(L-R) Jemima West as Alice Whelan and Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Ralph Whelan. (C) New Pictures and Channel 4 for MASTERPIECE in association with All3Media International.
UK Channel 4 has cancelled the Indian Summers TV show after two seasons. A British drama set in Simla (Shimla) in northern India, the first season of Indian Summers aired on PBS in the US, from September to November 2015. PBS has not yet announced the premiere date for the second and final season of Indian Summers. It is expected to air stateside in 2016, though. Masterpiece PBS co-produces the series, and PBS released a season two preview, back in December.
Indian Summers stars Julie Walters, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Jemima West, Nikesh Patel, Roshan Seth, and Lillete Dubey. The cast also includes Alexander Cobb, Craig Parkinson, Fiona Glascott, Amber Rose Revah, Aysha Kala, Olivia Grant, and Edward Hogg.
Radio Times confirmed the Indian Summers cancellation with Channel 4. Here is more:
Much like the British Empire itself, Indian Summers has retreated into history. Channel 4 has confirmed that the period drama, set during the British Raj, will not be returning for a third series.
“We’re incredibly proud of Indian Summers and have loved having it in the schedule, the channel said in a statement. “But with a number of new drama launches already confirmed for 2017, we have decided not to commission a third series.”
Here is more on the Indian Summers TV series, from a 2014 PBS press release announcing the series.
Set against the sweeping grandeur of the Himalayas and tea plantations of Northern India, the drama tells the rich and explosive story of the decline of the British Empire and the birth of modern India, from both sides of the experience. But at the heart of the story lie the implications and rami cations of the tangled web of passions, rivalries and clashes that de ne the lives of those brought together in this summer which will change everything.
It’s the summer of 1932. India dreams of Independence, but the British are clinging to power. In the foothills of the Himalayas stands Simla, a little England where every summer the British power-brokers of this nation are posted to govern during the summer months.
Ralph Whelan (Lloyd-Hughes), coolly ambitious, a coming man and tipped for promotion, is Private Secretary to the Viceroy of India. His sister, Alice (West), returns to Simla alone with her child and nds herself drawn to Aafrin (Patel), a Junior Clerk in the Viceroy’s of ce and son to Roshana (Dubey) and Darius (Seth), a gentle man and veteran of The Great War. Aafrin is brother to Sooni (Kala), severe and beautiful, and his spoilt younger sister Shamshad.
At the heart of Simla’s society is Cynthia (Walters), widowed doyenne of the Royal Club who is as at home in the tack room as she is the ballroom. A force to be reckoned with, her in uence spreads throughout the community.
The cast of characters also includes Douglas (Parkinson), who runs a missionary school, his wife Sarah (Glascott) who yearns for the comforts of home, Ian McLeod (Cobb), the young and naïve Scottish tea plantation heir, and the mysterious Anglo-Indian woman Leena (Revah).
As Indian Summers begins, the stories of promises, secrets, politics, power, sex and love play out as the British Raj begins to falter and a nation opens its eyes to the possibilities of freedom.
What do you think? Are you a fan of the Indian Summers TV show on Channel 4 and PBS? Do you think Indian Summers was cancelled at the right time, or should it have been renewed for a third season?
Very sad that there is no season 3. Really love this drama and hate to see it go. I agree–would be great to have a two part special to wrap it up. PLEASE….
My mother and I both love Indian Summers. I loved the beauty of the place almost as much as the story! I sincerely hope PBS doesn’t cancel Poldark or The Durrells in Corfu! I hate it when such great shows are prematurely cancelled. It makes me very cautious about watching any new shows on PBS. If they are going to cancel it after just two seasons it’s hardly worth getting invested in the characters.
This just can’t be the end of Indian Summers! I was so looking forward to carrying on the story lines of these interesting people in such a fascinating time of history. There is much more to explore about the lives of the characters caught up in the time of India’s coming independence by the very short sighted British. Many interesting times to come for our community of summer residents and the locals they share their lives with. This is a travesty to end such a well written, superbly acted and beautifully photographed story while being informed. Please reconsider. There are… Read more »
Please have season 3: We want Ian to find love and see Leena get out of prison. Ian could be the key to that. Ralph and his son’s relationship needs to develop.Too many loose ends. Plus there is a revolution unfolding. Now that we have fallen in love with these characters you are abruptly taking them away from us.
Loved this program. Hate to see it go.
I love this series and hate the fact I won’t know what happens to these characters I love. Wouldn’t PBS consider doing for a two part special wrapping up the story lines sometime in the future?
I can’t believe you’re cancelling such a great epic show!! With great intertwining stories, interesting and controversial!! Crap!! There’s so much garbage out there! You finally come up with a show, where I can’t wait a week to see what happens next… and you cancel it!!! Ugh!! Despicable!!!
It should have continued for at least two more seasons. The show was wonderfully written and produced.
There should be at least two more seasons. It’s a wonderfully produced and written drama
Please dont cancel Indian Summer. It was so refreshing to learn about a culture i have not been exposed to. I have since been reading about the British occupation of India and its affect on Indian culture. Fascinating! I wish reconsideration. …
Not only have I loved Indian Summers, I learned from it. Well written, well acted, beautifully filmed. It is provocative and substantive. Please reconsider!!
Indian Summers captures a fascinating country in transition, with believable and seductive characters that tell many diverse tales amid real traces of actual history – we get an education, love’s sinuous journeys and much well told drama, most intoxicating! There is a wealth of stories still to tell… Channel 4 – plan ahead better and keep this cast and crew together for another season! Canada just loves this series!
I’m very disappointed that this is being cancelled after only 2 seasons…….it feels very incomplete…….the story is not coming to a conclusion……..
Just realized TODAY that there will not be a season 3 for IS. What a shame! I looked forward to each episode and was so impressed with the acting and the music which added so much drama and feeling to certain scenes. Very sad that a quality program like this is gone while so much trash remains!!!
I do not understand why these producers elect to cancel such a well written, superbly acted program such as Indian Summers when there is so much crap on television. The show is a pure joy to watch from the cinematography to the wardrobes to the acting to the dialogue. The cast are amazingly talented in their own right individually, and thus as a ensemble…powerful. I truly hope that the powers that be will reconsider. The storyline is captivating and has so much more to tell. We want to see more. Please continue.