ITV has released some highlights of new and returning shows coming to ITV1, ITVX and other ITV channels from January to March 2025, including some old favourites and brand-new series. Here is a breakdown of the dramas, comedies, events and reality TV you can expect across the ITV network in early 2025.
Returning Drama
Grantchester Season 9 – ITV1
Grantchester bids farewell to Reverend Will Davenport (Tom Brittney) this series – as one door closes, another one opens and the village welcomes Rishi Nair (Hollyoaks, Count Abdulla) as charismatic vicar Alphy Kotteram.
1961 – life is good for Will and Geordie (Robson Green). The families are always together, from Sunday lunches to planning summer holidays – with honorary grandparents Mrs C and Jack and adopted uncles Daniel and Leonard, it’s one big happy family! However, when Will is approached with a life-changing offer, can he leave Grantchester and Geordie behind?
As Geordie struggles with personal loss and ever-growing family conflict between Cathy and teenage daughter Esme, he has no-one to turn to, but when he arrests an intruder breaking into the Vicarage, he may find that his days of working with a vicar are not over.
Unforgotten, Season 6 – ITV1
The hugely successful and critically acclaimed drama – created and written by multi-award-winning screenwriter Chris Lang – returns and invites viewers once again into the emotional depth and complexity of cold case investigations.
The sixth series sees the return of Sine?ad Keenan and Sanjeev Bhaskar as DCI Jess James and DI Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan, bringing back their compelling on-screen partnership as they delve into unresolved crimes and promising another powerful exploration of hidden truths and long-buried secrets.
The series begins when suspected human remains are uncovered on Whitney Marsh – Jess and Sunny are immediately called to the scene, abandoning their evening plans to Jess’s husband’s chagrin. Dr Balcombe’s analysis reveals that the remains are relatively recent and suggest a grim conclusion: the body was placed there already dismembered. With this insight, Jess and Sunny intensify their search certain that other body parts may not be far away.
Jess and Sunny’s loyal police team also reassemble featuring Jordan Long as DS Murray Boulting, Carolina Main as DC Fran Lingley, and Pippa Nixon as DC Kaz Willets – Georgia Mackenzie also returns as Pathologist Dr Leanne Balcombe.
Karen Pirie, Season 2 – ITV1
The drama is written by Emer Kenny (Save Me Too) and adapted from Val McDermid’s novel A Darker Domain will see the return of Lauren Lyle (Outlander, Vigil) to her BAFTA-winning role as fearless young investigator Karen Pirie.
In the societal turmoil of 1984, Catriona Grant is the heiress to an oil fortune when she is kidnapped at gunpoint with her young son Adam – it’s assumed that the motivation is political as the huge investigation creates an uncontrollable press storm… but when the culprits unexpectedly fall silent, the case runs cold and Catriona and Adam are never seen again.
Karen’s team comprises of DC Jason ‘Mint’ Murray played by Chris Jenks (Sex Education, Vigil), DS Phil Parhatka played by Zach Wyatt (Timestalker, The Witcher: Blood Origin), DCS Lees played by Steve John Shepherd (Harry Potter), Professor River Wilde played by Emer Kenny (The Curse), and journalist Bel Richmond played by Rakhee Thakrar (Wonka). They will be joined by newcomer DC Isla Stark, who will be played by Saskia Ashdown (Six Four).
The Bay, Season 5 – ITV1
When 23-year-old university student Hannah is found dead on the edge of the docks, Morecambe’s MIU team has another case to solve – Jenn, who is returning to work following the death of her father, pushes aside her own grief to support Hannah’s bitterly divided family.
Set in Morecambe, Marsha Thomason remains as Morecambe’s MIU Family Liaison Officer DS Jenn Townsend alongside cast regulars Daniel Ryan, Erin Shanagher and Andrew Dowbiggin. Olwen May (Happy Valley, Trying) joins the team, Barry Sloane returns as Chris Fischer, Georgia Scholes plays Chris’s daughter Erin, and David Carpenter and Emme Hayes return as Conor and Maddie, Jenn’s children – Suzanne Packer (Casualty, Keeping Faith) joins as Jenn’s mum Anne Townsend.
Belgravia The Next Chapter – ITVX
This series picks up in 1871, 30 years after the events depicted in the series Belgravia which was written by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey).
Developed and written by Helen Edmundson (Dalgliesh, Mary Magdalene), it will tell the love story of Frederick Trenchard – who has grown up as the third Lord Glanville – and his new love interest Clara Dunn who is a newcomer to London society.
Unaware that his birth was the product of an affair between his mother Susan and the scoundrel John Bellasis, a troubled childhood has left Frederick deeply insecure and challenged his courtship of – and marriage to – Clara.
New Drama
Protection – ITV1
As much of a conspiracy thriller as it is a police drama, this is the story of a compromised but ultimately honest police officer who is out of her depth yet acutely driven to understand the truth of her lover and how far a case of corruption goes.
Police officer DI Liz Nyles (Siobhan Finneran, Happy Valley, Downton Abbey, Time) works in the secretive and high-stakes world of Witness Protection – when we meet her, she’s juggling a challenging front-line job (with life-and-death consequences for her witnesses) alongside a demanding family life attending to the needs of a teenage daughter, a difficult ex, and a dad recovering from a stroke.
Liz is principled, in control, and scrupulous about the security of her witnesses, particularly the high-risk criminal-turned-informant Jimmy McLennan (Kris Hitchen, The Long Shadow, Four Lives, Trigger Point) and his family. Jimmy is about to testify against his old boss Eddie Crowther (Alec Newman, Karen Pirie, The Last Kingdom), the head of a major organised crime group which has so far evaded prosecution. As with all those under her protection, Liz goes above and beyond to keep Jimmy’s family safe, working with colleague DS Raj Kohli (Chaneil Kular, Sex Education, Bodies) to keep their whereabouts strictly hidden.
Both at work and at home, Liz has always put others first driven by a great sense of duty as a police officer, mother, and as a daughter – however, recently she has decided to take something for herself and has launched thrillingly – and unwisely – into a secret affair with a married and more junior colleague in DS Paul Brandice (Barry Ward, Bad Sisters, The Capture).
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story – ITV1
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story – starring Lucy Boynton in the leading role – depicts the untold story of Ruth Ellis, the nightclub manageress and convicted murderer who was the last woman to hang in the UK.
Produced by Silverprint Pictures, the four-part drama also stars Toby Jones (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Empire of Light) as Ruth Ellis’s solicitor John Bickford, who gradually realises the extent of Ruth’s abuse at the hands of David Blakely and who takes on the fight to make the case for provocation.
Laurie Davidson (Mary and George, Guilty Party) takes on the role of Ruth’s abusive lover and victim David Blakely, and Mark Stanley (Happy Valley, Dark River) plays Desmond Cussen, Ruth’s devoted admirer and sometime lover who is a regular at the Little Club and becomes caught up in Ruth’s toxic love triangle alongside Blakely.
Out There – ITV1
County lines drug-dealing and an escalating and insidious crime wave sweeping the British countryside are the subject of this drama starring Martin Clunes as a farmer confronted with dark forces seeping into his rural community.
The drama will depict the stealthy and surreptitious invasion of the land our farmer cherishes with devastating consequences as his livelihood, homestead and family life are threatened by local county lines drugs dealers who are essentially urban gangs using the British countryside as a field of operations and moving drugs and money between their inner-city hubs and provincial areas.
Written by screenwriter Ed Whitmore (Steeltown Murders, Grace, Manhunt, Silent Witness, Safe House) and director Marc Evans (Steeltown Murders, Manhunt, The Pembrokeshire Murders, Grav), and produced by Buffalo Pictures (Manhunt, Doc Martin, Arthur & George), the series is set in the beautiful Welsh countryside.
Playing Nice – ITV1
A psychological thriller adapted by Malpractice writer Grace Ofori-Attah from the best-selling novel by British thriller author JP Delaney, with Kate Hewitt (One Day) directing all episodes.
Set against a sweeping Cornish landscape, two couples discover that their toddlers were switched at birth in a hospital mix-up and face a horrifying dilemma: do they keep the sons they have raised and loved or reclaim their biological child?
Living a waking nightmare, Pete (James Norton) and Maddie (Niamh Algar) are jettisoned into the world of the other couple Miles (James McArdle) and Lucy (Jessica Brown Findlay). At first it seems all four are agreed on a solution, but it soon becomes clear that hidden motives are at play – how far can each couple trust the real parents of their child or even each other? As Pete and Maddie are stretched to breaking point, they realise that they will stop at nothing to keep their family together.
Comedy
The Dry, Season 2 – ITV1
Award-winning playwright and BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Nancy Harris (Dates) – and acclaimed director Paddy Breathnach (Viva, Rosie) – return to helm the second series of this acclaimed comedy-drama starring Roisin Gallagher.
Roisin returns as recovering alcoholic Shiv Sheridan, alongside regular cast members from the first series, as the storyline picks up seven months on and we now meet the Sheridans in their new normal – to all outward appearances it seems like the family is relatively content as Shiv’s been sober, celibate and solvent for six months, Ant has hung onto his job at the estate agent and his relationship with Max, and Caroline’s making up for a lost time by having sex with everyone she meets on Tinder.
So far, so normal… or is it? After all, how normal is it for three grown adults to still be living at home with their parents, and are the Sheridans really happy with this new status quo, or have they just rearranged their dysfunction and found another groove of denial to fit into?
G’Wed, Season 2 – ITVX
The second series of the programme will continue to tackle life’s big themes with a funny lens whilst keeping Liverpool’s distinctive voice and spirit at its heart.
Expect more sharp wit as our Scouse gang navigate new challenges, from age gap relationships and consent to acceptable ways to make money while still in school.
Extraordinary, Season 2 – ITVX
Written by series creator Emma Moran and directed by Toby MacDonald and Jennifer Sheridan, this is a fresh and innovative comedy about being young and finding your feet in a confusing world when all you’ll ever be is ‘ordinary’. The season first aired on Disney+ in the UK.
The second season picks up where the first spectacularly left off, following Jen (Máiréad Tyers) on her ‘powers’ journey as she enrols as a client at the power clinic – Jen soon discovers that the process of finding her power isn’t as easy as she hoped, and things in the rest of her life aren’t smooth sailing either.
Ex-cat-now-boyfriend Jizzlord (Luke Rollason) has had an unexpected revelation about his past, and Kash (Bilal Hasna) and Carrie (Sofia Oxenham) are attempting to be totally mature and dignified about their break-up which is not easy when they’re still living under the same roof. It seems that Jen and the gang are dealing with new levels of adulting and chaos that none of them are prepared for.
Reality TV
The Family Stallone – ITVX
After playing some of the most legendary characters in cinematic history, three-time Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone is ready to give cameras access to what he would consider the greatest role of his lifetime: dad.
This new series starring Stallone’s three daughters, wife and himself offers a seat at the table of one of Hollywood’s most famous families.
The Only Way Is Essex – ITVBe
The Only Way Is Essex returns to ITVX and ITVBe celebrating 15 years of high drama, rocky relationships, and outlandish fashion.
Hot on the heels of its most recent series, which saw 8.5 million viewers stream the fall out of Harry and Joe’s break-up and the subsequent repercussions of Joe and Junaid’s blossoming relationship, where will Essex’s most colourful characters be as they prepare for an action-packed 2025?
The Real Housewives of Cheshire – ITVBe
The Real Housewives of Cheshire celebrates a decade on screens as the most glamorous set in the Golden Triangle return.
The new series will pay tribute to a fabulous ten years with surprise appearances from a number of familiar faces as the Housewives embark on another round of friendships, fashions, and inevitable fall-outs…
Britain’s Got Talent, Season 18 – ITV1
The nation’s most beloved talent show returns for its 18th season this winter on ITV1, STV and ITVX. 2025 will see the entertainment juggernaut extend its run to become an ITV Saturday night staple running throughout spring.
Ant & Dec will once again lead the nation through a series of auditions featuring a wonderful array of talent, who’ll be performing to secure a spot in the live semi-finals by impressing the four inimitable judges – Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli. Brand new to Season 18 is social media sensation KSI, whose wide-ranging talents make him the perfect choice to spot emerging talent as he temporarily steps in as guest judge.
Love Island All Stars – ITV1
Love Island All Stars makes its much-anticipated return to ITV2 and ITVX this January as a new group of returning favourites head back to the legendary Villa for a second chance at love.
Hosted by Maya Jama and back in scorching South Africa, group chats will go wild as iconic Islanders from across the last 10 years make an epic return to find love – comedian Iain Stirling voices as Islanders get their graft on in the UK’s biggest dating show.
New bombshells will unexpectedly enter the frame, unlucky singletons will be dramatically dumped and, ultimately, one loved-up couple will be voted by fans to win the 50,000-pound prize. You won’t want to miss it.
The Masked Singer – ITV1
The BAFTA-winning show is back, but this time with a new panel as broadcaster and entrepreneur Maya Jama will be joining the highly-anticipated series which returns to ITV1 and ITVX in 2025. Following another successful stint hosting the ultimate love game – the award-winning Love Island – Maya is now set to play the ultimate guessing game alongside Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan who all resume their celebrity detective roles.
The affable Joel Dommett returns as host as the hit BAFTA-winning show that continues to grip the nation returns for its sixth series. Since bursting onto TV screens in 2020, The Masked Singer UK has reached a staggering 37 million viewers who have tuned in to guess who is hiding behind the mask.
Dancing on Ice – ITV1
The celebrity ice-skating competition created and produced by Lifted Entertainment returns to ITV1 and ITVX in 2025 with a new cast. Twelve celebrities prepare to embark on the ultimate challenge, as they take to the ice each week and skate live in a bid to impress both the ice panel and viewers at home.
Confirmed cast this year include TV personality Ferne McCann, The Traitors star Mollie Pearce, Olympic rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave, Coronation Street star Sam Aston, actress Charlie Brooks, reality star and presenter Chris Taylor, comedian Josh Jones, footballer and pundit Anton Ferdinand, actress Chelsee Healey, TOWIE star Dan Edgar, television presenter Michaela Strachan, and Paralympic grand champion Dame Sarah Storey.
Events, Sport & Entertainment
If all that wasn’t enough, ITV also has a stack of new and returning shows, special events and sports coming in the new year too!
On the events side, The BRIT Awards 2025 will be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX on Saturday the 1st of March 2025, and The 97th Oscars will stream live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood across ITV1 and ITVX in the early hours of Sunday the 2nd of March 2025.
In sport, the Emirates FA Cup returns to ITV and ITVX for the Third Round in early January, and the 2025 Six Nations Rugby kicks off on Friday the 31st of January in Paris, with France v Wales as the opening game. They will also be airing Super Bowl LIX live on ITV1 and ITVX on 9th February 2025.
On the entertainment front, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is back with a series of brand-new celebrity specials for the New Year, including actor and national treasure Stephen Fry, Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke, and Olympic cyclist Dame Laura Kenny. The Jonathan Ross Show returns with more of the biggest names from around the globe, and DNA Journey with Ancestry is back with more celebrity duos delving into their families’ histories, including Jo Brand and Julian Clary, Fay Ripley and Hermione Norris and Sam Thompson and Marvin Humes. There is also a string of game shows retuning including Season 4 of Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win, along with new seasons of The 1% Club and 99 To Beat.
Additionally, if you’re looking to catch up on some older US boxsets, ITVX has picked up all 7 Seasons of our beloved Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and all 6 Season of the much-loved US family drama, Party of Five.
Most of these shows won’t have exact UK premiere dates until 2 weeks before broadcast, but they are all set to air between January and March 2025 across the ITV channels and ITVX. Make sure you check out the UK TV Premiere Dates page for the latest updates. If you want to keep track of these or any other show, you can also add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
