October brings 25 new series, seasons, episodes, and films from the UK (including Scotland and Northern Ireland), Canada, and Ireland to the US.
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.
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NATIONAL PREMIERES
Coroner: Season 4 (CA)
The new season of this crime drama sees Dr. Jenny Cooper (Serinda Swan, Graceland), fresh from a recent loss but determined to start anew, tackle myriad new mysterious cases. To cope with grief, she buries herself in work, but a new face in the office causes her to re-examine her relationship with life and death. Coroner: Season 4 premieres in the US on Sunday, October 2, at 9 PM ET, on The CW. (rescheduled from June)
Family Law: Season 1 (CA)
This drama follows Abigail Bianchi (Jewel Staite, Firefly), a lawyer and recovering alcoholic who is struggling to put her career and family back together after hitting rock bottom. As a condition of her probation, Abby is forced to work at Svensson and Associates, the law firm of her estranged father, Harry Svensson (Victor Garber, Alias). Here Abigail practices family law for the first time, and begins to forge new relationships with her just-met half-brother, Daniel (Zach Smadu, Cardinal), and half-sister, Lucy (Genelle Williams, Bitten) — all while trying to maintain her sobriety. The result: a dysfunctional family law firm operating to help other families with their own dysfunctions. Family Law: Season 1 premieres in the US on Sunday, October 2, at 8 PM ET, on The CW.
Lucy Worsley Investigates: The Witch Hunts (UK)
Concluding her latest docuseries, historian Lucy Worsley looks at the events that sparked the witch hunt craze 400+ years ago. In it she uncovers the story of one supposed witch in Scotland, whose trial and execution lit the fuse for the state-sanctioned torture and murder of thousands more like her across Britain and in America. (For further details, read this article.) Lucy Worsley Investigates: The Witch Hunts premieres in the US on Sunday, October 2, at 8 PM ET, on PBS (check your local listings), with streaming on PBS.org, the PBS Video app, and the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel. (Photo courtesy of Mike Robinson / screen grab © BBC Studios 2021)
Château DIY: Season 8 (formerly known as Escape to the Chateau DIY) (UK)
Narrated by actress Adjoa Andoh (Bridgerton), this reality series returns to follow more British families who’ve taken on the challenge of purchasing and renovating/restoring their very own French châteaux. Château DIY: Season 8 premieres in the US on Monday, October 3, exclusively on Peacock.
Sherwood: Season 1 (UK)
Already renewed for Season 2, this crime thriller stars David Morrisey (The Walking Dead) as DCS Ian St Clair, who investigates the killings of two locals in the villages around Sherwood Forest, where the area’s complex political past has often divided the communities. (For further details, read this article.) Costarring Lesley Manville (Mum), Sherwood, a BritBox Original, premieres in North America on Tuesday, October 4, exclusively on BritBox.
Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake (UK)
This docuseries about the 2015 earthquake that shook Nepal features firsthand accounts of survivors and actual footage shot during the deadly event. Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Thursday, October 6, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Catherine Called Birdy (UK-US)
Based on Karen Cushman’s eponymous novel, and written and directed by Lena Dunham (Girls), this comedy film stars Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) as Lady Catherine, aka Birdy, a spirited, clever, and adventurous teenager in 13th-century England, and the youngest daughter of Lord Rollo (Andrew Scott, Fleabag) and Lady Aislinn (Billie Piper, I Hate Suzie). They’re broke, so greedy Rollo decides to marry off Birdy to a wealthy man for money and land. But Birdy is having none of it, putting off suitors in ingenious ways and putting herself on a collision course with her parents. Catherine Called Birdy, an Amazon Original, premieres globally on Friday, October 7, exclusively on Prime Video. (You can add it to your stuff now.)
Derry Girls: Season 3 (UK)
In the opener of the third and final season of this hilarious comedy series set in 1990s Derry, Northern Ireland, friends Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson, The Five), Orla (Louisa Harland, The Deceived), Clare (Nicola Coughlan, Bridgerton), and Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Screw) break in to their school and end up being interrogated by a chief inspector (guest star Liam Neeson) at the police station. Derry Girls: Season 3, a Netflix Series, premieres in the US on Friday, October 7, exclusively on Netflix.
The Graham Norton Show: Season 30 (UK)
This BAFTA Award-winning talk show will be back with multi-award-winning host Graham Norton welcoming loads of celebrity guests for laugh-out-loud stories and exciting musical performances. The guest lineup for the first episode includes Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween), Lydia West (It’s a Sin), and singer-songwriter Robbie Williams. The Graham Norton Show: Season 30 premieres in the US on Friday, October 7, on BBC America and the AMC+ streaming bundle. (Photo courtesy of BBC America)
Secrets of the Dead: Archaeology at Althorp
Opening Season 20 of this popular docuseries about history’s mysteries is an episode in which one of the most significant British archaeological finds of the century is discovered in the Althorp Estate, house to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Secrets of the Dead: Archaeology at Althorp premieres in the US on Sunday, October 9, at 8 PM ET, on PBS.
Avenue 5: Season 2 (US-UK)
The new (and likely final) season of this sci-fi comedy series opens five months after the finale of Season 1. With the luxury spacecraft Avenue 5 having been thrown off-course, and Captain Ryan Clark (Hugh Laurie, House) and his crew having been unsuccessful in rerouting it, they and the increasingly unruly passengers will have to figure out how to survive the eight years it will take to return to Earth. (For further details, read this article.) Avenue 5, an HBO Original, premieres in the US on Monday, October 10, at 10 PM ET/PT, exclusively on HBO, with streaming available on HBO Max.
Island of the Sea Wolves (UK)
Narrated by Will Arnett (Arrested Development), this nature docuseries transports viewers to the wild and wondrous Vancouver Island, where the ocean nurtures all life — from bald eagles who go fishing, to sea wolves who swim in frigid waters. Island of the Sea Wolves, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Tuesday, October 11, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
The Jonathan Ross Show 2022 (UK)
Heavyweight of comedy chat Jonathan Ross gets up close and personal with A-list celebrity stars, along with live musical guests, in his no-holds-barred, humor-filled talk show. The Jonathan Ross Show 2022 premieres in the US on Thursday, October 13, exclusively on BritBox. (Video is from an earlier season)
Sue Perkins: Perfectly Legal (UK)
In her new travel docuseries, comedian, actress, and program presenter Sue Perkins (The Great British Baking Show) confronts middle age head-on by experiencing some of the most bizarre, unusual, and shocking activities — in adventurous and sometimes dangerous ways — that are somehow perfectly legal in certain South American countries. (For further details, read this article.) Sue Perkins: Perfectly Legal, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Thursday, October 13, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Magpie Murders (UK)
Adapted from Anthony Horowitz’s best-selling novel of the same name, this mystery series stars Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, The Crown, Mum) as Susan Ryeland, a book editor who becomes an amateur sleuth after popular mystery writer Alan Conway dies under suspicious circumstances while she’s in possession of the unfinished manuscript for his latest (last) novel. Meanwhile, Atticus Pünd (Tim McMullan, Foyle’s War), the clever detective in Conway’s novels, is working on an investigation that parallels Susan’s in the incomplete novel. Costarring Conleth Hill (Vienna Blood) and Michael Maloney (Belfast), Magpie Murders premieres in the US on Sunday, October 16, at 9 PM ET, on PBS (check your local listings), with streaming on PBS.org, the PBS Video app, and the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel.
Miss Scarlet and The Duke: Season 2 (UK)
Opening a few months after the Season 1 finale, Season 2 of this Victorian London-set mystery series sees aspiring (and successful) detective Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips, Peaky Blinders, Wolf Hall) competing for cases in a male-dominated profession. Meanwhile, the relationship between Eliza and her longtime friend/rival, The Duke (Stuart Martin, Crime, Jamestown), continues to simmer… Miss Scarlet and The Duke: Season 2 premieres in the US on Sunday, October 16, at 8 PM ET, on PBS (check your local listings), with streaming on PBS.org, the PBS Video app, and the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel.
Doc Martin: Season 10 (UK)
This is it, folks. The final season. After resigning as Portwenn’s GP at the end of Season 9, Doc Martin (Martin Clunes) now questions if he made the right decision. With wife Louisa (Caroline Catz) pursuing her new career as a child counselor in his old surgery, Martin is left to babysit while indulging his hobby of repairing clocks at the kitchen table. But does he really want his old job back? Doc Martin: Season 10 premieres with its first two (of nine) episodes on Monday, October 17, exclusively on Acorn TV. (For further details, including the dates of the series finale and a celebratory special, and a list of guest stars, read this article.)
Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers (UK)
This true-crime documentary is about the police investigation into one of the UK’s most shocking crimes: a case of people smuggling that resulted in the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants. It started with a lorry driver’s 999 call, and ended with Essex Police detectives cracking open a multi-million-pound international smuggling ring by painstakingly piecing together a complex web of evidence with an assist from a witness known only as “Witness X.” Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers premieres in the US on Thursday, October 20, exclusively on Topic.
High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule (UK)
In this true-crime docudrama series, Michaella McCollum recounts how she, as a bored 19-year-old in Northern Ireland craving sun and adventure, ended up in the illicit world of drug trafficking as a drug mule, arrested for trying to smuggle £1.5 million worth of cocaine, and locked up for three years in a Peru prison. High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule, a Netflix Series, premieres in the US on Friday, October 21, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
A Nightingale Falling (IE)
Adapted from PJ Curtis’s novel of the same name, this film, set in Ireland during the War of Independence, sees the lives of sisters May (Tara Breathnach, Jack Taylor) and Tilly Collingwood (Muireann Bird, Vikings) forever changed as they care for wounded soldier Captain Shearing (Gerard McCarthy, The Fall). A Nightingale Falling premieres in the US on Monday, October 24, on Acorn TV.
Karen Pirie (UK)
Based on Val McDermid‘s best-selling series of “Karen Pirie” novels, this crime thriller series stars Lauren Lyle (Outlander, Broken) as DS Karen Pirie, a brilliant young Scottish detective with a quick mouth and tenacious desire for the truth. In the series opener, newly-promoted Karen is tasked with reopening a murder investigation that has been the subject of a controversial true-crime podcast. (For further details, read this article.) Karen Pirie, a BritBox Original, premieres in North America on Tuesday, October 25, exclusively on BritBox.
The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself (UK)
Based on the “Half Bad” books by Sally Green, this teen fantasy-adventure drama series sees the son of a notorious witch responsible for a deadly massacre try to find his place in the world — as well as his powers — while caught between two warring clans. Starring Jay Lycurgo (Titans) and Nadia Parkes (The Spanish Princess), The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself premieres globally on Friday, October 28, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
The Devil’s Hour (UK)
This thriller series follows Lucy (Jessica Raine, Call the Midwife), who is woken every night by terrifying visions at exactly 3.33am: the devil’s hour. Her eight-year-old son is withdrawn and emotionless, her mother speaks to empty chairs, and her house is haunted by the echoes of a life that isn’t her own. When Lucy’s name is inexplicably connected to a string of brutal murders in the area, the answers that have evaded her all these years will finally come into focus. Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who) plays a reclusive nomad, driven by a murderous obsession, who becomes the prime target of a police manhunt led by Detective Ravi Dhillon (Nikesh Patel, Starstruck). The Devil’s Hour, an Amazon Original, premieres globally on Friday, October 28, exclusively on Prime Video. (You can add it to your watchlist now).
I Am a Stalker (UK)
In this true-crime documentary, convicted stalkers tell in chilling detail how love turned into a deadly obsession, while survivors share their harrowing accounts of harassment and abuse. I Am a Stalker, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Friday, October 28, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Inside Man (UK)
Written by Steven Moffat (Sherlock), this mystery thriller limited series sees Jefferson Grieff (Stanley Tucci, Big Night), an American death row prisoner with a sideline in solving mysteries, cross paths with a woman trapped in a cellar under an English vicarage as he helps a young British journalist search for a friend who’s suddenly disappeared. Starring David Tennant (Doctor Who), Inside Man premieres in the US exclusively on Netflix (date tba).
ADDITIONAL NATIONAL PROGRAM PREMIERES TO CONSIDER
Prince Andrew: Banished (US)
This feature-length documentary unpacks the story of how Prince Andrew, Duke of York, brought disgrace to the 1200-year legacy of the British Royal Family. Through new interviews with folks in the know, it dives deep into the world of privilege, desire, and greed that drew Andrew into the orbit of sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and then into the sexual assault case that scandalized the Royal Family. Prince Andrew: Banished, a Peacock Original, premieres Wednesday, October 5, exclusively on Peacock.
Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler (Pennyworth: Season 3) (US)
Opening five years after the events in Season 2, the new season of this DC Comics origin series finds the civil war is over and a cultural revolution has changed the world for better or worse — ushering in a new age of Super Heroes and Supervillains. Starring Jack Bannon (Endeavour) as Alfred Pennyworth, along with Ben Aldridge (Our Girl) and Emma Paetz (Gentleman Jack) as Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane (parents of Bruce Wayne, the future Batman), Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler premieres Thursday, October 6, exclusively on HBO Max.
Saving the Manor (US)
This new reality show follows architect Dean Poulton and former real estate agent Borja de Maqua as they single-handedly renovate a dilapidated 10-building, 65-room English estate that sits on land once owned by King Henry VII. The couple will pour their life savings into fully restoring the property, which dates back more than 500 years, while preserving the buildings’ history — all with the intent to transform the estate into vacation rentals and a special event space. Saving the Manor premieres Friday, October 7, at 10 PM ET/PT, on HGTV, with streaming available on Discovery+.
Matriarch (US)
Jemima Rooper (Lost in Austen) stars in this horror flick as Laura Birch, who, after a near-fatal overdose, accepts her estranged mum’s (Kate Dickie, Annika) offer and heads home, hoping that time in the secluded English village will calm the demons raging inside of her. Soon Laura discovers that the locals are protecting an unspeakably dark secret, one that involves her mother as well as her own terrifying destiny. Matriarch, a Hulu Original, premieres Friday, October 21, exclusively on Hulu. (You can add it to your stuff now.)
LOCAL/REGIONAL PREMIERES
Select public TV stations and regional networks will begin airing the programs below on or after October 1, unless otherwise noted. Check you local listings or contact the station that serves your area for air dates and times. To request the shows, contact your public TV station or American Public Television.
Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific (UK)
In this three-part travel series, Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) embarks on an epic, ocean-wide adventure in search of the real Pacific through the lives, vibrant cultures, and stories of the people he meets along the way. From swimming with sharks and meeting a tribe, to climbing one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Martin discovers a kaleidoscope of nature on the various islands across the Pacific. Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific is confirmed for airing on Idaho Public Television, KCET, KEET, KPBS, KQEH, KUAT, KUED, Maryland Public Television, New Hampshire PBS, Oregon Public Broadcasting, PBS North Carolina, PBS Wisconsin, WCVE, WETA, WGBH, WNED, WNEO, WPBS, WPTO, WSKG, WVPT, WXXI, and WyomingPBS.
NON-PREMIERE PROGRAMS BEING ADDED TO LINEAR TV
Broadchurch: Season 3 (UK)
Set three years after the events in Season 2, the final season of this award-winning mystery-crime drama follows DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman, The Crown) and DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant, Good Omens) as they investigate the rape of a Broadchurch local (Julie Hesmondhalgh, The Pact). Broadchurch: Season 3 begins airing Thursday, October 6, at 9 PM ET, on PBS (check your local listings).
Annika: Season 1 (UK)
Nicola Walker (Unforgotten) stars in this mystery-crime drama series as DI Annika Strandhed, the head of Glasgow’s newly-formed Marine Homicide Unit, whose M.O. of linking crimes under investigation to literature and mythology proves to be quite effective. (For further details, read this article). Annika: Season 1 has its broadcast premiere on Sunday, October 16, at 10 PM ET, on PBS (check your local listings).
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.
England’s Forgotten Queen: The Life and Death of Lady Jane Grey (UK)
Historian Helen Castor (She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth) presents this three-part docuseries about the Lady Jane Grey, whose cousin, King Edward VI, son of Henry VIII, left the throne to her instead of to his elder sister, Mary. Although Jane was the first woman to reign as the Queen of England and Ireland, conspiracy and political maneuvering led to her being deposed after only nine days on the throne in 1553, and then executed three months later. England’s Forgotten Queen: The Life and Death of Lady Jane Grey begins streaming Monday, October 3.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on BritBox and its digital channels, including BritBox on Amazon.
Robin of Sherwood: Complete Series (UK)
This cult favorite sees a re-imagining of the Robin Hood story, in which Robin of Loxley (Michael Praed, Dynasty) is chosen by the mystical Herne the Hunter (John Abineri, The Last of the Mohicans) to be his “son” and champion the oppressed. With his band of comrades, Robin fights against their Norman dictators, notably the Sheriff of Nottingham and his deputy, Guy de Gisburne (Robert Addie, Red Dwarf). Robin of Sherwood: Complete Series begins streaming Saturday, October 1.
Toast of London: Seasons 1-3 (UK)
This critically-acclaimed, BAFTA- and Rose D’Or-winning comedy stars Matt Berry (What We Do In The Shadows) as Steven Toast, an eccentric, RADA-trained actor with a checkered past who spends more time dealing with problems off stage than performing on it. Costarring Robert Bathurst (Cold Feet) and Doon Mackichan (Plebs), Toast of London: Seasons 1-3 begins streaming Thursday, October 13.
The Frankenstein Chronicles: Seasons 1-2 (UK)
Sean Bean (Time, Game of Thrones) stars in this period crime drama as John Marlott, a police officer who goes on the hunt for a serial killer after finding a corpse made up of body parts from eight missing children. Featuring Richie Campbell (Grace), Ryan Sampson (Plebs), Ed Stoppard (Upstairs Downstairs), and Vanessa Kirby (The Crown), The Frankenstein Chronicles: Seasons 1 & 2 begins streaming Friday, October 28.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Hulu.
All My Puny Sorrows (CA)
Based on the eponymous international best-selling novel by Miriam Toews, this drama tells the poignant story of two sisters — one a concert pianist obsessed with ending her life, the other a writer who, in wrestling with this decision, makes profound discoveries about herself. Starring Alison Pill (Star Trek: Picard) and Sarah Gadon (Alias Grace), All My Puny Sorrows begins streaming Saturday, October 1.
Schitt’s Creek: The Complete Series (CA)
This Primetime Emmy® Award-winning comedy series follows the Rose family — Johnny (Eugene Levy, American Pie), wife Moira (Catherine O’Hara, For Your Consideration), son David (Dan Levy, Sex Education), and daughter Alexis (Annie Murphy, Kevin Can F**k Himself) — after they lose all their wealth, find themselves broke as broke can be, and are forced to live in the town Johnny bought as a joke. Schitt’s Creek: The Complete Series begins streaming Monday, October 3.
SurrealEstate: Season 1 (CA)
Tim Rozon (Wynonna Earp) stars in this paranormal series as Luke Roman, a realtor who, along with his elite team of specialists, handles cases that no one else can: haunted and possessed houses that literally scare would-be buyers away. Researching, investigating, and “fixing” things that go bump in the night, the team works to create closure — and closings — even as they struggle with demons of their own. SurrealEstate: Season 1 begins streaming Thursday, October 6.
See for Me (CA)
In this thriller film, visually-impaired former skier Sophie (Skyler Davenport, NCIS: Los Angeles) is house-sitting a wealthy client’s luxurious, secluded mansion when a group of thieves breaks in to rob the place. To get help, Sophie uses the “See for Me” smartphone app, which connects her to Kelly (Jessica Parker Kennedy, The Flash), an army veteran and gamer living across the country, who uses the app to see Sophie’s surroundings and guide her actions. See for Me begins streaming Friday, October 14.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Shudder and its digital channels, including Shudder on Amazon, as well as on the AMC+ streaming bundle and AMC+ on Amazon.
She Will (UK)
In this horror thriller, former film star Veronica Ghent (Alice Krige, Carnival Row) goes to a healing retreat in rural Scotland with her nurse, Desi (Kota Eberhardt, X-Men: Dark Phoenix), after a double mastectomy. But this is a site where women were burned as witches centuries before, and now forces related to them arise to give Veronica the power to exact revenge within her dreams. She Will, a Shudder Exclusive, has its SVOD premiere on Thursday, October 13.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Topic and its digital channels, including Topic on Amazon.
Christine (UK-US)
Rebecca Hall (Parade’s End) stars in this biopic-historical drama as Christine Chubbuck, an ambitious, 20-something reporter in Sarasota, Florida, who faces numerous challenges as a career woman in the early 1970s, including fierce competition for a promotion and a boss ordering her to deliver juicy, exploitative stories instead of serious, issue-based journalism. With a tumultuous home life and mental health struggles, Christine experiences as dissolution of self — and more. Christine begins streaming Thursday, October 6.
The Last Panthers (UK-France)
In this action-crime drama, insurance loss adjuster Naomi Franckom (Samantha Morton, Harlots) is tasked by her boss, Tom (John Hurt, The Elephant Man), with tracking down the diamonds stolen in an audacious robbery in the south of France, during which a 6-year-old girl was killed. All signs point to the infamous Pink Panthers gang, a European crime group thought to be inactive. As Naomi attempts to recover the diamonds, she disrupts the investigation of French-Algerian police officer Khalil Rachedi (Tahar Rahim, The Serpent), who is closing in on Serbian soldier-turned-thief Milan Celik (Goran Bogdan, Black Sun). The Last Panthers begins streaming Thursday, October 13.
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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 October 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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