What’s new to watch on BBC iPlayer? | September 23rd, 2023

22nd September 2023

Sashay your way to BBC iPlayer this week (23-29 September) as Mama Ru returns for another series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, followed by all the goss being dished up straight after in The After Shave with Danny Beard.Also the Phoenix Rise gang are back in school for a second term, while down under there’s a dark mystery surrounding an unsolved murder in Black Snow.Elsewhere we’ve got our dancing shoes on for the return of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, there’s a documentary from Strictly 2022 winner Hamza Yassin titled Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey, and we take a fascinating behind the scenes look at one of the world’s most famous nightclubs in Moulin Rouge: Yes We Can-Can!

What’s coming new to BBC iPlayer this week?

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

It’s a brand spanking new series of RuPaul’s Drag Race! Over the next ten weeks a cast of fabulous new drag queens will compete for RuPaul’s seal of approval and the much coveted title of the UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar.In this opening episode, international drag legend RuPaul welcomes the queens into the werk room for the very first time. Entering one by one, they meet their fellow competitors and of course, they meet RuPaul, who sets them a surprise first challenge: Ru ru-veals that they’re about to be judged on not one, not two, but three looks. The question remains: who will make the fiercest first impression on Mama Ru and the judging panel?Supermodel Kristen McMenamy joins Michelle Visage and Alan Carr to help RuPaul deliberate the fate of the queens. No one wants to be eliminated first!

Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series 5 on BBC iPlayer from Thursday 28 September
Read: Meet the Queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series 5
Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series 1-4 on BBC iPlayer

The After Shave with Danny Beard

The reigning champion of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Danny Beard takes up their winner’s prize and assumes the rightful position of television presenter extraordinaire for the official aftershow of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.Each week, following the latest episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Danny commiserates with the sashaying queen of the week and casts a forensic Beardy eye over proceedings, deliberating with drag experts, and generally spilling tea all over the place. This week, it’s the premiere! There’s much excitement in the air, as Danny prepares to interview the first queen to sashay away from the competition. Danny also invites their bestie and season four runner up Cheddar Gorgeous to join them in the studio as they debate the lewks, the gags, the tops and the bottoms, the shade, and the runners and riders of the brand new series.

Watch The After Shave with Danny Beard on BBC iPlayer from Thursday 28 September

Phoenix Rise

Our gang of misfits are back. But will they survive a new term at Phoenix Rise?It’s a new term at Phoenix Rise and a fresh start for Billy and Rihanna. Free from his old responsibilities, Billy gets swept up in some rule-breaking fun, urged on by wingman Darcy. Swerving studies means Billy’s about to fail his mocks, leading Darcy to plot an elaborate heist to steal the exam papers. Darcy’s about to risk it all to save his friend but can he pull off this daring plan without getting caught?Summer hasn’t returned from the psychiatric unit and the Boiler Room gang are missing their founder member. They’re shocked to find a mysterious stranger lurking in their beloved hideout: meet spiky and outspoken Daisy, who arrives armed with a message from Summer.Phoenix Rise takes a bold look at friendship, first love and family, alongside the complex realities of school life, mental health struggles and never-ending outside pressures – from money problems to dealing with an uncertain future. All through the lens of our resilient, misfit heroes who tackle life with laughter, courage and a lot of attitude.

Watch Phoenix Rise series 2 on BBC iPlayer from Monday 25 September
Watch Phoenix Rise series 1 on BBC iPlayer

Strictly Comes Dancing: It Takes Two

Janette Manrara is back and joined by Strictly alumnus Fleur East to give a rundown on the 21st series of Strictly Come Dancing. As always, the show is packed full of the latest headlines, backstage gossip, expert opinion and exclusive interviews. Plus a look back at the couples’ debut performances in Choreography Corner.

Watch Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on BBC iPlayer from Monday 25 September
Read: Strictly It Takes Two’s Janette Manrara and Fleur East tease “bigger, better and more glitzy” series full of laughs, honesty and backstage action

Black Snow

The town of Ashford, in rural North Queensland, gathers to unearth a time capsule buried by high school students back in 1994. Among the items of 90s memorabilia is a letter penned by Isabel Baker, a student of the class of ‘94 who was murdered shortly after taking part in the project. Isabel’s letter is read out in a public ceremony.The killing is still unsolved 25 years later, and the local community have long resolved that the perpetrator must have been a passing seasonal worker. But Isabel’s words now ring out to cast fresh suspicion over the entire town, fracturing the harmony Ashford had worked so hard to rebuild following her murder. Could her killer be among them?

Watch Black Snow on BBC iPlayer from Saturday 23 September

Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey

Hamza Yassin’s true passion is for nature, and he regularly roams the outdoors to capture its beauty on film as a wildlife cameraman.In this special film for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, he is on a quest to film his favourite birds of prey – and no corner of the UK is too remote for him to find them. The film sees him meeting hen harriers in the Cairngorms, white-tailed eagles in his back garden in the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, hobbies and marsh harriers over the Somerset Levels, and urban peregrine falcons nesting in Ealing Hospital in West London.

Watch Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey on BBC iPlayer from Sunday 24 September

Moulin Rouge: Yes We Can-Can!

For more than 130 years, France’s legendary Moulin Rouge cabaret club has been dazzling audiences with its own unique brand of Parisian ‘ooh la la’. But behind the red curtain, you’re more likely to bump into someone from Middlesbrough than Marseilles.The artistic director is Janet, an ex-dancer from Yorkshire, and a third of her troupe are also British. With an access-all-areas pass to the inner workings of the Moulin Rouge, this series follows Janet as she heads back to Britain to recruit a new line-up of British dancers to join the Moulin’s high-kicking ensemble.

Watch Moulin Rouge: Yes We Can-Can! on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday 27 September

What’s new to watch on BBC iPlayer now?

Strictly Come Dancing returns to screens, marking the 21st series of the nation’s favourite dancing show. The multi- award-winning series promises to entertain the nation once again, with presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman back in the ballroom to oversee proceedings each weekend as a host of new celebrity contestants compete for the coveted Glitterball Trophy.

Celebrity Race Across The World

Five famous faces take on the Race Across the World challenge, including broadcaster Alex Beresford and his dad, Noel; singer Mel Blatt and her mum, Helene; McFly drummer Harry Judd and his mum, Emma and British Racing Driver and pundit Billy Monger and his sister, Bonny.Starting in Marrakech, Morocco, the most north-western country in Africa, and ending in Tromsø, Norway, known as the Arctic capital, the celebs’ epic journey will span 24 countries and over 10,000 km.

Juice

This surreal comedy follows Jamma (Mawaan Rizwan) on a quest for attention as he navigates chaotic family dynamics and literally stumbles through love.

Picasso: The Beauty and the Beast

When Pablo Picasso died in 1973, the world mourned a superstar – a revolutionary creative powerhouse who repeatedly turned 20th century art on its head.But since then, the stories of his cruelty, womanising, coercive behaviour and cultural appropriation have made us call into question our reverence of the great master. Now, 50 years since his death, a new three-part series lays bare the life and work of a man who was as much monster as genius and looks at his legacy: the suicides and betrayals alongside the stunning artworks that he left behind.

Watch Picasso: The Beauty and the Beast on BBC iPlayer

Ballers: Ball or Nothing

With new owners, a new name and fresh talent, can the Caledonian Gladiators – Scotland’s only pro basketball team – rise to the top and break their 20 year trophy drought?

Watch Ballers: Ball or Nothing on BBC iPlayer

Rise of the Nazis: The Manhunt

The Rise of the Nazis: The Manhunt examines the little known people who hunted Nazi war people who hunted Nazi war criminals and brought the perpetrators of the Holocaust to justice.

Watch the Rise of the Nazis: The Manhunt on BBC iPlayer

Stranger in My Family

Luke grew up in a white working-class family in Rochdale, but always felt like an outsider. Upon discovering his dad is not his biological father and that he is in fact mixed-race, he goes on a search for his biological father, which reveals much more than he ever imagined.

Watch Stranger in My Family on BBC iPlayer

Voyage to Mars: The Longest Goodbye

In the next decade, NASA will send astronauts to Mars for the first time. In this documentary, a NASA psychologist explores how best to protect the mental health of crew members who will experience extreme social isolation during their three year journey to Mars.

Watch Voyage to Mars: The Longest Goodbye on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday 13 September

Coco Chanel Unbuttoned

The story of original influencer Coco Chanel, whose designs still represent the zenith of female sexuality, style and power. This is the culturally defining exploration of a legend whose work reflects the story of the 20th century.

Watch Coco Chanel Unbuttoned on BBC iPlayer

Bad Behaviour

Set in the remote campus of Silver Creek, an exclusive girls’ school, Bad Behaviour is a visceral ride into the epicentre of our teenage years where the decision to bully or be bullied has devastating consequences years later.The four-part Australian drama series is based on the book of the same name by Rebecca Starford.

Watch Bad Behaviour on BBC iPlayer

Mrs Brown’s Boys

Irish comedy, Mrs Brown boys returns for a fourth series, starring Brendan O’Carroll as Agnes Brown, the loudest, proudest mother in Ireland.Agnes Brown’s favourite pastime is meddling in the lives of her six children.

Top Gear America

The US version of the world’s biggest motoring show returns for a second series, following the motorised mischief and supercharged adventures of Dax Shepard, Rob Corddry and Jethro Bovingdon.

Watch Top Gear America series 1 and 2 on BBC iPlayer

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing

Two friends, beautiful places and a good natter. Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse go on a life-affirming, funny journey, sharing their changed outlooks and trying to land a catch in the sixth series of Gone Fishing.

The Following Events Are Based On A Pack Of Lies

The story of two very different women and the conman they have in common; a dark, funny, and unpredictable thriller about three remarkable characters trapped in a tangled triangle of complexly layered half-truths and lies of epic proportions. Starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Alistair Petrie, and Rebekah Station.

Watch The Following Events Are Based On A Pack Of Lies on BBC iPlayer

The Woman In The Wall

Ireland, 2015. When Lorna Brady wakes to find a corpse in her house, she has no idea who the dead woman is or if she’s responsible for the apparent murder.Retracing her steps, Lorna realises that the mysterious woman could be linked to her past in the town’s Magdalene Laundry. She may even hold the answer to the question Lorna has long craved: what happened to her child? Fearing her sleepwalking escapades, Lorna tries to keep herself awake whilst seeking out the truth.Meanwhile, in Dublin, detective Colman Akande is confronted with the murder of a local priest. Tracking the case brings him across the country and into Lorna’s orbit.

Andrew Tate: The Man Who Groomed The World?

An investigative film which takes viewers inside the international network spearheaded by the Tate brothers.For the first time, audiences will see the inner circle behind Andrew Tate, exposing those helping to craft him into a global figurehead, exploring the ideologies and end goal of Tate and his circle, and revealing how his global network has left potentially hundreds of victims in its wake.Investigative reporter Matt Shea and director Jamie Tahsin will take audiences from Romania to Buenos Aires and the US, to understand the scale and nature of Andrew Tate’s influence.

Watch Andrew Tate: The Man Who Groomed The World? on BBC iPlayer

Five Bedrooms

Five Bedrooms returns for a fourth series. Harry tries to outmanipulate his mother, Mel is after Ben’s body, and guilty Liz must face husband Stuart.

Starstruck

Starstruck is back for a third series. Years after their breakup, Jessie and Tom come face to face unexpectedly at best friend Kate’s wedding as she ties the knot with Ian. The initially awkward meeting finds the two former lovers wondering if there is a lingering spark.

Boot Dreams: Now or Never

L-R: Bruno Fernandes, Zak, Gifton Noel-Williams and Roman Kemp (Image: BBC/Expectation Entertainment Ltd./Dan Prince/Matt Burlem)

Boot Dreams: Now or Never is a six-part documentary series which sees 16 footballers, aged 18 to 26, all rejected by top clubs, arrive at a unique training camp which aims to get them a new pro contract by helping them with their struggles, both on and off the pitch.Can they get back in the game, and the dream job they love?Throughout the four-week process, they’ll also be visited at regular intervals by presenter Roman Kemp, who once dreamed of becoming pro himself, and wants to find out more about the experiences that have led them there.

Ghosts US

The second series of the US version of the hit UK series. A young couple’s dreams come true when they inherit a beautiful country house, only to find it’s both falling apart and inhabited by many of the deceased previous residents.Sam enlists the ghosts to help secure a good review from an overly critical couple staying at the bed and breakfast; Isaac tries to integrate Nigel into his friend group.

Tommy Jessop Goes To Hollywood

Line of Duty actor Tommy Jessop is on a mission to create his own movie with the help of his brother Will. Is Hollywood ready for a superhero with Down’s syndrome?Tommy is an award-winning actor and activist with Down’s syndrome. He has starred in high-profile TV programmes and short films, and now he wants to be a leading man. But the right roles are not being offered to him.Tommy wants to show that people with Down’s syndrome can play heroes and so, inspired by the advice of his agent, he has decided to take matters into his own hands.