How to Watch Professor T Season 5 on PBS: Premiere Time, DIRECTV Channels and Streaming
Professor T Season 5 makes its PBS broadcast premiere on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 8 p.m. on many PBS stations (7 p.m. Central on stations such as Nebraska Public Media). Ben Miller returns as Cambridge criminologist Jasper Tempest, and the six new episodes air weekly on Sunday nights through November 22.
On DIRECTV, watch on your local PBS member station. If you don’t want to wait, all six episodes have been streaming early with PBS Passport since August 9. Here’s how to watch, as of October 16, 2026.
Professor T Season 5 at a glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Broadcast premiere | Sunday, October 18, 2026 |
| Time | 8 p.m. local time on many PBS stations; 7 p.m. Central on some stations. PBS stations set their own schedules, so check yours. |
| Network | PBS (local member stations) |
| Episodes | 6, weekly on Sundays through November 22, 2026 |
| Stars | Ben Miller (Jasper Tempest), Juliet Stevenson (Helena) |
| DIRECTV | Your local PBS station in DIRECTV local channels; PBS national 288, PBS East 360 (HD 1360) and PBS West 362 (HD 1362) where included |
| Streaming | Full season with PBS Passport since August 9, 2026; pbs.org and the PBS app |
| Same night on PBS | MASTERPIECE: Maigret Season 2 and The Gold Season 2 follow on many stations |
What channel is Professor T on DIRECTV?
Professor T airs on PBS, so the main way to watch on DIRECTV is your local PBS member station in your DIRECTV local channels. Press GUIDE and search “Professor T” to find the right station and set a series recording for all six Sundays.
Some DIRECTV accounts also show national PBS feeds. Our PBS on DIRECTV channel guide lists PBS national on 288, PBS East on 360 (HD 1360) and PBS West on 362 (HD 1362). Availability depends on your account and address, and Professor T is scheduled station by station, so search the guide rather than relying only on a channel number. If your locals are missing, see how to add or remove local channels on DIRECTV, or call 1-855-690-9884.
Professor T Season 5 episode schedule
These are the Sunday broadcast dates PBS stations such as KPBS list for 8 p.m. Your station’s time may differ.
| Episode | PBS air date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Natural Causes | Sunday, October 18, 2026 | Jasper and Helena test their new romance at a luxury hotel and spa, but two “natural” deaths rouse his suspicion. Dan meets the enigmatic Leonie. |
| 2. The Ring | Sunday, October 25, 2026 | A boxing champ is found dead after a charity bout upset, and Jasper’s mother Adelaide collapses mid-flight. |
| 3. Retreat | Sunday, November 1, 2026 | A death at a spiritual retreat draws Jasper into the orbit of the mysterious Lady Cynthia. |
| 4. Ghostwriter | Sunday, November 8, 2026 | Jasper’s former mentor, crime writer Hamish Maclean, is murdered, and Jasper risks his own life to find the killer. |
| 5. Cipher | Sunday, November 15, 2026 | A golf instructor’s murder and a taunting cipher spark fears of a serial killer. |
| 6. The Things We Do for Love | Sunday, November 22, 2026 | A Comic Con stabbing in Cambridge and Dan’s shocking arrest put the team to the test in the finale. |
Many stations also run encores during the week. KPBS, for example, repeats each episode on Tuesday nights on its second channel, so check your station’s listings if you miss Sunday.
How to stream Professor T Season 5
- PBS Passport: all six Season 5 episodes have been available to stream with PBS Passport since August 9, 2026, more than two months before the TV premiere. Seasons 1 to 4 stream with Passport too. Passport is a member benefit from your local PBS station.
- PBS app and pbs.org: PBS says Professor T streams on pbs.org and the PBS app, which runs on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung and VIZIO TVs, Chromecast and phones.
- Local station livestream: many PBS stations stream their live channel in the PBS app, so you can watch Sunday night without a TV.
- DIRECTV Gemini: watch your local PBS station in the live guide, or open the PBS app from APPS. See our DIRECTV Gemini device guide.
PBS also runs free channels inside other apps. See PBS channels streaming free inside Prime Video for that option.
What Professor T Season 5 is about
Jasper Tempest is a brilliant, meticulous and famously unconventional Cambridge criminologist who helps the police crack baffling cases while wrestling with his own OCD. Season 5 starts with what should be a quiet getaway for Jasper and Helena, until an “accidental” death at a secluded spa reawakens his instincts.
From there the cases get darker, from a fatal charity boxing match to a murder at a Cambridge comic convention. Jasper faces personal turmoil that clouds his judgment, Maiya leads the team, Chloe grows more confident and Dan’s new romance with Leonie carries dangerous consequences.
On many PBS stations, Professor T leads into a full night of British drama, with MASTERPIECE’s Maigret Season 2 at 9 p.m. ET and The Gold Season 2 at 10 p.m. ET. For more viewing ideas this month, browse October 2026 streaming deals.
Want your local PBS station and a Gemini setup on one plan? Check DIRECTV options at your address or call 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
When does Professor T Season 5 premiere on PBS?
The broadcast premiere is Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 8 p.m. on many PBS stations, or 7 p.m. Central on some. PBS stations set their own schedules, so check your local listings.
What channel is Professor T on DIRECTV?
Watch on your local PBS member station in your DIRECTV local channels. Search Professor T in the guide. Some accounts also show PBS national on 288, PBS East on 360 and PBS West on 362.
Can I stream Professor T Season 5 now?
Yes. All six episodes have been streaming early with PBS Passport since August 9, 2026. Passport is a member benefit from your local PBS station.
How many episodes are in Professor T Season 5?
Six: Natural Causes, The Ring, Retreat, Ghostwriter, Cipher and The Things We Do for Love. They air weekly on Sundays from October 18 through November 22, 2026.
Who stars in Professor T Season 5?
Ben Miller returns as Jasper Tempest, with Juliet Stevenson as Helena.
Is Professor T part of MASTERPIECE?
No. Professor T airs on PBS stations on its own, but many stations schedule it right before MASTERPIECE’s Maigret and The Gold on Sunday nights.
Need help finding your local PBS station on DIRECTV before Sunday night? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 16, 2026 from PBS station listings for Professor T Season 5 (KPBS episode guide and Sunday 8 p.m. schedule, October 18 to November 22, 2026; WPBS and PBS NC premiere listings for Sunday, October 18 at 8 p.m.; Nebraska Public Media at 7 p.m. Central; PBS Hawaiʻi), the PBS show page and WPBS announcement on PBS Passport early access from August 9, 2026, and live AmericanTV.com channel guides. Air times vary by PBS station, and channel lineups, local station carriage, streaming windows and package contents can change by address and account. Professor T, PBS, PBS Passport, MASTERPIECE, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.