BritBox, the streaming haven for British television, has unveiled its 2025 lineup, and it’s a mixed bag of familiar comforts and intriguing newcomers. While the return of stalwarts like Vera, Father Brown, and Death in Paradise will surely please longtime subscribers, the service is also taking some chances, with a true-crime drama starring Lucy Boynton, a timely series tackling cancel culture with Hugh Bonneville, and a Sophie Turner-led caper about a jewel thief. Plus, a new detective on Saint Marie is causing ripples in the usually placid waters of Death in Paradise.
Let’s start with the goodbyes. Brenda Blethyn’s final two outings as Vera (premiering January 2) find the iconic detective facing a complex case involving a former inmate’s death and revisiting a location from her past, likely prompting a healthy dose of introspection. Kembleford, the fictional village at the heart of Father Brown (Season 12, premiering January 2025), will be dealing with interrupted nuptials, a medieval death, and a top-secret Vatican mission – just another day at the office for the crime-solving priest. Over in Saint Marie, Death in Paradise (Season 14, premiering February 2025) welcomes new detective Mervin Wilson, whose arrival from London may not be entirely straightforward.
Beyond Paradise (Season 3, premiering April 2025) sees Humphrey and Martha juggling parenthood and a bizarre assortment of local crimes, including a chocolate box poisoning and a historical farming feud. The return of Martha’s former flame adds a further hiccup to their already complicated lives. Silent Witness (Season 28, premiering Summer 2025) introduces two new team members, while Sister Boniface Mysteries (Season 4, also premiering Summer 2025) finds the nun grappling with everything from killer scarecrows to a femme fatale’s unfortunate zip-lining incident.
Among the new series, A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story (premiering February 17) looks to be the most attention-grabbing. Lucy Boynton stars as Ellis, the last woman executed in Britain, in a drama that will explore her abusive relationship and the social climate surrounding her 1955 trial. Douglas is Cancelled (premiering March 6) is firmly planted in the present day, with Hugh Bonneville and Karen Gillan playing a couple grappling with cancel culture and gender politics after a controversial tweet.
BritBox is also bolstering its original programming slate. Travels with Agatha Christie & Sir David Suchet (premiering March 8) finds the actor retracing the author’s 1922 world tour. Shetland returns for Season 9 (premiering December 11) with a new missing-person case, and The Protection (premiering December 29) focuses on a witness protection officer whose professional and personal lives collide dangerously.
A slew of literary adaptations and reboots are also on the docket, including Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero (premiering Spring 2025), Lynley, a reimagining of Elizabeth George’s detective novels, starring Leo Suter (premiering 2025), and a modern update of Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero (premiering Spring 2025). Additional new series include the genre-bending Ludwig (premiering March 20) and The Jetty, a mystery starring Jenna Coleman (premiering December 13).
Returning for a second season is Karen Pirie (premiering April 2025). Rounding out the lineup are a diverse collection of new series, including Joan (premiering December 5) the family drama I, Jack Wright (premiering May 2025), the period drama Outrageous (premiering Summer 2025), Code of Silence (premiering Fall 2025), and the punk-rock-infused Riot Women (premiering 2025). Plus, various Christmas specials will be sprinkled throughout December.
