The best shows to watch in 2026 are already looking dangerously unmissable. From globe-trotting espionage to royalty-adjacent scandals, from laugh out loud comedies to psychological rabbit holes you did not see coming, the schedules are jam-packed and we are soooo here for it!
If you’re on the hunt for the new shows coming in 2026 that are actually worth your time, consider this your ultimate cheat sheet. We’re talking long-awaited returns, dazzling debuts, and a mix of bold, brilliant storytelling that’ll keep your watchlist overflowing!
Betrayal
Coming soon to ITV
If you (like us) love a gripping, edge-of-your-seat espionage thriller, then get ready to immerse yourself in the shadowy world of MI5 with ITV’s new drama Betrayal. Starring Shaun Evans (Endeavour, Until I Kill You, Vigil) as John Hughes, the show explores the strain of modern intelligence work on MI5 operatives. Slightly out of touch with the times, John must navigate a world of secrets and surveillance while balancing his unravelling personal life – exposing the emotional cost of a profession where loyalty is fragile and betrayal can come from any direction.
The Lady
Coming soon to ITV
Brought to you by the makers of The Crown, this new royal crime drama explores the real-life events of Sarah Ferguson’s formal royal dresser Jane Andrews (Mia McKenna-Bruce, Tracey Beaker Returns), whose rags to riches fairy tell fell apart when she was convicted of murdering her partner in 2001. It’s a story of romance gone wrong, with disastrous consequences.
Also expect to see Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones, Hunger Games), Ed Speelers (Downton Abbey), Mark Stanley (Game of Thrones) and Laura Aikman (Gavin & Stacey, Joan).
Half Man
BBC
Baby Reindeer's Richard Gadd is coming back to your screens in this new six-part BBC drama. Gadd is joined by Jamie Bell (All of Us Strangers). Together, they play brothers Ruben and Niall, whose surprise reunion after years of estrangement sparks an explosion of violence – taking us on a journey through their lives over the course of the series. Spanning four decades – from the 1980s to the present day – Half Man explores the highs and lows of their relationship, from troubled teens to their eventual falling out as adults, capturing all the good, bad, and challenging moments along the way. Mitchell Robertson (Curfew) and Stuart Campbell (The Winter King) portray Ruben and Niall in their younger years.
A Woman of Substance
Channel 4
Based on the multi-million bestselling novel, A Woman of Substance whisks us back to 1911 where Emma Harte – an ambitious, impoverished Yorkshire maid – sets out on a journey to become the world’s richest woman. This rags to rich story sees her defy expectations, challenge the role’s she’s given and never (we repeat NEVER) deviate from her masterplan: get to the top, no matter what it takes!
Starring Brenda Blethyn (Vera) and Jessica Reynolds as the two versions of Emma.
Bergerac (Season 2)
U
Picking up months after the events of Season 1, the Jim Bergerac (Damien Molony, Being Human) is back on Jersey, tentatively rebuilding his personal life while a high-profile murder at a wedding forces him back into action. As he pieces together the victim’s cryptic final words and uncovers buried secrets, he’s confronted by a web of old convicts, simmering family tensions, and unexpected romance. Across six episodes, this character-driven mystery weaves together grief, fresh beginnings, and a deeply tangled case!
Stepping Up
Channel 4
Stepping Up is a new six-part comedy drama following the life of step-dad Josh (Josh Pugh) as he negotiates the tricky puzzle of bringing up another man’s children: locking in many love-triangles, the partner and the ex, the kid and the biological dad, there’s problems left right and centre!
Starring Denise Welch (Waterloo Road), Sophia Di Martino (Loki, Flowers), Tom Hanson (Outlaws) and Jeff Mirza (Bridget Jones: Made About a Boy).
The Cage
BBC One + BBC iPlayer
Sheridan Smith (Cilla, I Fought the Law) and Michael Socha (Toxic Town, Showtrial) star in this new drama set in a Liverpool casino, where two small-time criminals realise they’re both robbing the same safe. What follows is a tense, funny, and dangerously messy game of survival, with gangsters on one side and the law closing in on the other. From the creator of The Responder.
Big Mood (Season 2)
Channel 4
They’re backkkkk! Our fave best friends Maggie (Nicola Coughlan, Bridgerton) and Eddie (Lydia West, It's a Sin) return for the second season of Big Mood in 2026. It’s been a year since Maggie and Eddie last saw each other or had any contact. When Eddie suddenly returns for a wedding, she’s not alone, bringing Maggie competition in the form of a spiritual healer named Whitney! Can Maggie find space in Eddie’s new life, or will she lose her forever?
Twenty Twenty Six
BBC Two + BBC iPlayer
Coming to our screens from the BAFTA and British Comedy Award-winning team behind W1A and Twenty Twelve, this new series sees Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) reprise his role as Ian Fletcher. Now Director of Integrity, Ian joins the team planning the biggest football tournament ever – with 47 countries taking part and 16 venues spread across North America. Thousands of miles, endless logistics… what could possibly go wrong?
The Hardacres (Season 2)
Coming to 5
We know it’s coming! The first season saw the Hardacre family navigating life from rags to riches, along with the unexpected twists that money brought. This second season charts the family as they settle properly into Hardacre Hall and focus on reshaping the world around them! There’s no official cast list yet, but we expect Claire Cooper, Liam McMahon, and Julie Graham to return.
Lord of the Flies
BBC One + BBC iPlayer
Landing in the first half of next year is BBC’s adaptation of the iconic Lord of the Flies, and as self-certified book lovers here at Freely, we cannot wait! This series follows a group of schoolchildren stranded on a tropical island with no adults after a plane crash. Attempting to remain civil, the boys organise themselves and assign tasks, but Jack, in charge of the signal fire, begins to lure them away from order and hope… towards tragedy.
Maya
Channel 4
Psychological thriller fans, you won’t want to miss Maya! This new six-part drama follows mother Anna (Daisy Haggard, Boat Story) and daughter Maya (Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us) as they are forced to leave their London lives behind and enter witness protection to escape a dangerous threat. As they try to adjust to their new identities and new reality, the trauma of their past begins to creep up on them…
Secret Service
ITV
Calling all espionage fans! This five-part thriller follows Kate Henderson (Gemma Arterton, Made in Dagenham) a senior MI6 officer whose life to the onlooker seems very ordinary – happily married with two children and a job in the secret service. However, her real job is heading up the Russia Desk of Secret Intelligence Service! When her undercover ops reveal intel that a senior UK politician is a high-level Russian asset, she finds herself racing against time, balancing national security with looming election pressure. Expect a tense, politically charged cat-and-mouse game that explores loyalty, trust, and the personal cost of espionage.
It Gets Worse
Channel 4
Written, created, and starring comedian Leo Reich, this comedy follows Ethan, Abi, and Sam, best friends from uni, soulmates for life, and dysfunctional roommates. A year after moving to London, they’ve achieved nothing, their landlord is selling up, and they’re being kicked out – cue chaos, bad decisions, and desperate attempts to keep their friendships alive. This is a show about young adulthood, humiliating jobs, non-existent love lives, and the dawning realisation that… it doesn’t get better.
First Day on Earth
BBC
Since her debut in Chewing Gum, Michaela Coel has gone onto make her name as a trusted and celebrated voice in female storytelling. Now, it’s been four years since her latest series I May Destroy You and we are very excited for her next personal story. First Day on Earth will see her play a British novelist, Henri, who feels stuck in her career, life and relationships. When she’s asked to relocate to Ghana for work, she seizes the opportunity to reconnect with her heritage. However, she soon encounters unforeseen dangers and finds herself forging a new sense of identity!
The Family Secret (W/t)
5
Poldark and Harry Potter fans alike, you’re gonna loveeeee this! Coming to 5 in 2026 is The Family Secret, a psychological drama starring Matthew Lewis and Eleanor Tomlinson. The story follows Amanda Blakefield (Tomlinson), whose happy life is turned upside down when she inherits a huge sum from a man she’s never heard of, sending her spiralling into the dark world of the Worrall family. Think unravelling secrets, and oh-so-much drama!
Filming is underway, so fingers crossed for a late 2026 release.
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