The heatwave that baked Britain this summer feels like a distant memory now. As the autumn chill sets in and we reluctantly dig out our woolly jumpers from the back of wardrobes, there’s only one thing to do: embrace the season of cosying up on the sofa with a warm drink and letting the telly wash over us.
And what a season it promises to be. From celebrity reality competitions to weighty literary adaptations, from grisly crime dramas to comedy offerings that promise to split sides, the next three months are absolutely brimming with must-watch television. Whether you’re the kind of person who plans their evenings around show schedules or someone who simply likes having something decent on in the background while scrolling through your phone, there’s genuinely something for everyone.
Here’s a curated selection of what to add to your watchlist.
The Reality Shows Worth Your Evenings
Let’s start with the programmes that divide opinion but consistently pull in millions of viewers, because let’s face it, that’s most of us.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on 19 September with its most significant shake-up in years. Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe are all making their debuts as hosts, bringing fresh energy to the sequin-heavy spectacle. The celebrity lineup reads like a fun grab-bag of British culture: Gavin and Stacey stalwart Melanie Walters will be competing alongside dog-training supremo Graeme Hall and TikTok personality John Nellis. It’s this eclectic mix of contestants that keeps audiences coming back year after year.
Over on BBC One in October, The Celebrity Traitors makes its triumphant return. The first series broke viewership records for the Beeb, with millions tuning in to watch Jonathan Ross’s increasingly outlandish wardrobe choices and the inevitable backstabbing that defines the show. This year’s cast is arguably even more star-studded, with Bella Ramsay from The Last of Us and the perpetually charming Richard E Grant joining the scheming. James Acaster, Joe Lovett, and Miranda Hart bring the comedy credentials, so viewers should prepare themselves for a second helping of deliciously devious entertainment.
The dramas Demanding Your Attention
If reality television isn’t your cup of tea, fear not – the drama offerings this autumn are nothing short of exceptional.
John Steinbeck’s East of Eden arrives on Netflix on 1 October, and it’s arguably the most ambitious adaptation of the season. The 1955 film version by Elia Kazan tackled only the final quarter of the novel, such was its epic scope. This seven-episode version, written by Zoe Kazan (Kazan’s granddaughter and star of The Big Sick), aims to be more comprehensive. Florence Pugh takes on the role of the malevolent Cathy Ames, and given the calibre of her recent work, this promises to be a performance worth savouring. With support from Mike Faist and Christopher Abbott, East of Eden could well be Netflix’s strongest offering in some time.
Netflix is also behind a new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, arriving this autumn. Dolly Alderton has penned the script, which feels like a perfect match given Alderton’s reputation as an oracle of millennial experiences. Emma Corrin takes the lead as Elizabeth Bennet, fresh from her acclaimed portrayal of Princess Diana, while Jack Lowden (of Slow Horses fame) looks set to embody Mr Darcy. The trailer suggests we’ll be treated to birdsong and countryside strolls rather than any radical reinterpretation, which is probably for the best with a classic this beloved.
James Bond might be taking a sabbatical, but spy drama fans needn’t worry. Black Demos returns to Netflix this autumn with Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw back as the lethal best friends Helen and Sam. Both survived season one’s explosive finale, and they’re joined this time by Ambika Mod, who promises to bring her own acerbic energy to the proceedings. With Helen’s husband Wallace careering towards Downing Street and plenty of loose ends to tie up, things are set to get deliciously complicated.
Crime, Comedy, and Everything In Between
Apple TV’s Brothers reunites Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson for the first time since their acclaimed partnership in True Detective. But don’t expect any grisly murder investigations here – instead, the pair play fictionalised versions of themselves, discovering they might actually be biological siblings. It’s a curious premise that plays on long-standing (if spurious) fan theories about the actors’ own relationship. For Harrelson, it’s his first sitcom regular role since Cheers over three decades ago, making this an intriguing proposition for fans of either star.
Disney+ brings The Real Rooneys to our screens on 24 September, offering a glimpse into the lives of Coleen and Wayne Rooney and their four children. Building on the success of their “Wagatha Christie” documentary from a few years back, this reality series promises gently low-stakes entertainment: Wayne on the school run, Coleen designing a Primark range. It’s the kind of escapist fare that works perfectly for autumn evenings.
The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 in September for its 17th series, and this year brings a significant change: Nigella Lawson replaces Prue Leith as a judge. Alongside Paul Hollywood and the beloved presenting double act of Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, viewers can expect even more baking-related innuendos than usual. The show’s formula remains reassuringly familiar – signature bakes, technical challenges, and showstoppers – but Lawson’s addition should add a touch of her signature sultriness to the proceedings.
Lesser-Known Gems Worth Discovering
Beyond the obvious heavy hitters, there are several programmes that deserve attention from viewers willing to venture beyond the mainstream.
I Am Helen arrives on Channel 4 in November, created by Dominic Savage alongside star Nicola Coughlan. The film explores toxic masculinity through a female lens, which sounds potentially overdone given recent documentary output on the manosphere. However, Coughlan’s involvement suggests this will offer something fresher and more nuanced than the typical fare on this subject.
Time returns to BBC One this autumn, with David Tennant leading the cast as a custodial manager at a young offenders institution. Creator Jimmy McGovern has built a reputation for unflinching examinations of the British penal system, and if this third season matches the quality of its predecessors, viewers can expect a gripping but uncomfortable watch.
Disney+ brings VisionQuest on 14 October, which serves as a sequel of sorts to WandaVision and focuses solely on Paul Bettany’s android character Vision. The concept – Vision searching for meaning about his existence – sounds genuinely thought-provoking, while the involvement of James Spader reprising his role as Ultron should satisfy comic book enthusiasts.
Why it Matters
The autumn television season offers more than mere entertainment; it serves as a cultural barometer of where we are as a society. This year’s lineup reflects several important trends: the continued dominance of streaming platforms in commissioning ambitious literary adaptations, the evolution of reality television from guilty pleasure to legitimate genre, and the industry’s growing willingness to tackle difficult subjects like toxic masculinity and the prison system. For viewers, the sheer variety on offer represents something valuable: a return to the communal experience of television, where different households might be watching different shows but sharing reactions on social media and water-cooler conversations the next day. In an age of fragmented media consumption, autumn TV remains one of those rare shared experiences that can bring the nation together, even if only in our collective anticipation of what comes next.
