FEATURED PROGRAMS on Blue Ridge PBS
Be sure to check our schedule for additional air times!
The American Revolution
Tuesdays & Wednesdays, April 20 – May 5 @ 9pm
This is a six-part, 12-hour documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt examines how America’s founding turned the world upside-down. Thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic Coast rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired centuries of democratic movements around the globe. An expansive look at the virtues and contradictions of the war and the birth of the United States of America, the film follows dozens of figures from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Antiques Roadshow
Mondays @ 8pm
Part adventure, part history lesson, part treasure hunt.
April 20 – 250 Years of Americana
ROADSHOW discoveries reflecting 250 years of American art, artifacts, crafts and collectibles including a flag quilt, ca. 1880, a Tiffany Studios turtle back glass shade, ca. 1915 and an 1884 Edison light bulb. One reaches $300K.
April 27 – Grants Farm, Hour 1
Meet us in St. Louis as ROADSHOW discovers treasures including an Andrew Clemens sand bottle, ca. 1885, a 1933 Goudey baseball card set 239/240 and a Joan Miró pencil on paper, ca. 1965. One memorable find is valued at $110K–$130K.
Call the Midwife
Sundays @ 8pm
It's 1971, and a new era dawns with the Women’s Liberation movement in the UK. As the year unfolds, the team faces serious cases, including a premature birth, slavery, carbon monoxide poisoning, male breast cancer, child abuse, and lupus.
April 5 – Episode 3
Rosalind faces a troubling domestic issue as Joyce befriends a single mother with placenta previa.
April 12 – Episode 4
Sister Catherine is distressed when a newborn baby is taken from the maternity home.
April 19 – Episode 5
When tragedy strikes a Poplar family, Dr. Turner's treatment comes under scrutiny.
April 26 – Episode 6
Dr. Turner receives shocking news that will affect the future of the maternity house.
The Count of Monte Cristo on Masterpiece
Sundays @ 10pm
On the eve of his wedding, Edmond Dantès is falsely accused of treason and imprisoned. After escaping and discovering a hidden treasure, he reinvents himself as the Count of Monte Cristo in this captivating tale of revenge, betrayal, and redemption.
April 5 – The Treasure
After escaping prison, Edmond faces devastating news and turns toward revenge.
April 12 – The Red Room
Five years later, Edmond returns as the Count to confront his betrayers, unsettling Mercedes.
April 19 – The Ball
As Edmond uncovers more dark secrets, Mercedes grows suspicious of his true identity.
April 26 – Providence
In Paris high society, Edmond manipulates his enemies while hiding his identity from Mercedes.
Finding Your Roots - NEW EPISODES!
Tuesdays @ 8pm
The acclaimed series explores the mysteries, surprises and revelations hidden in the family trees of popular figures.
April 7 – Song of the South
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of actor Danielle Deadwyler and musician Rhiannon Giddens—two artists who are both deeply tied to their Southern heritage. Using genealogical detective work, Gates uncovers stories that his guests’ ancestors went to great lengths to conceal—meeting heroes and villains--and celebrating the virtue of accepting one’s relatives whoever they may be.
April 14 – Rags to Riches
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Kate Burton and media mogul Barry Diller, meeting ancestors who made huge sacrifices to escape poverty.
The Forsytes on Masterpiece
Sundays @ 9pm
Desire, ambition, and betrayal simmer at the heart of The Forsytes, a wealthy family whose generations are torn between tradition and duty against happiness and the pursuit of love in this epic Victorian-era drama.
April 5 – Episode 3
Jo faces James’s sabotage as Soames promises a Parisian future to Irene.
April 12 – Episode 4
Jo recommits to family as Soames and Irene’s Parisian adventure ends abruptly.
April 19 – Episode 5
Disaster strikes at Forsyte & Co as Soames ends Irene’s Paris dreams. Can Jo save the day?
April 26 – SEASON FINALE!
Soames commissions a country house as Jo decides his future. Meanwhile, Ann reveals a dark secret.
Great Performances: Now Hear This – NEW SEASON!
Fridays @ 9pm
Join Scott Yoo, renowned violinist and conductor of the Mexico City Philharmonic, on a voyage of music discovery. Season seven explores new stories of gifted young artists, virtuosos, unique collaborations, and Yoo's experiences as a composer.
April 10 – Brahms: Free But Not Alone
Journey through Germany with to discover the composer's private world.
April 17 – Everyone Loves Joplin
Discover the king of ragtime, Scott Joplin, with Scott Yoo as he uncovers his lasting impact.
April 24 – The Call of Istanbul
Explore the layered sounds of Istanbul where empires met from classical music to modern jazz.
Life Unearthed with Ariel Waldman
Thursdays @ 7pm
This visually striking science-driven docu-series reveals Earth’s ecosystems through radical shifts in scale—from microscopic wildlife to the planet’s most iconic animals—and even the possibilities of life beyond Earth. Hosted by explorer Ariel Waldman, the series invites viewers to look closely and think expansively. With episodes spanning environments near and far, from the sweeping American Prairies to the alien terrains of Antarctica, the series illuminates how every ecosystem is part of something bigger.
- April 2 – Antarctica: Life at the Edge
- April 9 – Antarctica: Life Under the Ice
- April 16 – Antarctica: Life on the Rocks
- April 23 – Prairies: Life on the Plains
- April 30 – Prairies: Life in Water
Lucy Worsley Investigates: The American Revolution
Tuesdays, April 7 & 14 @ 9pm
In this two-part series, Lucy Worsley investigates one of history’s most explosive break-ups: the 18th century split between Britain and its 13 North American colonies. With access to expert insights and original evidence, Lucy explores the motivations behind the Americans’ will for independence; uncovers how the American Revolution affected Britain with sabotage, espionage, and political unrest reshaping the empire and asks whether this explosive break-up could have been avoided?
NOVA – NEW EPISODES!
Wednesdays @ 9pm
Explore the science behind the headlines in PBS's premiere science series.
April 15 – Return to the Moon
A half-century after American astronauts walked on the Moon, NASA and its international partners are taking the dream of Apollo a giant step further. In the coming years, the Artemis missions – named after Apollo's twin sister in Greek mythology – aim to bring astronauts back to the Moon and establish a lunar space station for scientific and commercial exploration. Follow the four members of the Artemis II crew as they embark on a perilous 10-day journey to orbit the Moon, venturing beyond Earth orbit for the first time since Apollo and farther into the Solar System than any humans have gone before.
April 22 – Rain Bombs
An invisible, unpredictable atmospheric force is wreaking havoc across the globe, sinking superyachts and bringing down planes. Follow scientists as they race to understand these catastrophic weather events, exploring how they form, what causes their devastating impacts, and how we might someday learn to predict them.
April 29 – Athens: Birth of Democracy
Archaeologists investigate the dramatic origins of democracy in ancient Greece 2,500 years ago.
Shared Planet
Wednesday, April 29 @ 10pm
With stunning cinematography, this unique global series reveals the untold stories of people and wildlife thriving together. Celebrating the benefits of making room for nature, this series offers a vision of a hopeful future.
Wilding
Wednesday, April 22 @ 10pm
Follow the story of a young couple that bets on nature for the future of their four-hundred-year-old estate. The young couple battles entrenched tradition and dares to place the fate of their farm in the hands of nature.
COMING IN MAY!
American Experience: Sea Biscuit
Tuesday, May 26 @ 9pm
He was boxy, with stumpy legs that wouldn't completely straighten a short straggly tail and an ungainly gait; though he didn't look the part, Seabiscuit was one of the most remarkable thoroughbred racehorses in history. In the 1930s, when Americans longed to escape the grim realities of Depression-era life, four men turned Seabiscuit into a national hero.
American Masters | W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel with a Cause – NEW!
Tuesday, May 19 @ 9pm
Discover W.E.B. Du Bois’s remarkable life from his birth, just five years after the Emancipation Proclamation; to his death, on the eve of the March on Washington in 1963, and how his legacy as an activist continues to resonate today.
The American Revolution
Tuesdays & Wednesdays, April 20 – May 5 @ 9pm
This is a six-part, 12-hour documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt examines how America’s founding turned the world upside-down. Thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic Coast rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired centuries of democratic movements around the globe. An expansive look at the virtues and contradictions of the war and the birth of the United States of America, the film follows dozens of figures from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Antiques Roadshow
Mondays @ 8pm
Part adventure, part history lesson, part treasure hunt.
May 4 – Grants Farm, Hour 2
ROADSHOW harvests hidden treasures at Grant’s Farm, including a 1960 Ansel Adams Portfolio III: Yosemite Valley, a Persian Qashqai Gabbeh rug, ca. 1935, and 1959 JFK’s boxer shorts with signed photo. One find reaches $40,000-$60,000!
May 11 – Grants Farm, Hour 3
Catch a crop of ROADSHOW discoveries at Grant’s Farm, including a Cartier Art Deco Tutti Frutti clutch, ca. 1925, a Carl Kauba cowboy bronze, ca. 1900, and a Sumerian cuneiform tablet, ca. 2150 BCE. One find has a value of $30K -$100K!
May 18 – Junk in the Trunk 15
Visit all five cities from ROADSHOW’s celebratory Season 30 for never before-seen finds, including a 1961 JFK Santa Claus Letter, a 1979 Ed Ruscha Stage Fright ink on paper, and a John Juzek violin, ca. 1950. Guess the hour’s big find!
May 25 – Celebrating Asian-Pacific Heritage
Travel with ROADSHOW to watch incredible items from Asian-American, Asian and Pacific Islands creators, including a Hawaiian Kou bowl, a Gandhi presentation spinning wheel, and an 1888 Joseph Nawahi painting. Which is $250,000-$300,000?
Call the Midwife
Sundays @ 8pm
It's 1971, and a new era dawns with the Women’s Liberation movement in the UK. As the year unfolds, the team faces serious cases, including a premature birth, slavery, carbon monoxide poisoning, male breast cancer, child abuse, and lupus.
May 3 – Episode 7
Despite the impending closure notice, a new cohort of junior doctors joins the midwives.
May 10 – Episode 8 - SEASON FINALE!
Sister Veronica must decide her future before the maternity home prepares to close its doors.
The Count of Monte Cristo on Masterpiece
Sundays @ 10pm
On the eve of his wedding, Edmond Dantès is falsely accused of treason and imprisoned. After escaping and discovering a hidden treasure, he reinvents himself as the Count of Monte Cristo in this captivating tale of revenge, betrayal, and redemption.
May 3 – The Duel
As Edmond’s revenge continues, Fernand’s misdeeds are made public. Outraged by his father’s downfall, Fernand and his son Albert challenges Edmond to a duel. But with such high stakes, it may be time to reveal the truth before it’s too late.
May 10 – The Last Two
With one enemy out of the way, Edmond works to ensure that the remaining two pay for their crimes against him. A possible future with Mercedes awaits, but after years of deceit, is he still the same man?
Downton Abbey, Season 1, on Masterpiece
Sundays @ 10pm beginning May 17
Created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park), Downton Abbey depicts the lives of the noble Crawley family and the staff who serve them, set at their Edwardian country house in 1912.
Finding Your Roots
Tuesdays @ 8pm
The acclaimed series explores the mysteries, surprises and revelations hidden in the family trees of popular figures.
May 5 – In the Blood
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers the surprising roots of two people who were raised by artists: actor Michael Douglas and writer/director Lena Dunham.
May 12 – Far From Home
Henry Louis Gates maps the family trees of pop icon Cyndi Lauper and actors Jamie Chung and Danny Trejo, exploring records in Italy, Korea, and Mexico to uncover ancestors whose stories were lost when their families immigrated to America.
May 19 – Stranger than Fiction
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals inspiring ancestors of novelist Amy Tan & poet Rita Dove.
May 26 – Dreamers: One and All
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the ancestry of actor Sharon Stone & model Chrissy Teigen.
Great Performances - NEW EPISODES!
Fridays @ 9pm
Watch television’s longest-running performing arts anthology to enjoy the best in music, dance and theater.
May 8 – Suffs
Witness the American women's suffrage movement in this Tony-winning Broadway musical. Created by Shaina Taub, the cast features Taub as Alice Paul, Tony winner Nikki M. James as Ida B. Wells, and Tony nominee Jenn Colella as Carrie Chapman Catt.
May 15 – Irving Berlin’s Top Hat
Enjoy this acclaimed musical inspired by the 1935 movie starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers featuring a timeless score by Irving Berlin including classics like “Cheek to Cheek,” “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” and “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”
May 22 – An Evening with Nicole Scherzinger
Experience the Tony winner's return to Royal Albert Hall in her first major UK solo show in 13 years recorded with a full orchestra. Enjoy Broadway favorites and pop hits including songs from her award-winning role in "Sunset Boulevard.”
May 29 – Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy
Discover the influence of Jewish composers and lyricists on the modern American musical through interviews, archival footage, and insights from legends like Stephen Sondheim, Mel Brooks, and many more.
Great Performances | Now Hear This: The Iceland Sound
Friday, May 1 @ 9pm
Enjoy this acclaimed musical inspired by the 1935 movie starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers featuring a timeless score by Irving Berlin including classics like “Cheek to Cheek,” “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” and “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”
Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure – NEW!
Wednesday, May 6 @ 8pm
In 1976 David Attenborough embarked on his most ambitious project ever. No-one had ever attempted a natural history series on this scale before. His reputation was on the line. This is the story behind TV’s first wildlife blockbuster, Life on Earth.
Lucy Worsley’s Royal Myths and Secrets | Elizabeth I: The Warrior Queen
Sunday, May 17 @ 8pm
Join Lucy Worsley for an exploration of how Elizabeth I’s image as a warrior queen, created by a series of myths and secrets about her victory over the Spanish Armada, shaped British national identity for centuries.
Margaret: The Rebel Princess
Back-to-Back Episodes! Sunday, May 31 @ 8pm
This intimate two-part series profiles Princess Margaret, whose life and loves reflected the social and sexual revolution that transformed the western world during the 20th century.
MaryLand on Masterpiece
Sundays, May 3-17 @ 9pm
Sisters Becca (Suranne Jones,“Gentleman Jack,” “Vigil”) and Rosaline (Eve Best, (“House of the Dragon,” “Nurse Jackie”) find themselves thrown together by the sudden death of their mother, Mary. They come to find out that she was living an entirely secret life on the Isle of Man, far from her home with her husband, Becca and Rosaline’s father. As the sisters travel through the early days of grief and discover their mother’s secrets, they meet their mother’s quirky friend Cathy (Stockard Channing, “The Good Wife,” “The West Wing”) who seems to know more about their mother than they do. Mary’s death offers Becca and Rosaline a chance to not only reframe their relationship but fundamentally reshape who they are. At its heart, MaryLand is a love story of two sisters.
National Memorial Day Concert 2026
Sunday, May 24 @ 8pm
America’s national night of remembrance hosted by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise airs live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, honors the courage and sacrifice of our military men and women, their families, and pays tribute to all who have given their lives in service to our nation. The evening will feature powerful storytelling and musical salutes featuring world-renowned artists with the National Symphony Orchestra, and a special commemoration of the country’s 250th Anniversary highlighting the all-volunteer force that won our independence in the American Revolution.
Nature
Wednesdays @ 8pm
Forty years on, it is the premier voice for the natural world, an essential lens on the creatures, great and small, that sustain us all on our living planet.
May 13 – Attenborough and the Sea Dragon
Join Sir David Attenborough as he pieces together the remarkable discovery of the Ichthyosaur, a fearsome fish lizard that lived during the age of dinosaurs.
May 20 – Attenborough’s Wonder of Song
David Attenborough presents seven of the most remarkable animal songs found in nature and explores the significance of these songs in the lives of their species.
May 27 – Attenborough and the Jurassic Sea Monster
Follow Sir David Attenborough and a team of forensic experts as they unearth the fossil of a giant Pliosaur, the largest Jurassic predator ever known.
NOVA
Wednesdays @ 9pm
Explore the science behind the headlines in PBS's premiere science series.
May 6 – Decoding the Universe: Cosmos
Explore big discoveries that have revolutionized our understanding of the universe.
May 13 – Decoding the Universe: Quantum
Dive into the universe at the tiniest – and weirdest – of scales.
May 20 – When Whales Could Walk
Explore big discoveries that have revolutionized our understanding of the universe.
May 27 – Great Mammoth Mystery
Sir David Attenborough explores a site with traces of ancient mammoths and Neanderthals.
Samantha Brown’s Places to Love
Thursdays @ 7pm
Experience the passion of a destination through food and drink, arts and culture, and adventure
May 14 – Route 66 in New Mexico
Samantha travels the Mother Road through New Mexico, starting at the retro Motel Safari in Tucumcari. She visits the Santa Rosa Route 66 Car Museum, then heads to Santa Fe, where Native, Spanish, and American cultures meet. In Albuquerque, she tours the Kimo Theatre and gets a custom hat, then explores Grants’ Mining Museum, Continental Divide, and Gallup’s Earl’s Café and Cultural Center.
May 21 – Route 66 in Arizona
Samantha’s Route 66 adventure continues through Arizona’s 244 miles of the Mother Road. She marvels at the Petrified Forest, visits the Jackrabbit Trading Post, and stays at Winslow’s historic La Posada. Exploring Walnut Canyon and Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory, she heads to Williams’ quirky Poozeum, meets Route 66 legend Angel Delgadillo in Seligman, and ends in Kingman’s Route 66 Museum.
May 28 – Route 66 in California
Samantha’s California Route 66 journey begins in Goffs, a Mojave Desert railroad town tied to WWII history. In Amboy, she meets locals reviving the ghost town, then explores Route 66 through Barstow’s Marine base. She visits Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch, the Wigwam Motel, and Pasadena’s Gamble House before ending her adventure at Santa Monica Pier, where Route 66 meets the Pacific.
Secrets of the Dead: China’s Bronze Kingdom – NEW EPISODE!
Wednesday, May 27 @ 10pm
The chance discovery of a jade artifact has led to the unearthing of an ancient city hidden in the mountains of Sichuan. With more than 10,000 items found so far, is this the capital of the ancient Shu kingdom?
Shared Planet
Wednesdays @ 10pm
With stunning cinematography, this unique global series reveals the untold stories of people and wildlife thriving together. Celebrating the benefits of making room for nature, this series offers a vision of a hopeful future.
May 6 – Open Spaces
Across our planet’s fragile landscapes, witness how people and wildlife coexist harmoniously.
May 13 – Forests
Meet the forest-dwellers and pioneers rewriting the rules of how we coexist among the trees.
May 20 – Water
Dive into a new blueprint for our oceans, where protecting aquatic life is the key to human prosperity.
Write Around the Corner - NEW EPISODES!
Tuesdays @ 7:30pm
This series, hosted by Rose Martin, features writers who are from Virginia or who write about Virginia. Recorded on location, each half hour interview delves into the stories behind the stories.
May 6 - Kristin Kisska shares her debut novel, The Hint of Light. An Agatha Award Finalist, it’s about unconditional love, secrets and what binds us together.
May 13 - Edith-Anne Duncan shares insights into creating a beautiful and functional home as we discuss her book, Southern Sensibility.
May 20 - Tara Laskowski discusses her atmospheric suspense novel, The Weekend Retreat. This novel, set at a lush winery, is full of unexpected twists and turns.
May 27 - Donna Andrews, the New York Times bestselling author of the Meg Langslow mystery series, talks about her books that are chocked full of humor and homicide.