The Must-Watch Series Set to Take Over Our Screens this Autumn

There is something about autumn television that just feels different.

As the evenings become darker, the summer holidays are over and the nights start to get that unmistakable chill, suddenly sitting down in front of the television becomes considerably more appealing. And thankfully, the autumn 2026 TV schedule is looking particularly strong.

From returning favourites and major literary adaptations to brand-new thrillers, lavish period dramas and star-studded casts, there's no shortage of reasons to get excited about the months ahead.

The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and the streaming giants are all bringing out some major titles, with everything from crime and espionage to romance, horror and family drama on the way.

MobLand Series 2, Paramount+

If gritty crime drama is more your thing, then you'll be pleased to hear that MobLand is returning this September.

The Paramount+ series brings Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan back for another round of gangland drama, following the Harrigan family's increasingly complicated battle for power.

The first series established a world of ruthless criminals, family loyalties and shifting alliances, and the second instalment promises to push those tensions even further.

Credit: Mobland, Series 2 Official Trailer, Paramount+

The return is particularly exciting given the calibre of the cast. Hardy, Mirren and Brosnan are hardly short of screen presence individually, but putting all three into the same crime drama gives MobLand plenty of heavyweight appeal.

Season two arrives on Paramount+ on the 18th September.

The Witch Farm, BBC One

For something altogether more unsettling, The Witch Farm could be one of the autumn's most intriguing new dramas.

Inspired by real events in South Wales in 1989, the four-part BBC drama follows Bill and Liz Rich, a London couple who move to a rural property hoping for a quieter life - only to find themselves caught up in a series of disturbing and unexplained events.

Credit: The Witch Farm, BBC

The story is based on the real case explored in Danny Robins's podcast, and that connection to a supposedly true story gives the drama an added sense of unease.

Michael Socha stars as artist Bill, while Tuppence Middleton plays Liz. Socha has previously spoken about meeting the real Liz while researching the role and seeing Bill's artwork, making the production particularly personal for the cast.

The Party, ITV

If you prefer your drama rooted firmly in human relationships, then The Party should be high on the list.

Credit: The Party, ITV

Based on Elizabeth Day's novel, the ITV adaptation stars Luke Evans and Tom Cullen as Martin and Ben, two old school friends whose lives have taken very different paths. When they reunite for a milestone birthday celebration, what initially looks like an evening of glamour and nostalgia begins to unravel.

It is exactly the sort of drama that could have viewers saying, "Just one more episode" long after they should have gone to bed.

Blue Lights Series 3, BBC One

Few recent British dramas have managed to combine police drama with such a strong sense of place as Blue Lights, and the Belfast-set series returns for a third season this autumn.

The latest chapter follows the officers as they continue their careers within the Police Service of Northern Ireland, dealing with challenging cases and the political and social pressures that come with policing the city.

Credit: Blue Lights, BBC

The drama has developed a loyal following because it never feels like a conventional police procedural. The characters remain at the heart of the story, with their personal lives and relationships carrying as much weight as the investigations themselves.

The third series will be particularly interesting as the characters we met as new recruits have now gained considerably more experience, although that certainly doesn't mean their problems are getting any easier.

Time Series 3, BBC One

Jimmy McGovern's Time has never shied away from difficult subjects, and its third series promises to continue that tradition. This time, the anthology drama moves into a young offenders' institution, exploring the experiences of two new inmates.

David Tennant joins the cast alongside returning star Siobhan Finneran, who reprises her role as prison chaplain Marie-Louise. Her character is also facing a crisis of faith, adding another emotional layer to the story.

Credit: Time, Series 3, BBC

The Time format means that viewers can come into each series without necessarily needing to know what came before, making this one of those dramas that can be watched on its own terms. Given McGovern's reputation for tackling uncomfortable realities without making them feel simplistic, this could be one of the BBC's most powerful dramas of the season.

The Blame, ITV

Michelle Keegan has become something of a streaming and television favourite following her roles in dramas including Fool Me Once, and she is back with another high-profile thriller this autumn.

Credit: The Blame, ITV

The Blame sees Keegan star opposite Douglas Booth as detectives investigating the death of a 16-year-old skateboarder. The case becomes increasingly troubling when it emerges that the teenager had been with a police officer before her death, raising questions about what really happened.

It has all the ingredients of a classic ITV thriller - a compelling mystery, a recognisable cast and a central investigation that promises to become considerably more complicated than it initially appears.

The Split Up, BBC One

Fans of The Split have another reason to be excited this autumn. Rather than continuing the story of the Defoe family, Abi Morgan's world of family law is being expanded with The Split Up, a new spin-off set in Manchester.

Credit: The Split Up, BBC

Sanjeev Bhaskar leads the cast as Dhruv, head of the wealthy British South Asian Kishan family, with Ritu Arya playing his daughter Aria. The new series moves away from the original show's London setting while retaining its focus on relationships, family secrets and the complicated business of love, marriage and divorce.

Black Doves Series 2, Netflix

Keira Knightley is back as Helen Webb in the second season of Netflix's stylish spy thriller Black Doves. Helen is now the Prime Minister's wife, while Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire also return. The series has promised a mixture of espionage, action and the glamorous world of London's political elite.

Credit: Black Doves, Series 2, Netflix

The first season became one of Netflix's standout British thrillers, thanks in no small part to the chemistry between Knightley and Whishaw. The second season looks set to turn everything up another notch, making this one of the autumn's biggest returning streaming dramas.

Carrie, Prime Video

Horror fans have plenty to look forward to this autumn, with Stephen King's Carrie receiving another adaptation - this time as an eight-part television series.

Mike Flanagan, whose previous work includes The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep and The Life of Chuck, is behind the new version. Summer Howell takes on the iconic role of Carrie White after reportedly auditioning as part of a huge search for the right actress. The story will once again follow the isolated teenager whose difficult life at home and bullying at school eventually culminate in one of horror's most famous prom nights.

Credit: Carrie, Prime Video

The series arrives on Prime Video on the 7th October.

War, Sky and NOW

Forget the predictable courtroom drama - War promises something much more glamorous and cut-throat.

Credit: War, Sky / Now TV

Created by George Kay, best known for Lupin, the new series stars Dominic West and Sienna Miller as a high-profile couple whose divorce becomes anything but private. The story revolves around two powerful legal firms going head-to-head, with the breakdown of the marriage becoming the centre of a much bigger battle.

It drops on Sky and NOW on the 2nd October.

East of Eden, Netflix

One of the biggest streaming dramas of the autumn could come from a novel that is more than 70 years old.

John Steinbeck's East of Eden is being reimagined for Netflix in a seven-part adaptation written by Zoe Kazan, with Florence Pugh taking on the central role of Cathy Ames. Pugh is joined by Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist, with Ciarán Hinds and Martha Plimpton also among the cast.

Credit: East of Eden, Netflix

Rather than simply retelling the novel in a conventional way, the adaptation explores the complicated lives of the Trask family against a changing America, with Cathy at the heart of the story.

Netflix has confirmed that all seven episodes will drop on the 1st October.

Pride and Prejudice, Netflix

There are some television adaptations that arrive with expectations already sky-high, and Netflix's new Pride and Prejudice is certainly one of them.

Credit: Pride and Prejudice, Netflix

Dolly Alderton has adapted Jane Austen's beloved novel for a six-part series, with Emma Corrin taking on the role of Elizabeth Bennet and Jack Lowden playing Mr Darcy. Olivia Colman and Rufus Sewell are playing Mr and Mrs Bennet.

The production has already attracted huge interest, partly because Austen adaptations have such a passionate following and partly because Alderton's involvement suggests this won't simply be a straightforward retelling.

Rivals Series 2 Part 2, Disney+

If autumn television needs one thing, it is escapism, and Rivals certainly delivers that.

Credit: Rivals, Series 2 Part 2, Disney+

The second part of season two of Disney+'s adaptaton of Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles is expected in November, continuing the outrageous world of sex, power, money and rivalry.

David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner and Bella Maclean are among the returning cast, with several new names joining the increasingly extravagant ensemble. After the success of the first series, there is every reason to expect the second season to remain one of the more talked-about dramas on television.

Kill Jackie, Prime Video

Catherine Zeta-Jones is stepping into the world of international assassins in what could be one of Prime Video's most entertaining autumn offerings.

In Kill Jackie, she plays Jackie Price, a glamorous art dealer with a hidden past who discovers that a group of elite assassins has been hired to kill her. Naturally, Jackie doesn't simply sit around waiting for them to arrive. Instead, she decides to turn the tables.

Credit: Kill Jackie, Prime Video

The series promises action, globetrotting locations and a leading character who is considerably more dangerous than she initially appears.

Prime Video has confirmed a release date of 2nd October.