Shows Coming to MASTERPIECE on PBS in 2023 and Beyond

Sanditon Season 3

Sanditon is a sleepy seaside village on its way to becoming a deluxe and fashionable resort on the English coast. Its transformation means beaches and balls, fortune hunters, romance, and yes, heartbreak. The story is inspired by Jane Austen’s final unfinished novel and the much-talked-about adaptation has ignited a deeply passionate fanbase. Alas, Sanditon’s third season will be its last and we must ardently hope our youthful heroine Charlotte finds everlasting happiness.

Airdate: Season 3 of Sanditon premieres Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 9/8c on PBS.

Cast & Characters: Audiences will be greeted by returning characters Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams), Georgiana Lambe (Crystal Clarke), Alexander Colbourne (Ben Lloyd-Hughes), Tom Parker (Kris Marshall), Mary Parker (Kate Ashfield), Lady Denham (Anne Reid), Edward Denham (Jack Fox), Arthur Parker (Turlough Convery), and other beloved residents of the seaside resort town.

Intriguing new characters include an estranged brother for Coulbourne played by Liam Garrigan, a dare-we-say love interest for Lady D in the shape of one Rowleigh Pryce (James Bolam), and the aristocratic but not altogether trustworthy Montrose family, whose matriarch (Emma Fielding) has the sole objective of marrying off her daughter Lydia (Alice Orr-Ewing) and son Harry (Edward Davis).

More About Season 3: Watch the final season’s trailer, scroll through some first look images, and read about Sanditon’s third season being its last.

Stream Past Seasons of Sanditon with PBS Passport

Tom Jones

MASTERPIECE brings audiences a modern reimagining of Henry Fielding’s 1749 classic, The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling. The story of the title character’s complicated journey to find true love, Tom Jones has both bewitched and astonished readers since it was first published. “Tom Jones is the mother of all romcoms,” says writer and Executive Producer Gwyneth Hughes (Vanity Fair, Miss Austen Regrets). “Fielding’s 18th century novel is sexy and fun; it’s also a dramatic rollercoaster, addressing modern concerns around consent, sexual equality and the pursuit of happiness.”

Airdate: The premiere of Tom Jones arrives Sunday, April 30, 2023 at 9/8c on PBS and there will be a total of four episodes. Prepare to fall in love!

Cast & Characters: Solly McLeod (House of the Dragon) stars as the handsome, resourceful Tom Jones, with Sophie Wilde (You Don’t Know Me) as the bright, beautiful, and seemingly unattainable love of his life, Sophia Western. Emmy®-winning actress Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) plays the seductive and vengeful Lady Bellaston, who comes between Tom and Sophia.

More About Tom Jones: Watch the new trailer and read the full airdate announcement.

Endeavour Season 9

The Oxford-set detective drama stars Shaun Evans as the young Endeavour Morse, a prequel to the original Inspector Morse series on MASTERPIECE Mystery! … and it’s a bit of a gem. Each episode delivers a truly satisfying mystery that is both enjoyable to follow and not terribly easy to puzzle out! The show also features a memorable partnership, which has evolved over the years: that of sensible DI Fred Thursday and the multi-layered Morse.

 After 10 phenomenally successful years on the telly, stars Shaun Evans and Roger Allum, along with screenwriter Russell Lewis, have decided to finish the Detective Sergeant’s narrative with Season 9.

Airdate: The broadcast date for Endeavour’s final season has yet to be announced.

Cast & Characters: Beloved central characters return for what promises to be a poignant farewell, including Shaun Evans as DS Morse, Roger Allum as the gruffly loveable DCI Fred Thursday, Anton Lesser as by-the-book CS Reginald Bright, Sean Rigby as the good and reliable DS Jim Strange, and Sara Vickers as Joan Thursday.

More About Season 9:  Get a feel for the tone of Season 9 as Shaun Evans as Morse reads A.E. Housman’s poem, “How Clear, How Lovely Bright, read the actor’s answers to fan questions (Part I and Part II), and check out the our guide to the Inspector Morse books by Colin Dexter.

Stream Past Seasons of Endeavour with PBS Passport

Grantchester Season 8

Grantchester provides the winning combination of a perceptive amateur detective (who happens to be village vicar), paired with a plodding policeman as his foil. Season 8’s storylines will be explosive—exploring faith, forgiveness, and redemption—and testing Will and Geordie to the limit.

Airdate:  No airdate news for the popular cozy mystery series yet.

Cast & Characters: All the show’s regulars will be back: Vicar Will Davenport (Tom Brittney), Detective Geordie Keating (Robson Green), Leonard Finch (Al Weaver), Mrs. Sylvia Chapman (Tessa Peake-Jones), Cathy Keating (Kacey Ainsworth), Daniel Marlow (Oliver Dimsdale), Jack Chapman (Nick Brimble), and Will’s new wife Bonnie (Charlotte Ritchie).

More About Season 8: Read more about Season 8 and take a look at our guide to the Grantchester books in order.

Stream Past Seasons of Grantchester with PBS Passport

Unforgotten Season 5

This award-winning police procedural about unearthing cold crimes and bringing truth to light has a much-anticipated return in 2023. Fans and critics alike believe the show does many things right. It builds layers of complication, but not too many. It leaves solid clues about the true culprit, but you’ll still be surprised. And it’s propelled by reserved and compassionate detectives who strike us as real heroes.

Airdate: Season 5’s airdate has not yet been announced. Ensure you get updates on Unforgotten Season 5 by subscribing to the free MASTERPIECE email newsletter.

Cast & Characters: Beyond actor Sanjeev Bhaskar’s return as Sunny Khan, no further casting updates have been divulged. The show’s writer/creator Chris Lang does however acknowledge that Season 5 “introduces a new partner in crime for [DI Sunny Khan], which is just lovely and refreshing. It’s a woman and she’s pretty different from Cassie [DCI Cassie Stuart], that’s kind of all I can say. She’s at a very different stage in her life. She’s younger. She’s his boss again.”

More About Season 5: Read our interview with the series’ writer and creator, Chris Lang.

Stream Past Seasons of Unforgotten with PBS Passport

Van Der Valk Season 3

Amsterdam is a city of bikes, boats, and bodies. At least that’s the way steely-eyed cop Piet Van der Valk sees his murder-infested beat. Marc Warren (Beecham House, The Good Wife) stars as the title character in Van der Valk, based on Nicolas Freeling’s legendary crime thrillers. Filmed on location, the series showcases all the sights, sounds, and cultural contrasts of this great city.

Airdate: No specific premiere date has been shared for Van der Valk Season 3.

Cast & Characters: Along with Marc Warren, we know Maimie McCoy reprises her role as Inspector Lucienne Hassell, and Darrell D’Silva returns as team pathologist Hendrik Davie as does Emma Fielding as Chief Commissaris Julia Dahlman. New cast members include Django Chan-Reeves as Sergeant Citra Li and Azan Ahmed as Sergeant Eddie Suleman.

More About Season 3: Learn some facts about Marc Warren, star of Season 3 and read about novelist Nicolas Freeling, the unconventional man behind the internationally bestselling book series.

Stream Past Seasons of Van Der Valk with PBS Passport

World on Fire Season 2

World on Fire is an adrenalized, emotionally gripping World War II drama that follows the intertwining fates of ordinary people across five countries as they grapple with the effects of war on their everyday lives. When the series returns, we’ll join our characters in October 1940, when lone pilots were sent to destroy German bombers as the Northern Blitz began. Audiences will be taken from the streets of Britain into occupied France, Nazi Germany, and to the sands of the North African desert.

Airdate:  No announcements yet about when World on Fire Season 2 will air.

Cast & Characters: The diverse cast includes Academy Award®-nominee Lesley Manville (Magpie Murders, Phantom Thread) as Robina, Jonah Hauer-King (Little Women, Howard’s End) as Harry, Julia Brown as Lois, Zofia Wichlacz as Kasia, and Blake Harrison as Stan, among others. Joining the cast for Season 2 are Mark Bonnar (Guilt, Line of Duty) as Sir James Danemere, Ahad Raza Mir (Resident Evil, Hum Tum) as Rajib, and Gregg Sulkin (Runaways, Pretty Smart) as David.

More About Season 2: Read more about the show’s return to MASTERPIECE.

Stream World on Fire Season 1 with PBS Passport

Annika Season 2

DI Annika Strandhed is the speedboat-driving head of Glasgow’s new Marine Homicide Unit and she’s played by award-winning actress Nicola Walker (Unforgotten). Annika (barely) juggles her intensive police work with single parenting a testy teenage daughter. The show is a contemporary police procedural with real wit as Walker portrays the title character with a droll and charming performance.

Airdate: As yet, there is no news about when the second season of Annika will arrive on PBS.

Cast & Characters: The show’s core cast remains: Jamie Sives (Guilt) as DS Michael McAndrews, Katie Leung (Roadkill, Harry Potter) as DC Blair Ferguson, and Ukweli Roach (Grantchester) as DS Tyrone Clarke. Silvie Furneaux (Red Rose) is back as Annika’s testy daughter Morgan as is Paul McGann (Luther, Doctor Who) playing Morgan’s former therapist and Annika’s love interest.

Season 2 also welcomes new faces including Sven Henriksen (Welcome to Uttmark, Valkyrien) as Annika’s father Magnus, and Varada Sethu (Andor, Strike Back) as Marine Homicide Unit newcomer DC Harper Weston.

More About Season 2: Check out some fun facts about star Nicola Walker and read more about the upcoming season.

Stream Annika Season 1 with PBS Passport

Moonflower Murders

Moonflower Murders is a new six-part drama based on the bestselling novel written by Anthony Horowitz. A sequel to the acclaimed 2022 MASTERPIECE adaptation of Horowitz’s Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders is the second novel in the author’s Susan Ryeland series and Horowitz will again pen the adaptation for TV.

Airdate: It’s enough to know this enticing sequel is coming and so, we’ll be patient about waiting for its arrival. Meantime, it seems there’s time to read the book!

Cast & Characters: Returning in the lead roles they originated in Magpie Murders are Academy Award®-nominee Lesley Manville (The Crown, Phantom Thread) as editor turned sleuth Susan Ryeland and Timothy McMullan (Patrick Melrose, The Crown) as famous literary detective Atticus Pünd.

More About Moonflower Murders & its prequel: Read the announcement of Moonflower Murders’ coming to MASTERPIECE.

Stream the prequel Magpie Murders with PBS Passport

Nolly

Nolly reveals the story of Noele “Nolly” Gordon, one of the most famous faces on British TV in the 1960s and 70s, whose unceremonious firing from her hit show at the height of her career was front-page news. A bold exploration of how the establishment turns on women who refuse to play by the rules, Nolly is an outrageously fun and wildly entertaining ride through Gordon’s most tumultuous years, and a sharp, affectionate, and heart-breaking portrait of a forgotten icon.

Airdate:  No airdate has been announced.

Cast & Characters: There’s thrilling news that award-winning actor Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown, Harry Potter) has signed on to star as soap opera legend Noele “Nolly” Gordon.