'The Forsytes' Officially Rechristened with Season 2 Commission

Coverage of the Channel 5 rebrand rollout on March 12, 2025, focused heavily on the U.K. network's original offerings like The Madame Blanc Mysteries and the mass import of Paramount+ series that the streaming service is picking up along with the merging of linear Channel 5 and streaming service's My5's programming that is part of the network's switchover to being just known as "5." However, it was also noted the network was picking up Masterpiece's The Forsytes for U.K. broadcast, a sensible decision considering that the Channel 5-Masterpiece co-production All Creatures Great & Small has been a smash success on both sides of the pond.

One of the first things we did was reach out to Masterpiece to ask about the title, since before that announcement, the series had been called The Forsyte Saga, as was the 2002 Masterpiece-BBC co-production remake before it, and the BBC adaptation before that one in 1967. They confirmed the name change was for both the U.K. and U.S. releases; however, according to Deadline, with 5 on board, Masterpiece is commissioning a Season 2 for the still-as-yet-forthcoming series. 

(PBS and Masterpiece have not responded to requests for comment. We will update as soon as we hear back.)

The Season 2 commission was probably coming with or without a U.K. broadcast partner, as Masterpiece has been upfront in its plans for this particular remake. The first adaptation of The Forsyte Saga (the 1967 one) was the genesis for the launch of Masterpiece Theater after the 1969 broadcast on PBS, which was the public broadcaster's first nationwide hit. Masterpiece's decision to go ahead and remake the series without a U.K. co-producer was an ambitious one from the start. The press releases have been worded to make it clear everyone involved would like The Forsytes to run for decades if it can, or at least manage to pull off a full Downton Abbey, with six seasons and a trilogy of movies.

Case in point: the Season 1 logline from Masterpiece reads:

The first season of six episodes follows the lives of the wealthy Forsyte family in 1880s London and is based on John Galsworthy’s Nobel Prize-winning tale of love, loyalty, ambition, and betrayal.

The series cast stars Francesca Annis (Flesh & Blood) as matriarch Ann Forsyte; Stephen Moyer (Sexy Beast) as elder son, Jolyon Senior; Jack Davenport (Ten Percent) as younger son, James; Danny Griffin (The Gentlemen) as Jolyon Sr.'s bohemian son, Jo; Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey) as Jo’s wife, Frances; and Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark) as Jo’s first love, Louisa Byrne. Joshua Orpin (Titans) is James’ son, Soames; Millie Gibson (Doctor Who) is his true love, Irene; and Tom Durant Pritchard (Miss Scarlet) plays Monty Dartie, James’ son-in-law.

The rest of the sprawling cast includes Josette Simon (Broadchurch), Tristan Sturrock (Poldark), Justine Moore (Call the Midwife), Jamie Flatters (Liar), Naomi Frederick (Belgravia), Sharon Rose (Silent Witness), Owen Igiehon (Disclaimer), Fiona Button (Truelove), Eleanor Jackson (The Royal Mob), and OG 1967 The Forsyte Saga star Susan Hampshire OBE..

Debbie Horsfield (Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale) will pen all six episodes, with directors Meenu Gaur (Murder Is Easy) and Annetta Laufer (Get Millie Black) splitting helming duties and Sarah Lewis (The Long Shadow) producing. Horsfield and Gaur executive produce with Sheena Bucktowonsing, Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, and Susanne Simpson for Masterpiece. 

The Forsytes Season 1 does not have a release date as yet. However, unless Masterpiece plans to revive the old Poldark slot in the fall of 2025, the first season will likely arrive on most PBS stations in the spring of 2026, before airing and streaming on 5 in the U.K., with Season 2 out the following year. 

The 2002 adaptation of The Forsyte Saga is available for members to stream on most PBS Passports. Check your local listings and streaming services.