Doctor Who Star’s Long-Awaited Adaptation of The Forsytes Locks In Its Release Date

Channel 5 has planted its flag: The Forsytes, a glossy new period drama with a chewy family feud at its center, finally has a date. And yes, it is exactly the kind of soapy, prestige-adjacent saga you think it is — in a good way.

When it premieres

The Forsytes premieres on Channel 5 (aka 5) on Monday 20 October at 9 pm, with new episodes airing weekly.

What it is

Adapted from John Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga novels and written by Poldark's Debbie Horsfield, the series tracks an upper-class family of stockbrokers across multiple generations in a rapidly changing late-Victorian world. Front and center is a power struggle: Soames Forsyte squares off against his cousin Jolyon over who gets the keys to the family firm. Think dynastic pride, shifting morals, and a lot of capital-W Wealth trying to survive a modernizing age.

The players

• Joshua Orpin (Home and Away) as Soames Forsyte
• Danny Griffin (Fate: The Winx Saga) as Jolyon Forsyte (aka Jo)
• Millie Gibson (Doctor Who) as Irene Heron, Soames's wife
• Eleanor Tomlinson (The Couple Next Door) as Louisa Byrne, Jo's first love
• Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey: A New Era) as Frances Forsyte
• Stephen Moyer (True Blood) as Jolyon Forsyte Sr.

A first-look trailer is already out, spotlighting the Soames-vs-Jo clash and offering glimpses of Gibson's Irene and Tomlinson's Louisa.

Already renewed (before it even airs)

Channel 5 quietly gave the show a head start back in June, confirming a second installment before season 1 has even hit the schedule. That is not nothing — it usually means the network likes what it sees and wants to lock in momentum.

'We are excited to announce that production has begun on the second series of The Forsytes... this early commitment to a second chapter is a testament to the strength of the stories and characters that we know our audience will embrace.'

- Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, 5

Damien Timmer, CCO and founder of Mammoth Screen, also said they 'can’t wait' for everyone to see series 1 and are already rolling on the follow-up with Horsfield's scripts and an expanding cast. Translation: they are feeling very confident.

The Forsytes premieres on Channel 5 on Monday 20 October at 9 pm, with episodes weekly.