Is ‘The Forsytes’ About to Be PBS’s Hottest Show Ever? See Romantic New Photos

PBS is turning up the heat with The Forsytes, the latest adaptation of The Forsyte Saga novels. The network revealed the first episodic photos from the Masterpiece drama on Wednesday, October 8. Between shirtless scenes and romantic moments, it’s shaping up to be a steamier show than viewers are used to from PBS.

The network knows it. PBS describes The Forsytes as a costume drama that fans of Downton Abbey, The Gilded Age, and Bridgerton will love. While it probably doesn’t bring the same level of heat as Bridgerton, The Forytes seems primed to be a standout for PBS with its love stories.

Premiering in 2026, desire, ambition, and betrayal are at the heart of this sumptuous costume drama that follows the romances, family bonds, and ambitions of the Forsytes, a prominent upper-class family in late 1800s London. This new reimagining portrays events that take place before those covered in John Galsworthy’s classic books and brings romance to the forefront.

The cast includes Stephen Moyer as Jolyon Forsyte Sr., Jack Davenport as James Forsyte, Danny Griffin as Jolyon Forsyte Jr., Tuppence Middleton as Frances Forsyte, Eleanor Tomlinson as Louisa Byrne, Millie Gibson as Irene Heron, and Joshua Orpin as Soames Forsyte.

The Forsytes also stars Francesca Annis as the formidable Forsyte matriarch, Ann, with Moyer as her eldest son, head of the family stockbroking firm Forsyte & Co. Griffin plays his bohemian son, Jo, Middleton is Jo’s status-driven wife, Frances, and Tomlinson plays Louisa Byrne, a Soho dressmaker and Jo’s first love.

Rounding out the cast are Josette Simon, Tom Durant-Pritchard, and Susan Hampshire OBE — a returning star from the 1960s BBC adaptation. The series has already been renewed for Season 2. Outlander‘s Richard Rankin will be part of the second season.

PBS Masterpiece’s The Forsytes is the third onscreen adaptation of this book series. The first, called The Forsyte Saga, was in 1967, and the second series of the same name was in 2002. See PBS’s Forsyte family and those in their sphere in The Forsytes portrait gallery below.

The Forsytes, Series Premiere, 2026, PBS