Ben Miller Promises 'Professor T' Will Send The Titular Character to Therapy
Ben Miller as Professor Jasper Tempest and Frances de la Tour as Adelaide Tempest in 'Professor T' Season 2
Eagle Eye Drama
The original Belgian mystery comedy series Professor T was the first major hit for Walter Presents on PBS Passport when the anthology series first started streaming in the U.S. in 2019. The series, which starred Koen De Bouw as Jasper Teerlinck, a.k.a. the titular Professor T, ran only three seasons and was broadcast in its original Flemish, making it a prime candidate for recreating in countries that aren't into subtitles. There have now been two official remakes; a German version, starring Matthias Matschke as Professor Jasper Thalheim, which ran four seasons, and an English language one, starring Ben Miller as Professor Jasper Tempest, currently filming a third.
The English and German versions of Professor T stuck close to the original Belgian mysteries from Season 1 of the original show in their first outings, only to dovetail into their own thing come Season 2. (This is also true of Before We Die, Season 2, which is already streaming on PBS Passport and begins airing on June 22.) In the case of the U.K. version, the result has been popular enough that the series landed a renewal for Season 3 not long after it finished its broadcast run on Channel 4 in the fall of 2022. Filming is now underway in Belgium and Cambridge.
However, if fans thought Season 2 went in a different direction by putting the Professor into therapy, Season 3 may downright tickle them. Speaking to Digital Spy, Ben Miller revealed, "We've got lots planned for not just this series, but also – we hope – future series. Lots of exciting things are gonna happen to that character and to those characters. It's double bubble, Professor T because you get really, really great crime every week – really baffling crime – but you also have these fantastic longer stories about those characters, and they're all fascinating."
Season 3's synopsis will also raise some eyebrows:
Set against the stunning backdrop of one of the world’s most prestigious educational institutions, Cambridge University, the next season of the multi-awarded crime drama will see Professor T banged up in prison and with his career on the line as he is forced to make a momentous decision. The formidable duo of Jasper’s mother, Adelaide and his therapist Dr Helena will be on hand to offer their own unique brand of support.
Miller (Death in Paradise) once again returns as the titular Professor, with Emma Naomi (Bridgerton) as his sidekick, DS Lisa Donckers, Barney White (Petrichor) as DS Dan Winters, Andy Gathergood (Four Lives) as DI Paul Rabbit, Juliet Aubrey (Whitstable Pearl) as DCI Christina Brand, Sarah Woodward (Queens of Mystery) as Ingrid Snares, and Douglas Reith (Downton Abbey) as The Dean. Frances de la Tour (Enola Holmes) returns as Adelaide Tempest, with Juliet Stevenson (The Long Call) as Jasper's therapist, Dr. Helena Goldberg.
Professor T Season 2 is expected to debut in September 2023 on most local PBS stations; as always, check your local listings. Season 3 is expected to air on Channel 4 in the U.K. in late 2023 and follow on PBS in 2024.
