ITV has unveiled its programming highlights for August through December 2026, with a particularly strong batch of scripted series heading to ITV1 and ITVX alongside a sizeable collection of new acquisitions.
On the homegrown drama front, there are several new thrillers alongside returning crime dramas and comedy favourites. ITVX is also adding a mixture of new imports, cult series, returning catalogue titles and some very familiar sci-fi and fantasy worlds.
And, because this is ITV, there are also celebrities heading into jungles, boxes and reality houses further down the schedule. Here are the highlights.
Scripted Drama & Comedy
‘The Blame‘
One of ITV’s big new dramas is ‘The Blame’, a six-part crime thriller centred around DI Emma Crane and DI Tom Radley as they investigate a murder in the fictional town of Wakestead.
Michelle Keegan (Fool Me Once, Brassic) leads as Emma, with Douglas Booth (The Sandman, The Dirt) as Tom and Ian Hart (Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, The Last Kingdom) as DCI Kenneth Walker. What begins with an apparently obvious suspect develops into a web of lies, institutional cover-ups and moral compromise, forcing Emma to question the people closest to her.
Based on Charlotte Langley’s debut novel, ‘The Blame’ comes from Quay Street Productions and promises a mixture of murder mystery, social commentary and a love story, with plenty of uncomfortable questions about policing and trust thrown in for good measure.
‘Trigger Point‘
‘Trigger Point’ returns for a fourth series, with Vicky McClure back as bomb disposal officer Lana Washington.
The HTM Television drama once again follows a team of bomb disposal officers, known as EXPOs, as they deal with explosive devices and terrorist threats across London. The new run is written by Chris Brandon (Bloodlands), with Jennie Darnell (Payback, Line of Duty) and Nirpal Bhogal (DI Ray, Grace) directing.
‘The Party‘
Based on the novel by Elizabeth Day, five-part drama ‘The Party’ stars Luke Evans (Nine Perfect Strangers, The Pembrokeshire Murders) as Martin Gilmour, a journalist whose life has been shaped by his long friendship with wealthy, charismatic politician Ben Fitzmaurice, played by Tom Cullen (The Gold, House of the Dragon).
The series explores identity, privilege and devotion, with Sarah Solemani (Chivalry, Ridley Road) writing and creating the adaptation as well as starring as Martin’s pregnant wife Lucy. The cast also includes Lydia Leonard (Ten Percent, Gentleman Jack), Lindsay Duncan (The Morning Show, His Dark Materials) and Douglas Hodge (The Night Manager, The Great).
Filmed in Wales, ‘The Party’ comes from World Productions in association with Stoic Productions and ITV Studios.
‘Winter‘
Richard Armitage (Missing You, Red Eye) and Annabel Scholey (The Sixth Commandment, Rivals) lead new six-part forensic drama ‘Winter’.
Set in Bristol, Dr Ethan Winter is a gifted but unconventional forensic pathologist whose analytical skills make him invaluable to murder investigations. His habit of bending the rules brings him into partnership with the meticulous DI Lauren Bell, with each episode featuring a self-contained case.
Running beneath those individual mysteries is a larger story involving the unsolved murder of someone close to Winter and his own unofficial investigation into the case, a pursuit which threatens to consume him.
‘Adultery‘
Danny Brocklehurst’s new six-part drama ‘Adultery’ is led by Dominic Cooper and Romola Garai (The Years), following two ordinary families whose lives are thrown into turmoil by an intense affair between Tom Kirkman and Beth Brookes.
The story explores class, grief, parenthood and the effects of social media as Tom and Beth struggle to control their relationship while their teenage children are caught up in a romance of their own. Shelley Conn (Gen V, Bridgerton), Matthew McNulty (Domina, Deadwater Fell), Andrew Knott (Gavin & Stacey, Protection), James Murray (The Crown, Masters of the Air) and Charley Webb (The Long Shadow, Better) also star.
‘Professor T‘
‘Professor T’ is back for Series 4, picking up six months after the devastating events of the previous finale.
Dan has buried himself in work while DCI Goswami struggles to keep the team together, and Professor Jasper Tempest has developed the rather inconvenient new hobby of avoiding the police altogether. Dr Helena Goldberg tries to intervene, while the arrival of eager new recruit DC Chloe Highsmith and the return of Jasper’s aunt Zelda add more complications to the mix.
As ever, ‘Professor T’ combines the ongoing character drama with a new selection of complex cases for the Cambridge team to solve.
‘Changing Ends‘
Alan Carr’s semi-autobiographical comedy ‘Changing Ends’ returns for a fourth series, moving the story into 1990 as 15-year-old Alan becomes more confident, more independent and increasingly recognisable as the person he will eventually become.
The new episodes see Alan overhaul his image, get a job and find somewhere he can finally feel free, while best friend Kay remains alongside him as his journey of self-discovery takes another step forward.
New & Returning ITVX Acquisitions
ITV has also lined up a substantial collection of acquired shows for ITVX, ranging from brand-new imports to returning catalogue favourites.
‘Sunny Nights’
Australian comedy-drama ‘Sunny Nights’ stars Will Forte (The Four Seasons, Last Man on Earth, Bodkin) as strait-laced American Martin Marvin and D’Arcy Carden (Nobody Wants This, The Good Place, Barry) as his loose-cannon sister Vicki.
The pair head to Sydney to launch a spray tan business from the back of a van, only for their entrepreneurial plans to become entangled with the city’s criminal underworld. As a gangster closes in, the siblings have to work out how to stay alive, stay out of prison and somehow keep the business in the black.
‘Look Into My Eyes’
Limited documentary series ‘Look Into My Eyes’ examines the story of Florida high school principal Dr George Kenney, whose reputation unravelled after it emerged that he had been practising hypnosis on students.
Following the deaths of three students in separate incidents in 2011, the series explores the scrutiny which followed, the questions around Kenney’s influence and the lasting impact on the community through interviews with families, eyewitnesses and experts.
‘One Dollar’
Drama ‘One Dollar’ is set in the struggling rust belt town of Braden, Pennsylvania, where a multiple murder at a steel mill sends shockwaves through the community.
The series follows a single dollar bill as it changes hands, linking different characters while the town’s secrets and unexpected connections to the crime are gradually exposed.
‘Universal Basic Guys‘
Animated comedy ‘Universal Basic Guys’ returns with Season 2. The series centres on brothers Mark and Hank Hoagies, who lose their jobs to automation and receive $3,000 a month through a basic income programme, leaving them with plenty of free time and not much idea what to do with it.
‘The Rainmaker‘
John Grisham adaptation ‘The Rainmaker’ follows newly qualified lawyer Rudy Baylor as he goes up against formidable courtroom veteran Leo Drummond.
Working with his boss Bruiser and paralegal Deck, Rudy uncovers two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of a client’s son, turning his first steps into the legal profession into something considerably more dangerous.
‘Kevin Can F**k Himself‘
Genre-bending dark comedy ‘Kevin Can F**k Himself’ follows Allison McRoberts, the apparently familiar sitcom wife whose life looks very different once she steps outside her husband’s multi-camera comedy world.
Blending brightly lit sitcom conventions with single-camera realism, the series gradually turns the joke inside out as Allison begins to revolt against the life she has been expected to accept.
‘Poldark‘
All five seasons of ‘Poldark’ are heading to ITVX from September, bringing the full story of Ross Poldark, Demelza and the mines, romances, rivalries and windswept Cornish cliffs that came with them.
‘Blue Murder Motel’
New Zealand crime drama ‘Blue Murder Motel’ arrives on ITV3 and ITVX in October. Married Australian detectives Vinny and Cole have left policing behind to run a 13-room motel in the beachside town of Mōwai Bay, only for a body to turn up in Unit 3 within weeks of their arrival.
That rather puts a dent in the retirement plan, and the couple soon find themselves helping inexperienced local constable Jamie investigate the case and a fresh murder each week.
‘Small Achievable Goals’
The new season of comedy ‘Small Achievable Goals’ continues the story of Julie and Kris as they navigate menopause, friendship and the assorted indignities life keeps throwing at them, relying increasingly on a bond neither of them particularly expected to need.
‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘
ITVX is also adding ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’, the Star Trek series centred on Captain Christopher Pike’s years commanding the USS Enterprise before James T. Kirk takes the chair.
The show follows Pike, Spock, Number One and the Enterprise crew as they explore new worlds across the Federation’s earlier years.
‘Blandings’
Period comedy ‘Blandings’ heads to ITVX, set in 1929 at the fictional Blandings Castle. Lord Emsworth would really rather be left alone with his beloved prize pig, The Empress, but his dysfunctional family, visitors, servants and various hangers-on have other ideas.
‘Scandal‘
Political drama ‘Scandal’ joins the service, bringing Olivia Pope, her team and seven seasons of White House intrigue, blackmail, murder, romance and increasingly questionable life choices to ITVX.
‘Parish’
Crime drama ‘Parish’ follows New Orleans luxury car service owner Gray Parish, whose life is shattered by the murder of his son and collapse of his business. When an old contact from his former life as a wheelman reappears, Gray is pulled back into a dangerous criminal world.
‘Emerald City‘
Fantasy drama ‘Emerald City’ offers a darker reworking of the world of Oz, following 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and her police dog as a tornado transports them into a land of competing kingdoms, warriors, magic and a bloody struggle for power.
‘Once Upon a Time‘
All seven seasons of ‘Once Upon a Time’ are also coming to ITVX. The fantasy series follows the residents of Storybrooke, Maine, who are actually fairytale characters transported to the real world and stripped of their memories by the Evil Queen.
Entertainment, Reality & Factual Highlights
Away from scripted television, ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ returns to ITV1 and ITVX this autumn, with Ant & Dec back in Australia and ‘I’m A Celebrity… Unpacked’ returning on ITV2 and ITVX. ‘The Voice UK’ is also back, adding Kelly Rowland to the coaching line-up alongside will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones, Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones.
Over on ITV2, ‘Big Brother’ returns for an extended eight-week fourth series with AJ Odudu and Will Best, while ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ reaches Series 38 with the cast heading to Albania. TOWIE also expands with three-part special ‘Amy & Billy: A TOWIE Wedding’ and two-part ‘Jordan & Sophie: A TOWIE Baby’.
New entertainment format ‘The Box’ sees Gary Lineker hosting ten celebrities who are transported inside yellow boxes to secret locations and given physical, mental and comedic challenges with minimal guidance. Meanwhile, ‘Win Win with Postcode Lottery’ returns with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, and panel show ‘Sorry, I Didn’t Know’ reaches its seventh series ten years after making its TV debut.
ITV2 also has another run of ‘Olivia Attwood: The Price of Perfection’, with Attwood exploring cosmetic enhancement in South Korea and Turkey alongside subjects including weight-loss injections, facelifts and the financial and emotional cost of cosmetic procedures.
On the factual side, ’70 Up’ brings ITV’s landmark documentary project to a close as the participants first filmed for ‘7 Up’ in 1964 reach their seventies. Asif Kapadia takes over directing duties for the final two-part instalment following the death of long-time director Michael Apted.
There is also two-part ‘Freddie Flintoff: Understanding Tourette’s’ (w/t), inspired by the film I Swear, while ‘The Martin Lewis Money Show Live’ returns with a September special before its full run resumes in October. ‘The Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards’ and ‘The National Television Awards 2026’ are also back during the autumn.
ITV Sport will continue showing selected Carabao Cup and English Football League matches during the 2026/27 season alongside extended EFL highlights on ITV4 and ITVX, while the Nations Championship rugby returns in November with the cross-hemisphere tournament available free-to-air on ITV and STV.
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