2025 is approaching, meaning the new PBS season is almost here, with returning period dramas, new exciting premieres, and more to look forward to! From the epic return of Wolf Hall to the comforting new seasons of All Creatures Great and Small, Miss Scarlet, and Call the Midwife. And perhaps most thrilling, the upcoming adaptation of Miss Austen!
You also won’t want to miss all the fabulous series and specials available this December – including the emotional and uplifting Christmas Special Joy: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir – featuring Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey) and Michael Maliakel (Aladdin on Broadway).
So, let’s get right to it. Mark your calendars and tell us what shows you’ll watch on PBS this next year. For your convenience, I list the new and upcoming dramas in airdate order so you’ll know when to tune in!
Note: I focused on the premiere dates for drama and other relevant TV shows and specials.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Editorial Note: We at The Silver Petticoat Review will regularly update this list of PBS shows in 2025 with new titles and premiere information throughout the year.
The list includes PBS series and specials that have recently become available or are premiering in December 2024 and throughout 2025. PBS Masterpiece shows are available on PBS, the PBS app, and PBS Passport. Dates and availability are subject to change at any time. This post was originally published on December 5, 2024.
WHAT TO WATCH ON PBS IN DECEMBER 2024
CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIALS (Seasons 10-13)
Encore Streaming Premiere: Monday, November 25 with PBS Passport
Official Synopsis: “CALL THE MIDWIFE follows the nurses, midwives and nuns from Nonnatus House, who visit the expectant mothers of Poplar, providing the poorest women with the best possible care.”
Why You Should Tune In: Before the new Call the Midwife Holiday Special premieres on Christmas Day, now is the perfect time to re-watch these past heartwarming specials.
Content Note: Episodes range between TV-PG and TV-14 for intense birth scenes.
ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL ON MASTERPIECE (Seasons 1-4)
Encore Streaming Premiere: Thursday, November 28 on PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “Catch-up on all four seasons before the season 5 premiere on January 12, 2025. James Herriot’s adventures as a veterinarian in 1930’s Yorkshire get a glorious new adaptation in a series based on his internationally celebrated books. Nicholas Ralph makes his television debut as the iconic vet who became renowned for his inspiring humor, compassion and love of life.”
Why You Should Tune In: Now is the perfect time if you’ve yet to watch All Creatures Great and Small. It’s cozy, romantic, emotional, and heartwarming to watch.
Content Note: TV-PG
LUCY WORSLEY’S HOLMES VS DOYLE
Premiere Date: Sunday, Dec. 8, 8 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “Sherlock Holmes is the most famous detective in the world. For more than a century, he’s intrigued and excited his fans with his intellect and powers of deduction. He made his author, Arthur Conan Doyle, rich and famous. But the writer came to hate his fictional character. In this series, historian and lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan, Lucy Worsley investigates this curious relationship between Holmes and Doyle – detective and author.”
Why You Should Tune In: Lucy Worsley always puts an entertaining spin on history.
VIOLENT FEMMES 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Premiere Date: Friday, Dec. 13, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of their self-titled debut album, the folk punk group Violent Femmes invited the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra to be their “back-up band” in this electrifying concert which mixes classical and rock. Violent Femmes formed in 1981 playing on the streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Their first album “Violent Femmes” amplified teenage angst and alienation with such songs as “Kiss Off,” “Add It Up,” and “Gone Daddy Gone” written by lead vocalist and guitarist Gordon Gano before he’d even gotten his driver’s license. Today, that debut release stands as a pillar of an American underground movement, and this concert pays homage to the band’s lasting influence.”
Why You Should Tune In: Watch if you love the music group or appreciate music history.
AMERICAN MASTERS “Brenda Lee: Rockin’ Around”
Currently Streaming on PBS.org & PBS app
Premiere Date: Monday, Dec. 16, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “Discover the story behind singer Brenda Lee’s iconic songs and explore how her early fame and life of poverty shaped her artistry across pop, rock ‘n’ roll and country. Known for her Christmas classic and Billboard hit “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” she is still a force in music today. The film features interviews with Keith Urban, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo and many others.”
Why You Should Tune In: Christmastime is the ideal time to explore Brenda Lee’s life and music.
JOY – CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR
Streaming Premiere: Wednesday, November 27 on PBS.org & PBS app
Premiere Date: Tuesday, December 17, 8:00 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app. It’s also free to watch on BYUtv and the BYUtv app.
Official Synopsis: “The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square join with Broadway’s Michael Maliakel and Downton Abby’s Lesley Nicol for JOY – CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR, a spirited, heartwarming Christmas special. Filmed before a live audience at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, JOY will lift your spirits with stirring renditions of classic and popular Christmas music and a true story about French novelist, poet and dramatist, Victor Hugo at Christmastime.”
Why You Should Tune In: The latest Christmas special from the Tabernacle Choir is incredible! Plus, Downton Abbey fans will love seeing Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore from Downton Abbey) tell the true Christmas story of Victor Hugo and his wife helping the orphans.
And Michael Maliakel sings a gorgeous arrangement of“God Help the Outcasts” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame that will give you chills. The two hosts, combined with the talents of the Choir and Orchestra, bring a Christmas special that will stay with you long after it’s over, reminding viewers of the true meaning of Christmas.
Content Note: It’s G-like and family-friendly.
TOO HOT TO HANDEL: THE GOSPEL MESSIAH
Premiere Date: Tuesday, December 17, 9:30 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “Handel’s 18th-century masterpiece “The Messiah” is reimagined by Conductor Marin Alsop and colleagues Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson. Handel’s arias, choruses, and orchestration are infused with gospel, jazz, and R&B, creating an uplifting reinterpretation of this seasonal favourite.
TOO HOT TO HANDEL: THE GOSPEL MESSIAH has been seen regularly across the United States since its premiere in New York in 1993. This performance in front of nearly 5,000 people at London’s Royal Albert Hall marks its European premiere. Presented by choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone, the program sees The BBC Concert Orchestra joined by The BBC Symphony Chorus and The London Adventist Chorale, along with soloists Vanessa Haynes and Zwakele Tshabalala.”
Why You Should Tune In: The new reimagining of the classic masterpiece sounds terrific!
CALL THE MIDWIFE 2024 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Premiere Date: December 25, 2024, on PBS at 8 pm ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: It’s Christmas 1969, and the funfair and carol concert add color to frosty Poplar. Yet, the festive spirit at Nonnatus House is dampened by the spread of influenza alongside growing fears of an escaped prisoner after a spate of break-ins.
Why You Should Tune In: Call the Midwife Christmas specials are always fantastic. And this year, we get TWO episodes!
Content Note: Between TV-PG and TV-14.
NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER “Sara Bareilles: New Year’s Eve with the National Symphony Orchestra & Friends”
Premiere Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “Acclaimed singer, songwriter and actress Sara Bareilles takes the stage at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra for an enchanting evening of song and celebration in this New Year’s Eve special.
From her first smash hit “Love Song” to her Broadway songwriting and later performing debut with the musical “Waitress,” Bareilles’ amazing artistry has been recognized with multiple Grammy and Tony awards and nominations. She will be joined by special guests Rufus Wainwright, Emily King, and David Ryan Harris for this career-spanning night.”
Why You Should Tune In: Music is a great way to ring in the New Year!
IN CASE YOU MISSED THEM – OTHER 2024 DRAMAS
In case you missed these recent returning shows and premieres, make sure to watch on the PBS app:
- Nolly
- Alice & Jack
- Mr Bates vs The Post Office
- Guilt, Season 3
- MaryLand
- Professor T, Season 3
- Grantchester On Masterpiece, Season 9
- D.I. Ray, Season 2
- Cobra: Rebellion
- Hotel Portofino, Season 3
- Ridley, Season 2
- Moonflower Murders
- Van Der Valk, Season 4
- The Marlow Murder Club
- Leonardo da Vinci (Ken Burns film)
WINTER/SPRING SCHEDULE 2025: NEW AND RETURNING SHOWS ON PBS AND PBS’ MASTERPIECE TO WATCH
GREAT PERFORMANCES “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2025”
Premiere Date: Wednesday, Jan. 1, 8 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “Experience this annual beloved concert from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss – conducted by Riccardo Muti for the seventh time and with PBS favorite Hugh Bonneville returning to host.”
Why You Should Tune In: It’s sure to be an incredible musical experience. Plus, Hugh Bonneville from Downton Abbey is always an excellent host.
VIENNA BLOOD, SEASON 4
Streaming Premiere: Sunday, January 5, Binge 4 Episodes with PBS Passport
New Season Premiere Date: Sunday, Jan. 5, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “Vienna, 1909: The double murder of an arms dealer in police custody and a senior public official has shaken Vienna to its core. Can Dr. Max Liebermann (Matthew Beard) and Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt (Juergen Maurer) do enough to stop the seditious mole known as ‘Mephisto’ from bringing the Austro-Hungarian Empire to destruction? And will their lives ever be the same again?”
Why You Should Tune In: Vienna Blood is an entertaining British-Austrian period detective series.
Content Note: TV-14
WALTER PRESENTS: ASTRID, SEASON 4
Streaming Premiere: Sunday, January 5, Binge 8 Episodes with PBS Passport
Official Synopsis: “Astrid (Sara Mortensen), an autistic woman with a brilliant mind who works in the judicial police’s library, helps Commander Raphaelle (Lola Dewaere) solve the most complex cases. In French with English subtitles.”
Why You Should Tune In: If you appreciate Holmesian detective shows with a cerebral style, check out Astrid.
Content Note: TV-MA
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, SEASON 29
New Season Premiere Date: Monday, Jan. 6, 8 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, PBS’s most-watched ongoing series and 22-time Emmy® Award nominee, shares an all-new search for America’s hidden treasures kicking off Season 29 on Monday, January 6 with a visit to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the first of three episodes filmed in Bentonville, AR (Jan. 6, 13, 20).
ROADSHOW’s new season continues with stops in Las Vegas, NV at Springs Preserve where a season-topping $650,000 treasure is discovered (January 27, Feb. 3, 10); then it’s on to more finds in Urbandale, IA at Living History Farms (Feb. 17, 24, March 17) and Littleton, CO for the first two of three hours from a visit to Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms (Mar. 24, 31)!”
Why You Should Tune In: Still going strong, Antiques Roadshow continues to be a fascinating, well-made show with an intriguing spin on genealogy and antiques.
FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 11
New Season Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 8 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. returns for its eleventh season on PBS. Over the course of 10 new episodes, Gates and his team use genealogical detective work and cutting-edge DNA analysis to trace the family trees of twenty compelling guests, telling stories that illuminate America’s fundamental diversity.
The guest roster for Season 11 includes actors Kristen Bell, Laurence Fishburne, Debra Messing, Michael Imperioli, Melanie Lynskey, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lea Salonga, Amanda Seyfried, Dax Shepard, and Sharon Stone; celebrity chefs José Andrés and Sean Sherman; novelist Amy Tan; poet Rita Dove; historian Lonnie Bunch; talk show host Joy Behar; musician Rubén Blades; journalist Natalie Morales; and model Chrissy Teigen.”
Why You Should Tune In: Finding Your Roots is an entertaining series that sparks viewers’ interest in their family history. These new actors and artists sound like an intriguing group.
Content Note: TV-PG
LUCY WORSLEY INVESTIGATES SEASON 2
New Season Premiere Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “In this series, Lucy Worsley re-investigates some of the most dramatic and brutal chapters in British history. She uncovers forgotten witnesses, re-examines old evidence and follows new clues, to bring a fresh and modern perspective to some of the most enduring historical mysteries. This season she explores Jack the Ripper, the Gunpowder Plot, William the Conqueror, and Bloody Mary.”
Why You Should Tune In: Lucy Worsley is an engaging, knowledgeable host – and this season’s topics are always fascinating.
Content Note: TV-PG
MISS SCARLET ON MASTERPIECE SEASON 5
Streaming Premiere: Sunday, December 8, Binge 6 Episodes with PBS Passport
New Season Premiere Date: Sunday, Jan. 12, 8 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “Eliza’s agency is thriving, and her professional life is on a successful path – on the personal side however, Duke has now been away in New York for several months and Eliza is forced to make a difficult decision. Meanwhile, a new Detective Inspector comes to Scotland Yard and Eliza must navigate building a relationship with him if she’s going to continue having access to police resources.
All these changes and decisions beg the question – can Eliza Scarlet have it all? Starring Kate Phillips (Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light) as Eliza and Tom Durant Pritchard (This Is Going to Hurt, The Crown) as the Detective Inspector.”
Why You Should Tune In: While it was disappointing to lose the Duke, the latest season sounds like it will continue to be a fun, clever show.
Content Note: Episodes range between TV-PG and TV-14.
RELATED: Miss Scarlet Season 5 Available to Watch Early
ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL, SEASON 5
Streaming Premiere: Sunday, January 12, Binge 7 Episodes with PBS Passport
New Season Premiere Date: Sunday, Jan. 12, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “It is Spring 1941, and we return to Darrowby to find young baby Jimmy keeping everyone in Skeldale House on their toes. Helen (Rachel Shenton) is getting the hang of motherhood with James (Nicholas Ralph) away at RAF Abingdon, Mrs. Hall (Anna Madeley) and Siegfried (Samuel West) are enjoying having a little one around and Carmody (James Anthony-Rose) is now a full-fledged member of the Skeldale family.
With World War II now fully underway, Siegfried is taking up the slack at the surgery, Mrs. Hall and Helen are considering their contribution within the community, and Carmody is eager to step up. Siegfried is keen to have everyone back, but Tristan’s (Callum Woodhouse) surprise return won’t be quite as straightforward as he hoped.”
Why You Should Tune In: Tristan is back! I’m sure the new season will be just as lovely as the previous seasons.
Content Note: TV-PG
WALTER PRESENTS SISI: AUSTRIAN EMPRESS, SEASON 3
Streaming Premiere: Friday, January 17, Binge 7 Episodes with PBS Passport
Official Synopsis: “Meet Sisi, Europe’s first superstar. With her beauty, love of freedom and promise to give the Habsburg monarchy a gentler face, this legendary empress inspired the whole of the continent. In German with English subtitles.”
Why You Should Tune In: This one’s for you if you love period dramas with beautiful costumes and scenery and are okay with historical inaccuracies.
Content Note: TV-MA
WALTER PRESENTS VELVET, SEASON 2
Streaming Premiere Date: Friday, January 31, Binge 16 Episodes with PBS Passport
Official Synopsis: “Alberto, heir to the Velvet empire, returns home for his father’s latest collection. But among the luxury and glamour, the Art Deco palace hides family secrets and forbidden loves. Starring Paula Echevarría (The Commissioner) and Miguel Ángel Silvestre (Sense 8, Money Heist). In Spanish with English subtitles.”
Why You Should Tune In: If you haven’t seen this swoony romantic period drama yet, you’re in for a treat!
Content Note: TV-14
FUNNY WOMAN SEASON 2
Streaming Premiere Date: Sunday, February 2, Binge 4 Episodeswith PBS Passport
New Season Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 2, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “Season two promises more laughs and heartwarming connections as we see Gemma Arterton (The Kings Man, Summerland) return as Sophie Straw, the nation’s favorite TV comedy star, navigating her newfound fame and career, a group of good friends, while her romance with Dennis, played by Arsher Ali (Avenue 5, The Fear Index), is full of promise.
However, with new opportunities come new challenges; will Sophie be able to embrace her real life and challenge outdated cultural conventions?”
Why You Should Tune In: Gemma Arterton’s standout performance! If you love shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Julia, this show might be for you.
Content Note: Episodes range between TV-14 and TV-MA
SECRETS OF THE DEAD “Plunderer”
Premiere Date: Part 1, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app. Part 2, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “In the decade leading up to 1945, it’s estimated that the Nazis stole one-fifth of all artworks in Europe – the majority from Jewish families and other “undesirables” – in a culture war that was designed to rewrite European history. But that was just the beginning. Secret networks of curators and dealers – many of them Nazis like Bruno Lohse (the “Plunderer”) made fortunes on the back of Nazi-looted art, perpetuating a decades-long war crime that has never been fully exposed or resolved.
Through interviews with gallery owners, curators, art investigators, Lohse’s close friends, and the descendants of the victims of Nazi art theft, along with a tour through breathtaking masterpieces and an extensive archive of personal letters, “The Plunderer” will reveal the dark underbelly of the international art world, much of it built upon wartime tragedy and organized crime.”
Why You Should Tune In: To learn more about this sad part of history.
AMERICAN MASTERS “The Disappearance of Miss Scott”
Premiere Date: Friday, Feb. 21, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “This feature documentary will spotlight Hazel Scott, the most famous jazz virtuoso of her time and the first African American to have her own television show. A champion for racial equality before what we now consider to be the civil rights movement, Scott’s bright star dimmed when she was caught up in the Red Scare of the 1950s and refused to back down, testifying in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee to defend herself and her colleagues, and was blacklisted as a result.”
Why You Should Tune In: This is a must-watch documentary for fans of jazz and history.
GREAT PERFORMANCES “Movies for Grownups Awards with AARP the Magazine”
Premiere Date: Sunday, Feb. 23, 7 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “Honor the best films and performances of 2024 that resonate with older viewers in a star-studded celebration hosted by Alan Cumming. Eight-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close Curtis receives the Career Achievement Award.”
Why You Should Tune In: Movie buffs should be all over this award show.
CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 14
Premiere Date: March 2025 on PBS, PBS.org, & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “Season 14 of CALL THE MIDWIFE begins in 1970, marking a new decade in Poplar. As chaos unfolds when activists on the Isle of Dogs block access in their bid for independence, Dr. Turner and the midwives must work to keep things running as usual.
Meanwhile, the Nonnatus House will continue to tackle social challenges like poor housing, poverty, and various health issues, including a puzzling case of apparent immaculate conception. Returning cast includes Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan, Jenny Aggutter as Suster Julienne, Laura Main as Nurse Shelagh Turner, Helen George as Nurse Trixie Aylward, Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle, Stephen McGann as Dr. Patrick Turner, and more.”
Why You Should Tune In: Call the Midwife has reached the 1970s! A new decade is sure to bring intriguing and entertaining new stories.
Content Note: Episodes are between TV-PG and TV-14.
WALTER PRESENTS MURDER IN SWEDEN, SEASON 4
Streaming Premiere Date: Friday, March 14, Binge 8 Episodes with PBS Passport
Official Synopsis: “On a picturesque Swedish island, Maria (Eva Röse) juggles being a good mother and detective – all while sustaining her female perspective and approach to life – and solving some heinous crimes. In Swedish with English subtitles.”
Why You Should Tune In: This Swedish detective series is a good choice for British crime drama fans. It also has beautiful scenery.
Content Note: TV-MA
GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET: GROUNDED
Premiere Date: Friday, March 21, 9 p.m. ET on PBS
Official Synopsis: “Experience two-time Tony Award–winning composer Jeanine Tesori’s new opera based on librettist George Brant’s acclaimed play. Mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo stars as Jess, a hot-shot fighter pilot whose unplanned pregnancy takes her out of the cockpit and lands her in Las Vegas, operating a Reaper drone halfway around the world. Production staged by Michael Mayer; Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.”
Why You Should Tune In: This is a new opera, and since most viewers can’t see it in person, this is the next best thing.
WOLF HALL: THE MIRROR AND THE LIGHT ON MASTERPIECE
Streaming Premiere Date: Sunday, March 23, Binge 6 Episodes with PBS Passport
Premiere Date: Sunday, March 23, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
Official Synopsis: “WOLF HALL: THE MIRROR AND THE LIGHT ON MASTERPIECE traces the final four years in Thomas Cromwell’s life, completing his journey from self-made man to feared powerbroker as he navigates his desire to do what is right with his instinct to survive under Henry VIII’s cruel and capricious gaze. Oscar and BAFTA winner Mark Rylance reprises his role as Thomas Cromwell, and Emmy winner Damian Lewis returns as King Henry VIII.”
Why You Should Tune In: Ten years after Wolf Hall aired, the long-awaited sequel returns with Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis reprising their roles. The Emmy-winning series will likely be one of the best period dramas of 2025.
Content Note: TV-14
JACQUELINE DU PRE: GENIUS AND TRAGEDY
Streaming Premiere Date: Friday,January 24 on PBS.org & PBS app
Premiere Date: Friday, March 28, 9 p.m. ET on PBS
Official Synopsis: “Introduced and narrated by grammy-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma, JACQUELINE DU PRÉ: GENIUS AND TRAGEDY, tells the story Jacqueline du Pré and her enigmatic genius and one of the greatest cellists of all time. It is full of candid moments off-stage and in rehearsal, together with powerful concert performances.
The film’s charismatic cast of interviewees provide an incomparable insight into why the affection for du Pré and the wonder at her playing remains undiminished, nearly forty years after her death in 1987.”
Why You Should Tune In: Learn more about the acclaimed and mysterious cellist.
MISS AUSTEN ON MASTERPIECE
Premiere Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 9/8c on PBS, PBS.org, and PBS app
Official Synopsis: “There are few things more fascinating or enduring than a real-life mystery. Miss Austen takes one of the most prominent literary mysteries in history – Cassandra Austen notoriously burning her famous sister Jane’s letters – and reimagines it as a fascinating, witty and heart-breaking story of sisterly love, while creating in Cassandra a character as captivating as any Austen heroine.
In Miss Austen, the drama begins in 1830, many years after Jane has died. Cassandra rushes to visit Isabella, the niece of her long-dead fiancé, who is about to lose her home following her father’s death. Cassandra is ostensibly there to help Isabella, but her real motive is to find a hidden bundle of private letters which, in the wrong hands, she fears could destroy Jane’s reputation.
On discovering them, Cassandra is overwhelmed as she is transported back to her youth. In flashback, we meet Young Cassy and Jane as they navigate the romantic infatuations, family feuds and dashed hopes which shaped their lives, and laid the foundations for Jane’s unforgettable stories. Cassandra’s re-evaluation of her past eventually leads her to find a way to guide Isabella towards the path of true happiness.”
Why You Should Tune In: Miss Austen is based on Gill Hornby’s bestselling historical fiction novel and follows Cassandra Austen, Jane Austen’s sister, as she reminisces about her and Jane’s past. It’s a beautiful story, and with its all-star cast, it’s bound to be a memorable period drama.
For more details, see: Miss Austen on PBS: Everything We Know So Far About the New Period Drama
TRAILER FOR WINTER/SPRING MASTERPIECE 2025 PREVIEW
Watch the above trailer for a sneak peek at some new and returning period dramas on MASTERPIECE, including All Creatures Great and Small, Miss Scarlet, Wolf Hall, and Miss Austen.
YOU CAN ALSO WATCH
You can also watch these premieres on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app:
- FRONTLINE “Breakdown in Maine” – Tuesday, Dec. 10, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- INDEPENDENT LENS “Dallas, 2019” – Friday, January 3, Binge 5 Episodes on the PBS app; Episodes 1 & 2Friday, Jan. 3, 9 p.m. & 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app; Episodes 3, 4, & 5 Saturday, Jan. 4, 8 p.m., 9 p.m. & 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org, & PBS app
- INDEPENDENT LENS “Minted” – Monday, Jan. 6, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- INDEPENDENT LENS “Without Arrows” – Monday, Jan. 13, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org, & PBS app
- JOURNEY TO AMERICA: WITH NEWT AND CALLISTA GINGRICH – Tuesday, Jan. 14, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- NATURE “Big Cats, Small World: Landlords” – Part 1, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app; Part 2, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 8 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- GREAT MIGRATIONS: A PEOPLE ON THE MOVE – Tuesday, Jan. 28, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- NOVA “What Are UFOs?” – Wednesday, Jan. 22, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- NOVA “Extreme Airport Engineering” – Wednesday, Jan. 29, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- INDEPENDENT LENS “The Strike” – Monday, Feb. 3, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- NOVA “Dino Birds” – Wednesday, Feb. 5, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- INDEPENDENT LENS “The In Between” – Monday, Feb. 10, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- CHAUTAUQUA AT 150: WYNTON MARSALIS’ ALL RISE – Tuesday, Feb. 11, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- WYNTON MARSALIS’ ALL RISE: LIVE AT CHAUTAUQUA – Tuesday, February 11 on PBS Passport
- NATURE “Expedition Killer Whale” – Wednesday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- NOVA “Egypt’s Tombs of Amun” – Wednesday, Feb. 12, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- INDEPENDENT LENS “Skin of Glass” - Monday, Feb. 17, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org, PBS app
- NATURE “Museum Alive with David Attenborough” – Wednesday, Feb. 19, 8 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- NOVA “Pompeii’s Secret Underworld” – Wednesday, Feb. 19, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- INDEPENDENT LENS “Bike Vessel” – Monday, Feb. 24, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “The NAACP and Its Architects” (w.t.) – Tuesday, Feb. 25, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- NOVA “Baltimore Bridge Collapse” – Wednesday, Feb. 26, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- INDEPENDENT LENS “Home Court” – Monday, March 24, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “The Capitol Crawl” (w.t.) – Tuesday, March 25, 9 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
- GOING YOUR WAY – Monday, March 31, 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org & PBS app
COMING SOON (DATES TBA)
- The Gold on MASTERPIECE (The period drama stars Hugh Bonneville and follows the true story of one of the largest robberies ever in Britain.)
Please bookmark this page to check for future updates as we add new PBS dramas to the Spring schedule that have yet to be announced.
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