Family drama, literary adaptations and factual programming headline August slate for North American audiences
BritBox is strengthening its August programming lineup with the return of its original period drama The Hardacres for a second season, alongside the addition of the 2018 adaptation of Vanity Fair, as the streaming platform continues to expand its catalogue of British drama and entertainment for viewers across North America.
The new season of The Hardacres premieres on August 5, while Vanity Fair joins the service on August 19, offering subscribers two high-profile period dramas centred on ambition, family, romance and social change.
The Hardacres stars Claire Cooper (Coronation Street), Liam McMahon (The Bay) and Julie Graham (Shetland). The second season follows the Hardacre family as they settle into Hardacre Hall, where new ambitions and social expectations create fresh tensions and challenges.
Meanwhile, the seven-part adaptation of Vanity Fair features Olivia Cooke (House of the Dragon), Tom Bateman (Murder on the Orient Express), Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack) and Claudia Jessie (Bridgerton). Based on William Makepeace Thackeray’s classic novel, the series follows Becky Sharp’s determined rise through English society during the Napoleonic Wars.
Podcast season concludes with 20 celebrity interviews
BritBox also announced that all 20 episodes of On the Box: The BritBox Podcast are now available to stream, marking the conclusion of the show’s inaugural season.
Hosted by British broadcaster Edith Bowman and American presenter Michelle Collins, the podcast was created in partnership with BBC Studios Audio and features interviews with actors, producers and television creators behind many of Britain’s best-known productions.
The final episodes include conversations with actor David Morrissey, executive producer Jane Tranter, actress Brenda Blethyn, performer Indira Varma and actor Tom Ellis. Throughout the season, the podcast also featured guests including Hugh Bonneville, Ruth Jones, Sally Wainwright and other prominent figures from British television.
BBC Select adds same-day access to Antiques Roadshow
BBC Select will also expand its documentary and factual programming during August, led by the return of Antiques Roadshow.
The long-running series returns for its 49th season on August 20, giving viewers in North America access to new episodes on the same day they premiere in the United Kingdom for the first time.
The programme continues its tradition of uncovering valuable antiques, family heirlooms and historically significant objects while exploring the stories behind each discovery.
Original dramas continue through August
BritBox’s original programming continues throughout the month with ongoing releases including A Woman of Substance, whose season finale arrives on August 5.
The eight-part drama stars Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds as two generations of Emma Harte, tracing the journey of a Yorkshire housemaid who rises to become one of the world’s wealthiest businesswomen across the 20th century.
The streaming service also continues releasing episodes of Gone, a six-part mystery thriller that premiered on July 23. The series stars Emma Appleton as Sarah Polly, a music teacher whose unexplained disappearance prompts a police investigation led by Detective Annie Cassidy, played by Eve Myles, while suspicion falls on Sarah’s husband, portrayed by David Morrissey.
The season finale of Gone is scheduled for August 13.
Additional August programming
BritBox’s August schedule also includes a mix of entertainment, quiz shows, dramas and returning favourites.
Highlights include:
- Antiques Roadshow S46 arriving August 1.
- I Literally Just Told You S4, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown S14, and Pointless Celebrities UK S8, all debuting on August 10.
- Crime thriller Prey S1 launching August 13.
- The Good Ship Murder S3 premiering August 25 with weekly episodes.
September preview includes new Agatha Christie adaptation
Looking ahead, BritBox confirmed that Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence will premiere on September 15 as a BritBox Original and North American exclusive.
The contemporary adaptation stars Antonia Thomas and Josh Dylan as the iconic detective duo, reimagining the classic Christie characters for modern audiences while retaining the mystery, humour and romance that made the originals popular.
BBC Select expands documentary offering
BBC Select’s August lineup will also feature several new documentary premieres, including Europe on the Edge with Katya Adler, Ancient Treasures with Bettany Hughes, Mayhem! The Scandalous Lives of the Georgian Kings, A Tale of Two Britains, The Wonderful World of Blood, The Tech Billionaire Takeover, and Inside the Rage Machine.
The expanded schedule reflects BritBox and BBC Select’s continued investment in British scripted entertainment, factual programming and exclusive North American premieres as competition among streaming services for premium international content continues to grow.