his fantastical worlds. The Genius Of Roald Dahl begins streaming Monday, August 17.
Narnia’s Lost Poet: The Secret Lives & Loves of C.S. Lewis (UK)
In this documentary, biographer A.N. Wilson explores the secret life of one of history’s most iconic authors, C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia), and reveals his passions, goals, and aspirations. Narnia’s Lost Poet: The Secret Lives & Loves of C.S. Lewis begins streaming Monday, August 17.
A Difficult Woman (UK)
Caroline Goodall (The White Princess) stars in this thriller miniseries as Dr. Anne Harriman, a highly-regarded research pathologist for an international drug company, who risks everything, including her brilliant career and her long-term lover, to find the person who killed her best friend. A Difficult Woman begins streaming Monday, August 24.
Ballroom Boys (UK)
This observational documentary follows four boys from a small part of the South Wales Valleys as they prepare for the UK Ballroom Championships in Bournemouth — the biggest dancing competition of their lives to date. As they train six days a week and compete most Sundays, they face disapproval from peers, friends, and even fathers. Ballroom Boys begins streaming Monday, August 31.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on BritBox and its digital channels, including BritBox on Amazon.
Moving On: Seasons 1-7 (UK)
Exploring a range of complex personal and life issues, the first seven seasons of this anthology series features a host of British acting talent — including Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe), Robert James-Collier (Downton Abbey), Lucy Liemann (Agatha Raisin), Eve Myles (Keeping Faith), Fay Ripley (Cold Feet), Lesley Sharp (Living The Dream), and John Simm (Life on Mars) — in stand-alone contemporary dramas that center on characters who reach a turning point in life and then move on. Moving On: Seasons 1-7 begin streaming on Friday, August 7, exclusively on BritBox.
Agatha Christie’s Marple: Seasons 1-5 (UK)
This fan-favorite mystery series stars Geraldine McEwan (Seasons 1-3) and Julia McKenzie (Seasons 4-5) as Miss Marple, Agatha Christie‘s elderly spinster amateur detective whose innocent exterior harbors a razor-sharp mind. Agatha Christie’s Marple: Seasons 1-5 begin streaming on Tuesday, August 25, exclusively on BritBox.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on OvationTV.com and the Ovation Now app.
Antiques to the Rescue (UK)
In this reality series, fine arts auctioneer John Foster of Antiques Roadshow helps families to prop up their struggling historic houses by uncovering valuable heirlooms that they can sell to raise money for urgent repairs and restorations. In doing so, he also reveals secrets and legacies that these historically important abodes hold. Antiques to the Rescue begins streaming Saturday, August 1, as a part of Ovation TV’s Art House.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below as no-additional-charge titles for Amazon Prime members on Prime Video.
Blood: Season 1 (Ireland)
Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty) and Carolina Main (Unforgotten) star in this psychological crime thriller as widower Jim Hogan and his daughter Cat. When Cat begins to notice discrepancies in Jim’s stories, she suspects he may have been involved in her mother’s death. Blood: Season 1 begins streaming Saturday, August 1.
Les Misérables (UK-US)
Victor Hugo’s classic masterpiece comes to telly in this adaptation starring Dominic West (The Affair) as fugitive Jean Valjean, David Oyelowo (Selma) as his pursuer, Inspector Javert, and Lily Collins (Rules Don’t Apply) as single mother Fantine. Les Miserables begins streaming Saturday, August 1.
Riviera: Season 1
Set on the French Riviera, this thriller follows Georgina Clios (Julia Stiles, Dexter), an American art curator on a quest to get to the truth about her billionaire husband’s death from a yacht explosion, after she discovers the fortune and lifestyle he maintained was surrounded by violence, lies, secrets, and murder. Riviera: Season 1 begins streaming Saturday, August 1.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Sundance Now and its digital channels, including Sundance Now on Amazon.
The Fall: Season 3 (UK/NI)
In the final season of this crime thriller, Supt. Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) has Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan) under arrest, but he might not survive to face justice for his crimes. Meanwhile, his family has to deal with the consequences of his arrest, as evidence emerges that Spector could have more victims than Gibson realized. The Fall: Season 3 begins streaming Thursday, August 13.
Slings & Arrows: Season 1 (Canada)
This multiple award-winning, cult-favorite series chronicles the backstage shenanigans of a troubled theater company as they embark on a production of Hamlet at a Shakespeare festival. Starring Paul Gross (Due South), Martha Burns (Alias Grace), Stephen Ouimette (Cardinal), and Mark McKinney (Superstore), Slings & Arrows: Season 1 begins streaming Thursday, August 27.
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Did you miss any of the new shows from previous days, weeks, or months? Check out the British TV Viewing Guide and Archives to find out.
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For details about the August premieres of shows from Australia and New Zealand, visit The Down Under TV Place. For those about the debuts of original-language, English-subtitled programs from Europe, visit The Euro TV Place.
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