This week, WETA UK has lots of new shows for you to try out. We begin the newest season of PBS Downton Abbey season 3 from the very beginning; we premiere the brand new crime dramas Death in Paradise and Dalziel & Pasco; we kick off new seasons of New Tricks, Waiting for God, and Red Dwarf; and we start the new WETA UK Event: Return to Cranford. Read on for show descriptions and schedule.
Tuesday begin watching Downton Abbey season 3 from the very first episode! This dramatic season brings even more excitement and surprises than before. Tune in Tuesdays at 8:00pm beginning tonight for season 3 of Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey. Also airs Wednesday at 3:00pm.
Wednesday join us at 9:00pm for the WETA UK premiere of the new drama Death in Paradise. A light-hearted detective series which takes place against a stunning Caribbean island backdrop. Sent to the tiny island of Saint-Marie to solve a mysterious murder, quintessentially British cop Richard Poole is a total fish out of water. His new partner, DS Camille Bordey is instinctive, feisty and brilliant, and the rest of the team certainly has their own unique way of doing things. Though Richard would never admit it, they make the perfect team, and with a new mind-boggling mystery to solve every episode, Death in Paradise will intrigue and tantalize. Also airs Thursdays at 4:00pm & Saturdays at 6:00pm.
Wednesday at 10:00pm kick off season 1 of our new series Dalziel & Pasco. Andy Dalziel does not suffer fools gladly, but he has even more trouble with what he calls the "smart arses" of this world. So when the inexperienced, soft-spoken, whiz-kid graduate Peter Pascoe joins his team at Mid-Yorkshire CID, there could be problems. Pascoe is one of the new breed of career police officers, armed with a degree in Social Sciences, a caring attitude and a sharp brain. At first Pascoe is somewhat taken aback by his brash and ballsy boss, but it soon becomes apparent there is more to Andy Dalziel than meets the eye. Also airs Thursdays at 5:00pm & Saturdays at 7:00pm
Thursday at 11:00pm dive into season 6 of New Tricks. Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman and her unconventional team of ex detectives – Jack Halford, Brian Lane and Gerry Standing – reinvestigate more unsolved murders and cold cases with their trademark conflict over procedure and rules.
Friday tune in for the first episode of season 5 of the comedy series Waiting for Godat 7:00pm. Bayview is a purpose-built complex with one chalet to each resident, looked after by the skinflint manager, Harvey Baines, his adoring half-witted helper, Jane, and nurse Jenny. Unfortunately, their ideas on how old people should behave are wildly at odds with some of the residents' – especially the ringleaders, Tom and Diana. Also airs Tuesday at 10:30am.
Saturday beginning at 8:00pm, watch the first two parts of WETA UK Event: Return to Cranford. Change is coming to the 1840s, small, close-knit village of Cranford run by the women of the town. The Industrial Revolution is upon them and change as well as romance is in the air. When a shocking event disrupts Cranford from its innocence, can a bit friendship save the day? Also airs Sundays at 12:00pm.
Sunday at 11:00pm season 5 of Red Dwarf begins! This season, Rimmer gets a hard-light drive enabling him to touch and feel, a dose of luck virus rescues Lister, Cat, and Kryten from an all-sprout diet in quarantine, the boys encounter their evil selves, and it seems that they are not really who they think they are at all, when their time on the virtual reality game Red Dwarf comes to an end.
On WETA UK this week, we premiere new shows as well as start some WETA UK favorites from the first season so you can experience them in entirety! Dramas, mysteries, comedies, modern, and classic, all make up the WETA UK schedule this week. Read on for our highlights in this week's WETA UK line-up.
Monday at 7:30pm begin the all new series Fresh Fields. Hester and William Fields are a typical couple: happily married, middle-aged, and middle-class. When their daughter Emma leaves home to live with her boyfriend Peter, the empty nesters become increasingly bored. William runs a small accountancy firm in the city and Hester ends up taking on a wide-range of activities in hopes to add some variety in her life. She attends classes and events while running around after her elderly mother and gossiping with next-door neighbor Sonia. Stars: Julia McKenzie, Anton Rodgers. Also airs Tuesday February 5 at 9:00am, Friday February 8 at 1:00pm & 7:30pm, Saturday February 9 at 11:00am.
Monday at 9:00pm catch the first episode of Vera II: Ghost Position. Based on the best-selling Inspector Stanhope books by renowned writer Ann Cleeves, the new season finds DCI Stanhope and her team facing a series of daunting challenges. From delving into the unsettling private life of an old colleague, attempting to break through the code of secrecy in the army, to coping with the emotional impact on a family torn apart by addiction, each enthralling story is enhanced by captivating performances of this troubled yet brilliant detective in action. Combined with beautifully shot landscapes and atmospheric production, each episode creates a haunting backdrop for Vera's inner turmoil as she discovers hidden truths about her own past, which threaten to change her life forever. Also airs Tuesday February 5 at 3:00pm.
Tuesday at 7:30pm join us for the premiere of May to December. Alec Callendar is a small-town solicitor, with big-time dreams. Semple, Callendar and Henty handles routine work in a typically suburban legal practice, but privately Alec wishes he were more like his hero, Perry Mason. One day, into his life walks an Angell – Zoe Angell, who has come to consult him about a divorce. On the face of it, the professional widower and the young PE teacher from a family of greengrocers should have nothing in common. But a mutual love of old musicals and a whimsical sense of humor spark a romance which surprises not just Alec and Zoe, but also the entire office staff, his two grown-up children and the rest of their families and friends. Stars: Anton Rodgers, Frances White. Also airs Wednesday February 6 at 10:00am, Friday February 8 at 12:30pm, 2:30pm & 5:00pm, Saturday February 9 at 6:30am & 10:30am, Sunday February 10 at 7:00am.
Wednesday at 10:30am & 7:30pm watch the first episode ofYes, Prime Minister. This comedy series is the sequel to the hit British comedy Yes, Minister. True to the law that says people rise to the level of their incompetence, James Hacker MP, Minister for Administrative Affairs, has ascended to the highest political office in the land. Fortunately for the country, however, his scheming adversary Sir Humphrey Appleby - now Cabinet Secretary - is more than willing to help him steer the unsteady ship of state through the perilous waters of government. Stars: Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne. This program airs new episodes Sundays at 8:00pm.
Thursday at 9:00pm tune in for Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Peril at End House. Poirot and Hastings are holidaying in Cornwall when they meet the beautiful Nick Buckley who has three near fatal accidents within a very short space of time. Intrigued, Poirot talks to Nick's friends who are loath to believe her stories of murder attempts. Also airs Saturday February 8 at 4:30pm.
Friday from 3:30 - 5:00pm watch the first three episodes of My Family season 3. This British comedy is about a family just trying to stay afloat in a crazy world. Dad, Ben is a dentist struggling to understand his wife Susan the terrible cook, daughter Janey the selfish shopping addict, youngest son Michael the brain, and eldest son Nick the lazy goof. Although loving and caring parents, Ben and Susan have a little trouble showing their children these true intentions since the kids are always up to something. Watch this series Mondays – Thursdays at 7:00pm.
Saturday beginning at 8:00pm continue the drama of Masterpiece Classic: Little Dorrit with parts 2 and 3 of the five part series. This Masterpiece Classic drama is based on the book by Charles Dickens. Amy Dorrit has lived in Marshalsea Prison her entire life, but nothing can ruin her love for her father William Dorrit, the prison’s longest serving inmate. After his father’s mysterious death, Arthur Clennam explores this mystery which intertwines with the Dorrits. Clennam's exhaustive search for answers involves murder, fortunes gained and lost, the upper society and lower, and most surprising of all, a gentle romance. Stars: Claire Foy, Matthew Macfadyen, Tom Courtenay, Emma Pierson. Also airs Sunday February 10 from 12:00pm – 3:00pm.
Sunday at 5:00pm catch the first episode of Born and Bred season 1. You can begin this series from the very beginning! Arthur Gilder has lived in the beautiful village of Ormston all his life and now he’s ready to hand over the reins of his doctor’s practice to his son,Tom. Tom moves his wife Deborah and four children from the hustle and bustle of Manchester to rural Ormston to take on the responsibility of his father’s practice. As the village’s long-serving and highly respected doctor, Arthur knows all the inhabitants of this tight-knit community and it’s not long before Tom is in the thick of things too. There’s the Reverend Brewer, not your average man of the cloth; Phyllis, the bold and brassy pub landlady; the slightly dippy Jean, who is infatuated with Eddie, the village mechanic; and Wilf, the stationmaster with a nose for trouble! Both father and son want the practice to succeed but this is the 1950s and Arthur clings to his old-fashioned, tried and tested ways, whereas Tom is determined that the hospital should adapt or die. To complicate matters further, Tom has to deal with his old flame Linda, who seems very pleased to see him despite the fact that she is about to marry Tom’s best friend, Len. Also airs Monday February 11 at 6:00am, Tuesday February 12 at 6:00pm, & Sunday February 17 at 9:00am.
Sunday at 8:30pm the hit comedy series Miranda begins from the very first episode! Miranda is a unique woman standing 6’1” tall, owning and living in a joke shop. Trying to fit in with her old boarding school friends is just one of her struggles along with her exceptionally awkward behavior around men which doesn’t help as her mother constantly pushes her to find a husband. Naturally, a woman who can find humor in these uncomfortable situations encounters hilarious run-ins with her childhood friend and co-worker Stevie. Also airs Tuesday February 19 at 9:30am.
WETA Television is your Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia PBS station for Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey. Whether you’re beginning with season 1, finishing up season 2, or eagerly awaiting season 3, WETA is the place to watch! Let’s face it, watching TV on your laptop can be a bit frustrating: low volume, small screen, buffering video. Set the computer aside, grab the remote control, and tune into WETA TV26, HD, and WETA UK for all three seasons of Downton Abbey.
Season 1 –WETA UK Tuesdays at 8:00pm
The bold and beautiful Downton Abbey estate runs smoothly from generations of excellent care, but change is coming. With enticing drama and terrible threat, the future of Downton's dynasty takes shape but is it possible to preserve? Follow the upstairs, downstairs dynamic in this beautiful period drama from PBS. Repeats Wednesdays at 3:00pm.
Where to watch WETA UK: Via antenna: 26.2, Comcast: 265, Cox: 800, Verizon FiOS: 474, RCN: 39
Season 2 –WETA TV26 & HD Sunday January 6 from 11:30am – 9:00pm
It’s November 1916 and the Great War has changed everything and everyone. At the war front, life intensifies for Downton's young men and more is demanded of those at Downton Abbey. Some see change as an opportunity while some disregard it. As other great houses crumble, a diminished Downton Abbey struggles to prevail into a new era with its residents and its honor intact. Check out these Masterpiece Classic cast interviews to see what it’s like playing a resident of Downton!
Where to watch WETA TV26: Via antenna: 26.4, Comcast: 26 & 92, Cox: 26 & 802, Verizon FiOS: 26 & 471, RCN: 26, DISH Network: 8076
Where to watch WETA HD: Via antenna: 26.1, Comcast: 220 (DC) & 219 (Baltimore), Cox: 1026 (Fairfax) & 1003 (Fredericksburg), Verizon FiOS: 526, RCN: 613, DirecTV: 26 & 26-1
Season 3 -WETA TV26 & HD Sundays at 9:00pm Premieres: January 6 at 9:00pm
The Great War is over but the drama isn’t over at Downton Abbey as struggling social changes, romance, and personal crises infect the estate. Repeats Thursdays at 8:00pm & Fridays at 1:00pm.
Where to watch WETA TV26: Via antenna: 26.4, Comcast: 26 & 92, Cox: 26 & 802, Verizon FiOS: 26 & 471, RCN: 26, DISH Network: 8076
Where to watch WETA HD: Via antenna: 26.1, Comcast: 220 (DC) & 219 (Baltimore), Cox: 1026 (Fairfax) & 1003 (Fredericksburg), Verizon FiOS: 526, RCN: 613, DirecTV: 26 & 26-1
Paradise. A light-hearted detective series which takes place against a stunning Caribbean island backdrop. Sent to the tiny island of Saint-Marie to solve a mysterious murder, quintessentially British cop Richard Poole is a total fish out of water. His new partner, DS Camille Bordey is instinctive, feisty and brilliant, and the rest of the team certainly has their own unique way of doing things. Though Richard would never admit it, they make the perfect team, and with a new mind-boggling mystery to solve every episode, Death in Paradise will intrigue and tantalize. Also airs Thursdays at 4:00pm & Saturdays at 6:00pm.
not suffer fools gladly, but he has even more trouble with what he calls the "smart arses" of this world. So when the inexperienced, soft-spoken, whiz-kid graduate Peter Pascoe joins his team at Mid-Yorkshire CID, there could be problems. Pascoe is one of the new breed of career police officers, armed with a degree in Social Sciences, a caring attitude and a sharp brain. At first Pascoe is somewhat taken aback by his brash and ballsy boss, but it soon becomes apparent there is more to Andy Dalziel than meets the eye. Also airs Thursdays at 5:00pm & Saturdays at 7:00pm
Pullman and her unconventional team of ex detectives – Jack Halford, Brian Lane and Gerry Standing – reinvestigate more unsolved murders and cold cases with their trademark conflict over procedure and rules. 
Cranford. Change is coming to the 1840s, small, close-knit village of Cranford run by the women of the town. The Industrial Revolution is upon them and change as well as romance is in the air. When a shocking event disrupts Cranford from its innocence, can a bit friendship save the day? Also airs Sundays at 12:00pm.
Inspector Stanhope books by renowned writer Ann Cleeves, the new season finds DCI Stanhope and her team facing a series of daunting challenges. From delving into the unsettling private life of an old colleague, attempting to break through the code of secrecy in the army, to coping with the emotional impact on a family torn apart by addiction, each enthralling story is enhanced by captivating performances of this troubled yet brilliant detective in action. Combined with beautifully shot landscapes and atmospheric production, each episode creates a haunting backdrop for Vera's inner turmoil as she discovers hidden truths about her own past, which threaten to change her life forever. Also airs Tuesday February 5 at 3:00pm.
town solicitor, with big-time dreams. Semple, Callendar and Henty handles routine work in a typically suburban legal practice, but privately Alec wishes he were more like his hero, Perry Mason. One day, into his life walks an Angell – Zoe Angell, who has come to consult him about a divorce. On the face of it, the professional widower and the young PE teacher from a family of greengrocers should have nothing in common. But a mutual love of old musicals and a whimsical sense of humor spark a romance which surprises not just Alec and Zoe, but also the entire office staff, his two grown-up children and the rest of their families and friends. Stars: Anton Rodgers, Frances White. Also airs Wednesday February 6 at 10:00am, Friday February 8 at 12:30pm, 2:30pm & 5:00pm, Saturday February 9 at 6:30am & 10:30am, Sunday February 10 at 7:00am.
series is the sequel to the hit British comedy Yes, Minister. True to the law that says people rise to the level of their incompetence, James Hacker MP, Minister for Administrative Affairs, has ascended to the highest political office in the land. Fortunately for the country, however, his scheming adversary Sir Humphrey Appleby - now Cabinet Secretary - is more than willing to help him steer the unsteady ship of state through the perilous waters of government. Stars: Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne. This program airs new episodes Sundays at 8:00pm.
comedy is about a family just trying to stay afloat in a crazy world. Dad, Ben is a dentist struggling to understand his wife Susan the terrible cook, daughter Janey the selfish shopping addict, youngest son Michael the brain, and eldest son Nick the lazy goof. Although loving and caring parents, Ben and Susan have a little trouble showing their children these true intentions since the kids are always up to something. Watch this series Mondays – Thursdays at 7:00pm.
parts 2 and 3 of the five part series. This Masterpiece Classic drama is based on the book by Charles Dickens. Amy Dorrit has lived in Marshalsea Prison her entire life, but nothing can ruin her love for her father William Dorrit, the prison’s longest serving inmate. After his father’s mysterious death, Arthur Clennam explores this mystery which intertwines with the Dorrits. Clennam's exhaustive search for answers involves murder, fortunes gained and lost, the upper society and lower, and most surprising of all, a gentle romance. Stars: Claire Foy, Matthew Macfadyen, Tom Courtenay, Emma Pierson. Also airs Sunday February 10 from 12:00pm – 3:00pm.
from the very beginning! Arthur Gilder has lived in the beautiful village of Ormston all his life and now he’s ready to hand over the reins of his doctor’s practice to his son,Tom. Tom moves his wife Deborah and four children from the hustle and bustle of Manchester to rural Ormston to take on the responsibility of his father’s practice. As the village’s long-serving and highly respected doctor, Arthur knows all the inhabitants of this tight-knit community and it’s not long before Tom is in the thick of things too. There’s the Reverend Brewer, not your average man of the cloth; Phyllis, the bold and brassy pub landlady; the slightly dippy Jean, who is infatuated with Eddie, the village mechanic; and Wilf, the stationmaster with a nose for trouble! Both father and son want the practice to succeed but this is the 1950s and Arthur clings to his old-fashioned, tried and tested ways, whereas Tom is determined that the hospital should adapt or die. To complicate matters further, Tom has to deal with his old flame Linda, who seems very pleased to see him despite the fact that she is about to marry Tom’s best friend, Len. Also airs Monday February 11 at 6:00am, Tuesday February 12 at 6:00pm, & Sunday February 17 at 9:00am.
a unique woman standing 6’1” tall, owning and living in a joke shop. Trying to fit in with her old boarding school friends is just one of her struggles along with her exceptionally awkward behavior around men which doesn’t help as her mother constantly pushes her to find a husband. Naturally, a woman who can find humor in these uncomfortable situations encounters hilarious run-ins with her childhood friend and co-worker Stevie. Also airs Tuesday February 19 at 9:30am.
front, life intensifies for Downton's young men and more is demanded of those at Downton Abbey. Some see change as an opportunity while some disregard it. As other great houses crumble, a diminished Downton Abbey struggles to prevail into a new era with its residents and its honor intact.