This week on BBC iPlayer we’re back on the beat in Liverpool with bobby Chris Carson in the second series of The Responder, suiting up for all nine series of the hit US legal drama Suits, and joiningDannii Minogue at the Italian Masseria for a new series of I Kissed A Girl.
We’re also back in Cork for a new series of The Young Offenders, sampling French food in Marcus Wareing’s Simply Provence, and in Romania for 1980s espionage thriller series Spy/Master.
There’s more spy stories in Secrets and Spies: the Nuclear Game, and we’re also spending Earth Day with some wannabe Sir David Attenborough’s in Planet Earth III: Narrated By Kids.
What's coming new to BBC iPlayer this week?
The Responder
Police thriller, starring Martin Freeman as Chris Carson, a crisis-stricken, morally compromised, unconventional urgent response officer on the beat in relentless night-time Liverpool. In the new series Chris is trying to get better and go straight, but when DCI Barnes tricks him into doing a dodgy car stop, he is drawn into a drug war between two of Liverpool’s top dealers.
- Watch all episodes of The Responder in UHD on BBC iPlayer from Sunday 5 May
- Read more: The Responder - Martin Freeman and the cast and creatives discuss new characters, complex relationships, and Scouse accents in series two
Suits
After impressing a slick lawyer with his razor sharp mind, a college dropout scores a coveted associate job, even though he has no legal credentials. Two lawyers, one degree - they've everything to gain and even more to lose. Smart, sexy and stylish - the hit US legal drama with Gabriel Macht, Patrick J Adams and Meghan Markle.
I Kissed a Girl
Hot queer girl summer is here! The iconic Dannii Minogue is back to play Cupid - and this time, it's for girls who like girls. With a never-before-seen cast, gripping love stories, sizzling drama, jaw-dropping outfits, and a shiny new Italian Masseria (if you don’t know that 'masseria' means 'fancy farm house' by now, where have you been?) - this is the party you don’t want to miss.
- Watch the new series of I Kissed a Girl on BBC iPlayer from Sunday 5 May
- Read more: I Kissed a Girl – Everything You Need To Know
The Young Offenders
Set in Cork, Ireland and created by Peter Foott, The Young Offenders tells the adventures of loveable rogues Conor (Alex Murphy) and Jock (Chris Walley) and their mother/guardian Mairead (Hilary Rose) as she tried to keep them on the straight and narrow. In the new series Conor and Jock have grown older, but not any wiser. A madcap trip sees them on the wrong side of the law as they’re given a free holiday to Colombia from a Spanish-speaking fella.
- Watch series four of The Young Offenders on BBC iPlayer from Friday 10 May
- Watch series 1-3 on iPlayer now
- Read more: The Young Offenders cast discuss the hilarious adventures in series 4
Spy/Master
One desperate week, two dangerous lives. In 1980s Romania, Victor Godeanu is the right-hand man and most trusted advisor to Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu. With his government poised to uncover that he’s a secret agent for the Soviets, Godeanu uses a diplomatic trip to Germany as a springboard to defect to the United States.
Helped by undercover Stasi agent Ingrid Von Weizendorff and up-and-coming CIA agent Frank Jackson, Godeanu must elude the KGB and his own country’s spooks – all while his wife and daughter face the fallout back home. Tense Cold War thriller.
Marcus Wareing’s Simply Provence
Marcus Wareing is in Provence discovering the secrets of simple French food. Cooking delicious dishes, enjoying friendly rivalries & sharing tips to help create a taste of Provence.
Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game
Betray your country, save the world. In the early 1980s when the Cold War is reaching its dramatic climax, this tells the hidden story of the real life spies and traitors embroiled in a deadly game of cat and mouse, risking everything to ensure their own side gains the upper hand in this cutthroat battle for world domination.
Olly Alexander’s Road to Eurovision ‘24
This revealing film follows high-profile pop star Olly Alexander as he navigates the road to representing the United Kingdom at Eurovision, the biggest song contest in the world.
In the months leading up to the competition, the cameras are given exclusive access to Olly as he prepares for one of the most important performances of his life. We see Olly embark on the Eurovision promotional circuit as he releases his song, Dizzy. He must juggle huge press attention and perform at Eurovision pre-parties in Madrid and London whilst preparing for the big event in May at the Malmö Arena in Sweden.
A lifelong fan of Eurovision himself, Olly is set on creating a spectacular performance in Malmö, and with behind-the-scenes access to Olly’s rehearsals, gruelling choreography and vocal sessions, the film offers a rare insight into the huge efforts required to stage a unique performance at the much-loved annual competition.
- Watch Olly Alexander’s Road to Eurovision ’24 on BBC iPlayer from Tuesday 7 May
- Read more: Eurovision 2024 on the BBC - Everything you need to know
What's new to watch on BBC iPlayer now?
Drama telling the true story of America's struggle with opioid addiction, from the boardrooms of Purdue Pharma, to a distressed Virginia mining community, to the hallways of the DEA. Featuring a star cast, including Michael Keaton, Rosario Dawson, Peter Sarsgaard, and Will Poulter.
Granite Harbour
Davis is back. He’s decided to stay in Aberdeen and continue with his traineeship at the MIT team. One small problem – his estranged father, Grantley, has decided it’s a good time to visit, and he’s got an agenda of his own.
The MIT team have their work cut out when ‘reformed’ drug kingpin, Grace McFadden’s notorious fixer, Lucas Galloway, turns up dead, a new cocaine and ketamine compound is flooding the streets, and there’s suspicion that there might be an impending turf war. To complicate things, Davis has to investigate the case of an unknown pregnant shoplifting stowaway, Mariam, who in the act of being charged has claimed that her partner has been killed on their journey across the sea.
- Watch all episodes of Granite Harbour on BBC iPlayer
- Read more: Granite Harbour cast tease what to expect in series 2 - "Stunning, characters, danger, stylish, risky"
A Kind of Spark
Second series based on the best-selling book by neurodivergent author, Elle McNicoll. A face from the past and a mysterious bookshop bring new challenges for Addie and her loved ones. Growing up is hard, growing up autistic is harder. Can Addie work out what’s next?
Scotland’s Home of the Year
The search is on for Scotland's Home of the Year 2024. Interior designers Anna Campbell-Jones and Banjo Beale are joined by architect Danny Campbell as they travel the country in search of Scotland's best homes.
Ibiza: Secrets of the Party Island
Zara McDermott heads to Ibiza to discover how it all works from the inside. With unprecedented access and a rich cast of characters, including people at luxury clubs, yachts and villas, as well as police, undercover detectives and emergency medics, Zara is seeking to understand the Ibiza phenomenon and how the island is changing as it looks to attract a more upmarket clientele.
Our Changing Planet: Restoring Our Reefs
As part of a seven-year project on threatened ecosystems, we take a special in-depth look in this third episode at one of the habitats under most urgent threat from climate change, coral reefs. What are the innovative techniques that could provide a much-needed lifeline and hope for the future? Steve Backshall returns to the Maldives to take part in a world-first collaboration that could be the key to restoring reefs, not just here but around the globe.
- Watch Our Changing Planet: Restoring Our Reefs on BBC iPlayer
- Watch previous episodes of Our Changing Planet on BBC iPlayer
GOOD starring David Tennant
David Tennant makes a much-anticipated return to the West End in a blistering reimagining of CP Taylor’s renowned and powerful political play, filmed on stage by the National Theatre during its sell-out run.
Professor John Halder is a 'good' man. But 'good' men must adapt to survive. As the world faces its second world war, the intelligent and music-loving German professor finds himself pulled into a movement with unthinkable consequences.
Olivier Award winner Dominic Cooke directs British playwright CP Taylor’s chilling tale, with a cast that also features Elliot Levey and Sharon Small.
Murder, They Hope
Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson return for more whodunit comedy capers from the minds behind Murder on the Blackpool Express, Death on the Tyne and Dial M for Middlesbrough. Following the explosive events of Dial M for Middlesborough, Gemma and Terry decide to become private investigators. When the cases don't come rolling in immediately, they move in with Gemma's sister, eventually picking up cases in places like car boot sales and local bakeries.
- Watch both series of Murder, They Hope on BBC iPlayer from Thursday 25 April
- Watch previous episodes Murder on the Blackpool Express, Death on the Tyne, and Dial M for Middlesborough now
Blue Lights
Grace, Annie and Tommy are growing up fast as police officers, but nothing can prepare them for the turmoil they face every day. It’s a year since the fall of the McIntyre crime gang and the vacuum has been filled by rival gangs, all competing for dominance.
As a young loyalist threatens to take over the city, the officers face a major gangland feud – culminating in a violent and devastating confrontation.
- Watch the new series of Blue Lights in UHD on BBC iPlayer from Monday 15 April, plus watch the first series now
- Blue Lights series 2 cast and creators - it's "bigger, bolder and more dramatic"
Dinosaur
New comedy set and filmed in Glasgow, about Nina, an autistic woman in her 30s, who was happy in her world, but when her best friend and sister Evie delivers some news, she realises everything is going to change. However, this isn’t the only change coming Nina’s way.
- Watch Dinosaur on BBC iPlayer
- Dinosaur cast on the new comedy series that's wholesome, chaotic and not about dinosaurs
Mammoth
New comedy starring Mike Bubbins. PE teacher Tony Mammoth, presumed dead in an avalanche in 1979, is miraculously brought back to life in the present day. He’s got his old job back, and he determined he’ll approach it the same way as in the 1970s, including parents' evening. Along the way, he finds out he has a lot more in common with a pupil’s mum than he thought.
Big Zuu Goes to Mecca
Chef and rapper Big Zuu makes a pilgrimage to Mecca on a personal spiritual journey to try and understand more about his faith and what it means to be 'a good Muslim'.
Kurt Cobain: Moments That Shook Music
Marking the 30th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death, this documentary uses powerful and unseen archive footage to demystify the tragic moment when the Nirvana frontman took his own life.
One of musical history’s most shocking stories is told as never before, as footage captured by local fans in Seattle and raw material from news crews reporting at the time are woven together to create a picture of the events that unfolded as they happened.
Race Across the World
The much-loved and hugely successful Bafta-winning series Race Across the World returns.
Five teams of intrepid Brits will battle it out in a breath-taking 15,000 kilometres race across Eastern Asia through some of the world’s most populous regions and some of its most unexplored. The teams will race from northernmost Japan; crossing six seas and eight borders, skirting the path of the volcanic ring of fire - the most geologically unstable region on the planet to reach the finish line in Lombok, an idyllic Indonesian island paradise.
- Watch Race Across the World on BBC iPlayer with new episodes from 10 April
- Read more: Meet the Race Across The World 2024 contestants
Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make Up Star
Get ready to be dazzled as Glow Up returns, hosted by the fabulous Leomie Anderson.
Each week, eight of the most talented aspiring make-up artists will be judged on their creativity and ability to thrive under pressure, in intense Professional Assignments, from pop star led social campaigns to global gaming body painting, West End theatre looks to mastering gory TV special effects. The stakes have never been higher in the world of make-up artistry.
The MUAs compete to be crowned Britain's Next Make-Up Star, and for a career changing prize – assisting some of the best MUAs in the world.
- Watch Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star on BBC iPlayer with new episodes from Wednesday 10 April
- Glow Up series 6 - Meet the make-up artists and catch up with Leomie Anderson, Val Garland and Dominic Skinner
Meet the Roman Emperor with Mary Beard
The Roman Emperor was the ultimate symbol of power and authority in the ancient world - a measure against which dictators are still compared today. But with absolute power comes absolute paranoia...
In this new one-hour documentary, renowned classicist Mary Beard lifts the curtain on the emperors of Rome, exploring their ruthless use of power and how it was matched only by their greatest fear - that the power could be snatched away at any moment by the people closest to them.
- Watch Meet the Roman Emperor with Mary Beard on BBC iPlayer from Monday 8 April
- Listen to Being Roman with Mary Beard on BBC Sounds
Ministry of Evil: The Twisted Cult of Tony Alamo
In the 1960s, preachers Susan and Tony Alamo recruit vulnerable young people to join their cult promoting personal salvation. Over time the group faces allegations of abuse.
- Watch Ministry of Evil: The Twisted Cult of Tony Alamo on BBC iPlayer from Tuesday 9 April
This Town
Set in a world of family ties, teenage kicks and the exhilarating music of a generation, This Town tells the story of a band’s formation against a backdrop of violence, capturing how creative genius can emerge from a time of madness.
Both a high octane thriller and a family saga, This Town opens in 1981 at a moment of huge social tensions and unrest. Against this backdrop, it tells the story of a group of young people fighting to choose their own paths in life, and each in need of the second chance that music offers.
- Watch This Town on BBC iPlayer
- Read more: This Town cast and creatives on seeing the glory and glamour of working class life, celebrating music and the Midlands
- Watch: “It’s our turn to really bang the drum and tell our story”: Steven Knight talks eighties music, Birmingham humour and This Town
MasterChef
The MasterChef arena opens its doors for the first of five heats, welcoming 58 amateurs from all over the UK to take on the challenge.
The series begins with first six hopefuls arriving with their sights set on one goal: to win one of the four exclusive MasterChef aprons that secure their place in the competition. Those that make it will head straight back into battle, as only the best reach the quarter-final.
- Watch MasterChef on BBC iPlayer with a week's worth of new episodes dropping every Monday from 1 April
Mammals
Mammals are found on every continent and in every ocean, from the coldest wildernesses to the hottest deserts, from the densest jungles to the darkest depths, this group of animals has evolved to master almost every habitat on our planet.
This definitive series with Sir David Attenborough offers fascinating insights into the most successful animal group in the world.
- Watch Mammals in UHD on BBC iPlayer
- Read more: Find out how Mammals was made from the team behind the series
The Assembly
The Assembly sees a cast of thirty-five interviewers who are autistic, neurodivergent or learning disabled, question an A-list celebrity for one extraordinary TV interview.
In this half-hour special to celebrate Autism Acceptance Week, it's multi-award-winning actor and director, Michael Sheen, who faces the grilling of a lifetime from the unique collective. No subject is out of bounds, no question is off the table.