August brings the national premieres of twelve new series, seasons, and films from the UK to the US, plus four titles that make their linear debuts in the States.
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.
(For details about the premieres of shows from Australia, New Zealand, and countries in Europe and other continents, visit The Down Under TV Place, The Euro TV Place, and The Global TV Place.)
Programs and dates are subject to change without prior notice.
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NATIONAL PREMIERES
The Chelsea Detective: Season 4 (UK)
In the new season of this fan-favorite whodunit series, DI Max Arnold (Adrian Scarborough, Killing Eve, The King’s Speech, 1917), DS Layla Walsh (Vanessa Emme, Dublin Murders, Three Families), and the team delve once again into the darker side of Chelsea that lurks beneath the glossy façade of London’s wealthiest and most affluent borough. The detectives investigate five murders, including: a fashion mogul sinking fast in the trappings of her wealth; an aristocratic dynasty brutally guarding their bloodline; a beauty salon owner concealing lethal truths; and a cryptic double-murder that spirals outward to Cambridge, drawing the team into the cut-throat world of architecture.
Costars include Sophie Stone (Shetland, Midsomer Murders) as Chief Forensics Officer Ashley Wilton, Lucy Phelps (Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, Grace) as research and tech queen DC Jess Lombard, and Peter Bankolé (DI Ray, Peaky Blinders) as officer DC Connor Pollock. Also reprising their roles are Frances Barber (Whitstable Pearl) as Max’s Aunt Olivia and Alexandra Gilbreath (Becoming Elizabeth) as Max’s potential love interest, Roz.
The Chelsea Detective: Season 4, an Acorn TV Original, premieres in the US, Canada, and Australia on Monday, August 3, exclusively on Acorn TV. New episodes will drop weekly through August 24.
Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy (UK)
This documentary follows comedian and content creator Mo Gilligan (The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan) as he investigates our global fried chicken obsession and the hidden costs behind our cravings. A self-proclaimed lover of the food, Mo puts his body to the test in a bold experiment by eating fried chicken three times a day for 28 days straight. Over the course of the month, he embarks on an eye-opening journey from South London to the United States to reveal the historical origins of fried chicken and the social, economic, and industrial forces driving our mass consumption of it — from fast-food chains to large-scale farming — and the impact on our health, our planet, and the way we eat.
As a Black British comedian, Mo also seeks to reframe perceptions of the dish by confronting negative stereotypes associated with it, examining how it’s been culturally appropriated and advertised in today’s market. Uncovering shocking revelations along the way, the film encourages Mo to reckon with the unsettling realities behind his favorite takeaway, sparking greater curiosity about the origins of our food and a more informed approach to the choices we make about what we eat.
Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy, a Netflix Documentary, premieres globally on Wednesday, August 5, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
The Hardacres: Season 2 (UK)
Based on the international best-selling novel Hardacre by C. L. Skelton, this sprawling family saga chronicles the sweeping rags-to-riches story of the Hardacres, a working class family who moves from a grimy fish dock to a vast country estate in 1890s Yorkshire. Season 2 follows the Hardacres as they settle into Hardacre Hall and turn their attention to reshaping the world around them, with all the ambition, friction, and fallout that entails.
Starring Liam McMahon (Joan), Claire Cooper (Suspects), Adam Little (Coronation Street), Shannon Lavelle (Riot Women), Zak Ford-Williams (Better), and Julie Graham (Shetland), The Hardacres: Season 2, a BritBox Original, premieres in North America on Wednesday, August 5, exclusively on BritBox. New episodes will drop weekly through September 9.
Ancient Treasures with Bettany Hughes: Season 5 (UK)
Historian, author, and presenter Bettany Hughes (The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Genius of the Ancient World) returns to explore more of humanity’s most captivating stories. From the snowy peaks of Switzerland to the desert landscapes of Uzbekistan, her travels reveal how geography and history have shaped civilizations. Ancient Treasures with Bettany Hughes: Season 5 premieres in North America on Thursday, August 6, on BBC Select. New episodes will drop weekly through September 3.
Mayhem! The Scandalous Lives of the Georgian Kings: Season 1 (UK)
Combining dramatic reconstruction with expert testimony from leading historians, this docuseries will turn everything you thought you knew about the Georgian era on its head. It covers the tumultuous lives of: George I, who was catapulted onto the British throne; George II, famed for his military exploits; George III, who was mad or misunderstood; and George IV, the party king. Mayhem! The Scandalous Lives of the Georgian Kings: Season 1 premieres in North America as a four-episode binge on Thursday, August 6, on BBC Select.
Ricky Gervais Alley Cats (UK)
This new adult animated comedy series from Ricky Gervais follows the trials and tribulations of a gang of foul-mouthed feral cats from all walks of society, who cause havoc and seek companionship while ruminating on the meaning of life and fighting for survival in a brutal human world.
Featuring the voice talents of Ricky Gervais (After Life), Diane Morgan (Cunk on Life), Tom Basden (Here We Go), David Earl (Derek), Jo Hartley (In My Skin), Andrew Brooke (The Agency), Kerry Godliman (Whitstable Pearl), Natalie Cassidy (EastEnders), and Tony Way (Dodger), Ricky Gervais Alley Cats, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Friday, August 7, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Mourinho (UK)
Filmed over the course of two years, this docuseries tells the story of José Mourinho, the man who revolutionized what it meant to be a football (soccer) manager, having led some of the biggest clubs on the planet, from Chelsea and Inter Milan to Real Madrid, where he has now returned. The program charts his rise to being one of football’s most trophy-winning and outspoken figures, garnering league titles in four different countries and lifting the Champions League twice.
Featuring exclusive access to Mourinho himself, along with candid interviews with Sir Alex Ferguson, John Terry, Iker Casillas, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Didier Drogba, Marcelo, Samuel Eto’o, Javier Zanetti, Frank Lampard, Petr Čech, and more of football’s greatest names, Mourinho, a Netflix Docuseries, premieres globally on Tuesday, August 11, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
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Love Is Blind: UK: Season 3 (UK)
In the third season of this reality series, a new group of UK singles enters the iconic dating pods in search of love, but who will make it past the proposal, through the retreat, and down the aisle? Love Is Blind: UK: Season 3 premieres globally on Wednesday, August 19, exclusively on Netflix.
Antiques Roadshow: Season 49 (UK)
Fiona Bruce and the experts are back to uncover more fascinating family and social history stories embodied in priceless, personal, and peculiar items brought to beautiful locations in the UK for appraisal. The season premiere features unique access to Windsor Castle and personal items belonging to Queen Elizabeth II. Antiques Roadshow: Season 49 premieres in North America with two episodes on Thursday, August 20, on BBC Select. New episodes will drop singly each week through December 24.
The Good Ship Murder: Season 3 (UK)
The new season of this mystery series finds Jack (Shayne Ward, Coronation Street) lying low by gigging in a dingy bar after getting sacked from the ship. But a murder in a monastery drives Kate (Catherine Tyldesley, Emmerdale Farm) to seek Jack’s help, and the pair finally reconnect romantically (with Jamil’s (Zak Douglas, G’wed) help), while Jack also gets his job back on the ship, replacing Eve Fontaine (Michelle Holmes, Casualty), who had temporarily replaced him. The Good Ship Murder: Season 3 premieres in North America on Tuesday, August 25, exclusively on BritBox. New episodes will drop weekly through October 13.
The Undeclared War: Season 2 (UK)
Set in 2024, the second season of this political thriller sees a fresh wave of tension and drama as the elite Malware Department at GCHQ grapples with the aftermath of a devastating Russian cyber-attack. Just when it seems the UK has gained the upper hand, GCHQ Head of Operations Danny Patrick (Simon Pegg, Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) and his team discover a mole in their midst and uncover a far more dangerous threat.
Costarring Siân Brooke (Blue Lights), Hannah Khalique-Brown (Wolf Hall), Alex Jennings (The Crown), Danny Sapani (Halo), Ed Stoppard (Knightfall), and Chloe Pirrie (Dept. Q), The Undeclared War: Season 2, a Peacock Original, premieres in the US on Thursday, August 27, exclusively on Peacock.
Will Robots Take My Job?: Season 1 (UK)
This documentary poses that question, as robots can already do many jobs more quickly than humans. In Silicon Valley, plans are underway for massive changes in the workplace, prompting fears that millions of people will be replaced by robots and AI. Will Robots Take My Job? premieres in North America on Thursday, August 27, on BBC Select.
LOCAL/REGIONAL PREMIERES
The Brontës & Me: Sisters of Disruption (UK)
In this documentary, Anita Rani explores sisters Anne, Charlotte, and Emily Brontë and the impact they’ve had on millions of readers. She recalls her first encounter with them at school and her experience of growing up with the stunning landscape of Haworth and the moors on her doorstep. In addition, fellow Brontë fans and literary experts discuss how and why these sisters became ground-breaking “literary disruptors.” The Brontës & Me: Sisters of Disruption is confirmed for its US broadcast debut on or after Saturday, August 1, on the following public TV stations and state/regional networks: Georgia Public Broadcasting, Idaho Public Television, KCPT, KCTS, KRMA, KUED, Maryland Public Television, Nebraska Public Media, New Hampshire PBS, PBS North Carolina, South Carolina ETV, WCET, WNED, WNET, WPTD, WXXI, and Wyoming PBS.
Chatsworth Through Time (UK)
This hour-long documentary explores the history, architecture, landscape, and artwork of Chatsworth House, an English estate and home of one of Europe’s most significant collections of fine art. Beginning with the Tudor Period, the program journeys through five hundred years of history, culminating in a conversation with the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Senior curators at the estate help tell the story of Chatsworth and offer insight into the collection of esteemed works of art and craftsmanship preserved there.
Chatsworth Through Time is confirmed for its US broadcast debut on or after Saturday, August 1, on the following public TV stations and state/regional networks: Alabama Public Television, Connecticut Public Television, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Idaho Public Television, Iowa PBS, KACV, KAET, KAKM, KAMU, KAWE, KBDI, KBTC, KCET, KCOS, KCPT, KCTS, KEDT, KEET, Kentucky Educational Television, KENW, KETC, KLCS, KLRN, KLRU, KLVX, KMOS, KNME, KNPB, KOCE, KOZK, KPBS, KPBT, KPJK, KPTS, KQED, KQEH, KRCB, KRMA, KRSU, KRWG, KSMQ, KSPS, KSYS, KTCA, KTTZ, KTWU, KUAC, KUAT, KUHT, KVCR, KVIE, KVPT, KWCM, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Maine Public Television, Maryland Public Television, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, Montana PBS, Nebraska Public Media, New Hampshire PBS, OETA (Oklahoma), Oregon Public Broadcasting, PBS Hawai‘i, PBS North Carolina, PBS Wisconsin, South Carolina ETV, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Vermont Public, WABE, WBRA, WCET, WCFE, WCMU, WCTE, WCVE, WDCQ, WDSC, WEDU, WEFS, WETA, WETP, WFSU, WFWA, WFYI, WGBY, WGCU, WGTE, WGVU, WHRO, WHUT, WHYY, WILL, WIPB, WITF, WJCT, WKAR, WKNO, WKYU, WLAE, WLIW, WLJT, WLRN, WLVT, WMHT, WMVS, WNED, WNEO, WNIN, WNIT, WNMU, WNPT, WNYE, WOUB, WPBS, WPBT, WPSU, WPTD, WPTO, WQED, WQLN, WQPT, WSBE, WSIU, WSKG, WSRE, WTCI, WTTW, WTVI, WTVP, WTVS, WUCF, WUFT, WVIA, WVIZ, WVPT, WXEL, WXXI, WYES, WYIN, and Wyoming PBS.
Inside the Langham (UK)
This three-part docuseries gives viewers an exclusive and intimate look inside The Langham, Europe’s oldest grand hotel. From the underground laboratory where new cocktails are invented, to housekeeping and front of house, we meet the characters who make up the staff and the customers who come back year after year. Inside the Langham is confirmed for its US broadcast debut on or after Saturday, August 1, on the following public TV stations and state/regional networks: KRMA, KSPS, KTWU, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, PBS North Carolina, PBS Wisconsin, South Carolina ETV, WNED, WSBE, and Wyoming PBS.
The Madame Blanc Mysteries: Season 3 (UK)
This cozy mystery series follow British ex-pat and antiques dealer Jean White (Sally Lindsay, Scott & Bailey, Still Open All Hours) as she solves mysteries in Sainte Victoire in the South of France, along with her taxi-driving friend and flirting partner, Dom (Steve Edge, Scarborough, Happy Valley). Tony Robinson (Blackadder) joins the cast this season as Dom’s Uncle Patrick.
The Madame Blanc Mysteries: Season 3 is confirmed for its US broadcast debut on or after Saturday, August 1, on the following public TV stations and state/regional networks: Connecticut Public Television, Idaho Public Television, KCPT, KERA, KNME, KPBS, KQEH, KRMA, KSPS, KTCA, KTNW, KUED, KVIE, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Nebraska Public Media, Oregon Public Broadcasting, PBS North Carolina, PBS Wisconsin, South Carolina ETV, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, WDSC, WETA, WFYI, WHYY, WITF, WLIW, WNED, WNET, WOSU, WPBS, WPSU, WSBE, WSKG, WTTW, and Wyoming PBS.
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NON-PREMIERE PROGRAMS BEING ADDED TO LINEAR TV
Blue Skies: Season 1 (CA)
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Crystal Ridge National Park, this police procedural drama follows Detective Jodi Larsen (Scarlet Hunter, Invasion, Alert, Home and Away), a former military police officer who returns to her hometown to start over as a criminal investigator for the National Park Police. Driven by a love of the outdoors and a deep sense of justice, Jodi is determined to protect the park, its visitors, and her community, tackling cases involving missing persons, environmental crimes, and secrets hidden deep within the park’s 5,000 square miles.
But Jodi’s fresh start is anything but simple. She’s navigating a new team, a by-the-book superintendent, and a journey to reconnect with her father after her mother passed away while she was deployed. And she has an unexpected partner: a mischievous stray Labrador named Blue, whose instincts prove sharper than most trained K9s.
Costars include Markian Tarasiuk (The Night Agent, Virgin River), Veronica Long (Billy the Kid, Wild Cards), David Lennon (Untamed, The Irrational), Darius Willis (Tracker, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Miranda Edwards (Snowpiercer, Family Law), and Shaughnessy Redden (Home Before Dark, Watson).
Blue Skies: Season 1, an UP Faith & Family Original series, has its US cable TV premiere on Thursday, August 13, at 9pm ET, on UPtv. (Streaming is available on UP Faith & Family.)
NON-PREMIERE PROGRAMS BEING ADDED TO STREAMING SERVICES
Titles in this section begin streaming in the US and Canada on the dates shown below on Acorn TV and its digital channels, including Acorn TV on Prime Channels.
The Watchman (UK)
Stephen Graham (Adolescence, A Thousand Blows) stars in this crime thriller as Carl, a CCTV operator frustrated with the local police, as they refuse to tackle a group of local drug dealers. After Carl decides to intervene himself, what follows is a terrifying chain of events that plays across one night shift. The Watchman begins streaming Monday, August 17.
The Assassin (UK)
This action-thriller series opens on an idyllic and beautifully remote Greek island, where retired assassin Julie (Keeley Hawes, Bodyguard, Miss Austen) lives a solitary life. A hermit for the last ten years to escape her dark past, her humble existence is interrupted with the arrival of her son, Edward (Freddie Highmore, The Good Doctor, Bates Motel), who’s come armed with questions about new information regarding his paternity. He tries to find the right time to speak to her, but she manages to avoid the conversation every time. When the moment finally presents itself for Edward to confront his mum, things take a deadly turn, as Julie’s dangerous past finally catches up with her and the two are forced to flee the island and go on the run together, testing their dysfunctional relationship to its limits. The Assassin begins streaming Monday, August 31.
Titles in this section begin streaming in North America on the dates shown below on BBC Select and its digital channels, including BBC Select on Prime Channels.
A Tale of Two Britains (UK)
This hour-long documentary looks at Britain in the 1930s, a period of dramatic change. Emerging from bleak economic depression, the country shifted into a time of rising prosperity with new innovations in technology and a consumption boom. A Tale of Two Britains begins streaming Thursday, August 13.
The Tech Billionaire Takeover (UK)
In this hour-long documentary, presenter Matt Shea goes inside the world of tech billionaires, who are building their own countries, replacing democracy as we know it, and targeting the global financial system. The Tech Billionaire Takeover begins streaming Thursday, August 13.
The Wonderful World of Blood (UK)
In this program, the late Dr Michael Mosley takes an in-depth look at blood, carrying out six experiments on his own blood, from starving it of oxygen to injecting it with snake venom and even eating it. The Wonderful World of Blood begins streaming Thursday, August 13.
Battle of the Atlantic: The U-Boat War (UK)
This docuseries offers new historical insights that reveal how the Allies fought back and ultimately turned the tide in the summer of 1942, when Nazi submarines dominated a brutal naval war and Britain’s position grew increasingly fragile. Battle of the Atlantic: The U-Boat War begins streaming as a three-episode binge on Thursday, August 20.
Queen Victoria’s Men (UK)
This feature-length documentary tells the story of how Queen Victoria’s fiery passions led her into one of the great romances in history with Prince Albert, entangled her in scandalous relationships with her Prime Ministers, and set her on a collision course with her Royal court. Queen Victoria’s Men begins streaming Thursday, August 20.
Expedition Volcano (UK)
Narrated by actor Paterson Joseph (Boat Story), this docuseries follows an extraordinary expedition to the planet’s most dangerous, spectacular, and least known volcanoes, and tackles earth science’s biggest questions: What drives the Earth’s tectonic plates, and why do volcanoes erupt? Expedition Volcano begins streaming as a two-episode binge on Thursday, August 27.
Where the Wild Men Are with Ben Fogle: Season 7 (UK)
In this season of the popular docuseries, adventurer Ben Fogle meets more individuals and couples who inhabit inhospitable parts of the world, such as Peru, Morocco, Panama, and Sri Lanka. Where the Wild Men Are with Ben Fogle: Season 7 begins streaming as a twelve-episode binge on Thursday, August 27.
Titles in this section begin streaming in North America on the dates shown below on BritBox and its digital channels, including BritBox on Prime Channels.
Antiques Roadshow: Season 46 (UK)
In this season of the hugely popular series, the team visits locations in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, discovering remarkable treasures, including unseen Rolling Stones photos, Star Wars memorabilia, World War II spy gadgets, illustrations by Beatrix Potter, and Winston Churchill’s cigar. Antiques Roadshow: Season 46 begins streaming as a 21-episode binge on Saturday, August 1.
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown: Season 14 (UK)
Hosted by Jimmy Carr, this panel show is the perfect mashup of topical hit 8 Out of 10 Cats and the cerebral words-and-number game Countdown, as the anarchic comedians of the former take on the brainbox format of the latter. 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown: Season 14 begins streaming as a 13-episode binge on Monday, August 10.
I Literally Just Told You: Season 4 (UK)
Jimmy Carr hosts this game show where paying attention pays off, as players answer questions that have just been written about things that have just happened during the show in a bid to win £25,000. I Literally Just Told You: Season 4 begins streaming as a five-episode binge on Monday, August 10.
Pointless Celebrities UK: Season 8 (UK)
Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman present a celebrity version of the general knowledge quiz, in which contestants try to come up with the answers that nobody else could think of. Pointless Celebrities UK: Season 8 begins streaming as a twelve-episode binge on Monday, August 10.
Prey: Season 1 (UK)
John Simm (Grace, Life on Mars) stars in this crime thriller as Detective Constable Marcus Farrow, a well-liked cop with an ex-wife and two kids. But when Farrow is found at the scene of a brutal crime, and all of the evidence points towards him, his world collapses. Arrested and charged, it seems his fate is sealed. However, when he gets the opportunity to escape, he grabs it and goes on the run, concurrently trying to evade capture and clear his name. Prey: Season 1 begins streaming as a three-episode binge on Thursday, August 13.
Vanity Fair (2018) (UK)
Based on the classic novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, this period drama, set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, follows Becky Sharp (Olivia Cooke, House of the Dragon) as she attempts to claw her way out of poverty and scale the heights of English society. Her story of “villainy, crime, merriment, lovemaking, jilting, laughing, cheating, fighting and dancing” takes her all the way to the court of King George IV, via the Battle of Waterloo, breaking hearts and losing fortunes as she goes. Vanity Fair (2018) begins streaming as a seven-episode binge on Wednesday, August 19.
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
Titles in this section begin streaming in the US on the dates shown below on Hulu.
Private Eyes: Seasons 1-5 (CA)
Based on the “Brad Shade” novels by G.B. Joyce, this crime dramedy stars Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills, 90210, Call Me Fitz) as hockey player-turned-private investigator Matt Shade, and Cindy Sampson (Supernatural, Rogue) as Angie Everett, Shade’s boss and later partner at Everett Investigation, the P.I. agency she inherited from her father. The show follows a “crime of the week” format, in which Matt and Angie solve crimes around Toronto. Private Eyes: Seasons 1-5 begins streaming Saturday, August 1.
“Brad Shade” novels by G.B. Joyce
Heartland: Seasons 1-19 (CA)
Based on the best-selling “Heartland” novels by Lauren Brooke, this family drama is the longest-running hour-long scripted drama series in Canadian TV history. It follows sisters Amy (Amber Marshall, My Christmas Guide) and Lou Fleming (Michelle Morgan, Virgin River), who live on Heartland, their family’s horse and cattle ranch, with their grandfather, Jack (Shaun Johnston, Wynonna Earp), their father, Tim (Chris Potter, “The Good Witch’s” franchise), and farmhand Ty (Graham Wardle, Supernatural). While dealing with the highs and lows of life on the ranch, the family bonds and grows closer. Heartland: Seasons 1-19 begins streaming Monday, August 24.
“Heartland” novels by Lauren Brooke
Heartland Complete Seasons 1-18 DVDs
Titles in this section begin streaming in the US on the dates shown below on Netflix.
The Kid Detective (CA)
Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This, The O.C.) stars in this mystery comedy-drama film as Abe Applebaum, a once-celebrated kid detective who continues to run his struggling detective agency while self-medicating with alcohol and drugs as a depressed 32-year-old man-child. When a high-school student named Caroline (Sophie Nélisse, Heated Rivalry, Yellowjackets) asks him to investigate the murder of her boyfriend, he agrees, despite never having had a murder case before. The Kid Detective begins streaming Saturday, August 1. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
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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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