BBC SEPTEMBER PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS, NEW AND RETURNING TITLES REVEALED

The new and returning titles airing on the BBC this September revealed.

 VIGIL

DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) and DI Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) return for a new case that takes them to a remote Arctic research station, where a member of a covert British special forces mission has been shot dead. Amy and Kirsten will need to catch the killer and defuse a potential international confrontation, driven by a land-grab for energy and resources in the changing polar climate, with both their careers and relationship on the line.

 BLUE LIGHTS

The forthcoming series stars Siân Brooke (Sherlock, Trying) as Grace, Martin McCann (Trespasses, Hostage) as Stevie, Katherine Devlin (The Day Of The Jackal, Vikings) as Annie, Nathan Braniff (Blue Lights S1-4) as Tommy and Frank Blake (Say Nothing, Normal People) as Shane. Richard Dormer (The Day of the Jackal, Game of Thrones, Fortitude), who played Gerry Cliff in series one, returns alongside Hannah McClean (Malpractice) as solicitor, Jen Robinson and Jonathan Harden (The Rainmaker, Time) as disgraced former Inspector, Jonty, in an episode that will answer important questions from the past.

 STRICTLY COME DANCING

Strictly Come Dancing returns to iPlayer and BBC One in September 2026, with presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe presiding over the ballroom in spectacular style.

The esteemed judging panel of Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas who will be casting a watchful eye over the performances each week, giving their expert view on the dances and delivering their all-important scores.

 THE CELEBRITY INNER CIRCLE

Across eight brand‑new episodes - up from six in the first series - the gripping, high‑stakes quiz show sees a contestant pair up with a celebrity with the aim of making it all the way to the final round where two players face the ultimate decision - split the prize money and walk away as equals or attempt to take it all by shafting the other player, leaving them with nothing.

 LUDWIG

Picking up from the end of series one, master puzzle-setter John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor (David Mitchell) is now a Crime Scene Consultant, working alongside DCI Russell Carter (Dipo Ola), on ‘impossible’ crimes for the Cambridge Police Authority. No longer having to masquerade as his brother, he’s openly more ‘Ludwig’ than ever - brilliant at solving puzzles but hopeless at everything else.

But John’s identical twin brother, James, is still missing, and now that he’s an official employee of the station, John is forbidden from using any police resources to look for his brother or uncover exactly what he was investigating.

 DRAGONS' DEN

A new batch of ambitious entrepreneurs face a series first! With female Dragons outnumbering the males for the first time, there’s a power shift in the Den, as queens of commerce Susie Ma and Jenna Meek join Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett.

Pitching in the Den, a chemistry whizz promises to wash away waste with her powder-to-liquid haircare products. Two social media stars hope to bag a sweet deal with their traditional confectionery concept. A mother and son with a handcrafted spice blend business hope a Dragon could hold the recipe for success, and a mission-led Gen Z travel start-up sets its sights on global growth.

 THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW

Graham Norton welcomes the biggest stars of film, TV and music on to his sofa for chat, performances and comedy. Across the series the cream of the celebrity crop will delight viewers with tales from the most-talked about TV series and movies. Plus, the biggest Hollywood stars will exclusively discuss the movie moments that have kept the nation on the edge of their seats.

 RuPAUL'S DRAG RACE UK

Mama Ru is back with a hot new cast of rambunctious drag queens ready to do battle for the crown!Over the next ten weeks the queens compete in a range of spicy challenges designed to test their drag mettle as they bid for the coveted title of The UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar.

 COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS

Created, written by and starring Patrick Brammall (Offspring, Glitch) and Harriet Dyer (The Invisible Man, No Activity), the eight-part series centres on Ashley and Gordon; two single(ish), complex humans who are brought together by a car accident and an injured dog. Colin From Accounts is about flawed, funny people choosing each other and being brave enough to show their true self, scars and all, as they navigate life together.

Transmission details will be announced in due course.