New TV and Streaming This Week: The Best New Shows on UK TV, 2–8 November 2026
Wondering what to watch this week? The first full week of November is a bumper one for TV and streaming in the UK. Keira Knightley’s spy thriller Black Doves finally returns to Netflix, Keeley Hawes is back in action on Prime Video, the BBC launches a wickedly funny Irish crime caper, and there are big new arrivals on Disney+, Paramount+ and NOW.
Whether you stick to free-to-air channels such as BBC One, ITV and Channel 4 or juggle several streaming subscriptions, this guide rounds up the best new TV and streaming releases from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 November 2026 – with release dates, where to watch and a spoiler-free synopsis for every show.
The Best New TV and Streaming Shows This Week
1. Black Doves (Season 2) – Netflix
Where to watch: Netflix | Release: Thursday 5 November
The most anticipated streaming return of the week is Joe Barton’s stylish British spy thriller. Keira Knightley plays Helen, an undercover operative whose seemingly perfect marriage to a senior politician was always part of her cover, while Ben Whishaw is Sam, the charming hitman who became her unlikely ally in the first series.
Season 2 turns the screw. Helen’s husband is now on the verge of becoming Prime Minister, putting her deeper inside the corridors of power than ever before, and her handler has become entangled in a ruthless plot inside the shadowy organisation they serve. With nowhere safe to turn, Helen has to join forces with Sam once again. Expect the same blend of sharp dialogue, emotional heft and sudden violence that made the first run such a hit.
2. Tall Tales & Murder – BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Where to watch: BBC One & BBC iPlayer | Release: Monday 2 November
If you enjoy your crime drama with a big helping of black comedy, this is the new BBC series to try. Adapted from Caimh McDonnell’s bestselling Dublin Trilogy novels, Tall Tales & Murder was co-created by Love/Hate writer Stuart Carolan and Veep director Chris Addison, and stars Ella Lily Hyland (who stole scenes in Black Doves) alongside Game of Thrones favourite Aidan Gillen, Philippa Dunne and Packy Lee.
The story is a Bonnie and Clyde-style chase across Ireland. Two mismatched misfits, Bridget and Paul, find themselves pulled into a world of gangsters, stolen gold and long-buried treasure, with a string of dangerous criminals hot on their heels – and very little idea of just how much trouble they are in. BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ have already ordered two six-part series, so there is more to come if you get hooked.
3. The Assassin (Season 2) – Prime Video
Where to watch: Prime Video (all six episodes) | Release: Friday 6 November
Keeley Hawes returns as Julie, a retired contract killer who simply wants a quiet life, in the second series of Harry and Jack Williams’ action thriller. In the first season her peaceful existence on a Greek island was blown apart when her estranged son Edward (Freddie Highmore) arrived asking questions about who his father was.
This time, trouble finds the family again when Edward’s new wife is kidnapped during their honeymoon. Out of options, Edward has to turn to the one person with the skills to get her back – his mother – and the pair are forced into an uneasy reunion. Shot on location in Malta, the new series promises a bigger, more globe-trotting story, and all six episodes drop at once, making it the ideal weekend binge.
4. All’s Fair (Season 2) – Disney+
Where to watch: Disney+ | Release: Wednesday 4 November
Ryan Murphy’s glossy legal drama is back for a second season. The series follows a group of formidable female divorce lawyers who walk out of a male-dominated law firm to set up their own high-powered practice, taking on the messiest splits among the rich and famous. With a starry ensemble that in its first season included Kim Kardashian, Glenn Close, Naomi Watts and Sarah Paulson, it is pure, high-gloss escapism.
5. NCIS: New York – Paramount+
Where to watch: Paramount+ | Release: Wednesday 4 November
The NCIS franchise expands yet again with a brand-new spin-off. LL COOL J reprises his role as Senior Special Agent Sam Hanna, who heads home to New York City and is paired with a roguish new partner played by Scott Caan. Fans of the long-running procedural will find familiar territory – tight cases, team banter and plenty of action – in a fresh big-city setting.
6. The Gilded Age (Season 4) – Sky Atlantic and NOW
Where to watch: Sky Atlantic & NOW | Release: Monday 2 November, 9pm
Julian Fellowes’ lavish period drama returns for a fourth season. Set in 1880s New York, a time of enormous economic upheaval when vast fortunes were made and lost, the series charts the battle between established old-money families and ambitious newcomers. At its heart is Marian Brook, a young woman who moved from rural Pennsylvania to the city and found herself caught in the middle. If you loved Downton Abbey, this is the obvious pick.
7. S.W.A.T. Exiles – Sky One and NOW
Where to watch: Sky One & NOW | Release: Sunday 8 November, 9pm (double bill)
Shemar Moore leads this new spin-off from the action series S.W.A.T., heading up an experimental tactical unit made up of untested and unpredictable young recruits. The ten-part series opens with two episodes on Sunday night, then continues weekly.
8. Return to Paradise (Series 3) – BBC One
Where to watch: BBC One & BBC iPlayer | Release: Friday 6 November, 7.30pm (double bill)
The sunny Australian spin-off from Death in Paradise returns for a third series with a Friday-night double bill. It follows a detective who goes back to her coastal hometown and finds that picture-perfect scenery and fiendish locked-room murders go hand in hand. It is cosy crime at its most comforting – perfect for dark November evenings.
9. Last King of the Cross – ITVX
Where to watch: ITVX | Release: Streaming from Sunday 1 November
ITV’s streaming service kicks off the month with this gritty Australian crime drama. Lincoln Younes plays John Ibrahim, who rises through Sydney’s Kings Cross nightclub underworld alongside his older brother Sam (Claude Jabbour). Tim Roth co-stars as Ezra Shipman, the district’s reigning crime boss, and the brothers must navigate rival gangs, biker clubs and police corruption as they fight for control. Settle in for a weekend binge.
10. Channel 4 picks: Stacey Dooley’s Australia and Aldi: The Next Big Seller
Where to watch: Channel 4 & Channel 4 streaming | Release: Thursday 5 November, 8pm and Sunday 8 November, 9pm
On Thursday, Aldi: The Next Big Seller returns for a third series, as independent food producers pitch their products in the hope of landing a place on the supermarket’s shelves nationwide. Then on Sunday, Stacey Dooley’s Australia: Off the Beaten Track sees the presenter visit some of the country’s most remote communities, beginning on Kangaroo Island, where locals have rebuilt their lives after devastating bushfires.
What About Channel 5?
Channel 5 (now branded simply as 5) has no major new drama premiere confirmed for this particular week, but drama fans should note that it launched its new dedicated channel, 5Drama, on 21 October. Cosy-crime favourite The Madame Blanc Mysteries is also confirmed to return for a fifth series later this year, so keep an eye on 5Streaming for its arrival.
Coming Soon: More New TV and Streaming Later in November
If this week’s line-up is not enough, the rest of the month is packed too. Here are a few dates for your diary:
- The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Season 3) – Prime Video, Wednesday 11 November
- Hunting Alice Bell – Channel 4, Wednesday 11 November
- Shetland (Series 11) – BBC One, Thursday 12 November
- Cunk on Cinema – BBC Two, Thursday 12 November
- Honey – BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Saturday 14 November
- I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! – ITV1 and ITVX, expected from Monday 16 November
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best new TV show to watch this week?
For streaming, Black Doves Season 2 on Netflix (Thursday 5 November) and The Assassin Season 2 on Prime Video (Friday 6 November) are the headline returns. For free-to-air TV, Tall Tales & Murder on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Monday 2 November is the standout new drama.
What is new on Netflix UK this week?
The biggest Netflix UK release this week is Black Doves Season 2 on 5 November. The Canadian comedy North of North also returns for its second season the same day.
Which new shows can I watch for free?
Tall Tales & Murder and Return to Paradise are on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Last King of the Cross is on ITVX, and Aldi: The Next Big Seller and Stacey Dooley’s Australia: Off the Beaten Track are on Channel 4 – all free to watch with a valid TV licence where required.
Final Thoughts
From high-stakes espionage to Irish gangster comedy and sun-drenched murder mysteries, this is one of the strongest weeks for TV and streaming in the UK so far this autumn. Bookmark this guide, check back every Sunday for our next weekly round-up, and let us know which show you are watching first.
