Building on earlier previews of international 2026 hits like The Boys season 5 and Bridgerton season 4, British television offers much to anticipate next year, with a diverse slate of new series and returning favorites across Netflix, BBC, ITV, and more. Highlights include classic literature adaptations, spy thrillers, and dramas from creators like Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, alongside returning staples such as Line of Duty and Unforgotten.
The year 2026 kicks off strongly for UK TV, building on recent successes like second seasons of The Night Manager and Red Eye. New projects from prominent writers signal innovation: Chris Chibnall adapts Agatha Christie's Seven Dials for Netflix, premiering January 15, featuring Mia McKenna-Bruce, Helena Bonham Carter, and Martin Freeman in a 1929 mystery involving coded messages and a shadowy group. Lisa McGee's How to Get to Heaven From Belfast—as previewed earlier—arrives on Netflix in February, starring Roísín Gallagher, Sinéad Keenan, and Caoilfhionn Dunne as friends reuniting after a death.
Guy Ritchie's Young Sherlock arrives March 4 on Prime Video, with Hero Fiennes Tiffin as a teenage detective in an adaptation of Andrew Lane's books. ITV's Betrayal, penned by David Eldridge, stars Shaun Evans as MI5 agent John Hughes entangled in conspiracy and personal turmoil. BBC's Lord of the Flies, scripted by Jack Thorne, reimagines William Golding's 1954 novel about stranded schoolboys descending into chaos.
Channel 4 offers The Lady, a true-crime royal drama with Mia McKenna-Bruce as convicted murderer Jane Andrews, alongside Natalie Dormer and Ed Speleers. Maya, also on Channel 4, features Bella Ramsey and Daisy Haggard in a witness protection thriller pursued by Tobias Menzies. ITVX's Secret Service casts Gemma Arterton as an MI6 officer uncovering a politician's ties to Russia.
Returning series include Line of Duty's seventh installment on BBC One, with Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar investigating a corrupt detective after AC-12's rebranding. Unforgotten Series 7 brings back Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinéad Keenan for another cold case. Other notables: Richard Gadd's Half Man on Sky, exploring brotherhood with Jamie Bell; Russell T Davies' Tip Toe on LGBTQ+ themes; Kit Harington's A Tale of Two Cities on BBC; and Steven Moffat's Number 10 comedy-drama with Rafe Spall and Jenna Coleman.
This lineup spans genres from historical adaptations to modern thrillers, promising a vibrant year for British storytelling.
