How many seasons of Question Time are there?

Question Time has aired 48 seasons so far.

How many episodes of Question Time are there?

There are 1675 episodes of Question Time across 48 seasons.

Where can I watch Question Time?

Question Time is available to stream on Britbox Apple TV Channel .

What is Question Time's IMDb rating?

Question Time holds an IMDb rating of 6.6/10 from 402 votes.

News

When Does Question Time Season 49 Come Out? Is It Renewed?

Question Time Season 49 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 12-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around September 2026.

IMDb

6.6/10

Seasons

Episodes

1675

Diagnostics

Network: BBC One
Genres: News, Talk
First aired: 1979-09-25
Last aired: 2026-05-14
Runtime: 60 min
Rated: NR

Predictive Logic Analysis

Question Time is not a typical commercial television show subject to standard renewal cycles. It is a flagship BBC political debate programme that has aired continuously for nearly five decades, with 48 seasons and 1,675 episodes. The TMDB status shows it as "Returning Series" and the most recent episode aired in May 2026, just one month ago. The BBC treats such institutional programming differently than it does drama or entertainment content. Cancellation or non-renewal would require an explicit editorial decision or a significant shift in BBC priorities, not market-based performance metrics.

The show's metrics paint a picture consistent with a long-running public service broadcast. Trakt active watchers sit at 162 with steady momentum, which is modest but reflects the specific nature of the audience (active users on a niche tracking platform versus the actual BBC One broadcast viewership). Wikipedia pageviews are falling, a mild negative signal, though this is typical for established shows with stable audiences and can also reflect changing web behaviour rather than declining interest. The IMDb rating of 6.6 on 402 votes is respectable for a talk show and represents the core audience engagement.

The BBC's renewal pattern for flagship current affairs and debate programming has always been to renew automatically unless explicitly stated otherwise. No cancellation or ending announcement has been made. Given the recent air date, the returning-series status, and the institutional nature of the show, renewal is not in doubt.

What is Question Time about?

Question Time stands as one of British television's most enduring fixtures, a live topical debate program that has maintained its essential format across nearly five decades. The show's appeal lies in its deceptively simple premise: an audience of ordinary citizens poses questions to a rotating panel of politicians and public figures, creating an unpredictable arena where responses cannot be carefully scripted beforehand. For viewers seeking genuine political accountability and unfiltered public sentiment, Question Time offers something increasingly rare in contemporary media—a space where difficult questions meet direct answers, where audience members can challenge power in real time, and where the unexpected becomes part of the programming itself.

What distinguishes Question Time from conventional political programming is its deliberate structuring around the audience rather than the journalists. The carefully selected questioners represent diverse viewpoints and demographics, transforming the show into a genuine cross-section of national preoccupations rather than a vehicle for partisan spin. Under Fiona Bruce's chairmanship, the program maintains a measured, intellectually rigorous tone that prioritizes substance over sensationalism, though the live format inevitably produces moments of dramatic tension and occasional pandemonium. The show's rotating location strategy, traveling throughout the UK, has also prevented it from becoming a London-centric Westminster affair.

As a cornerstone of BBC One's schedule for nearly half a century, Question Time has evolved into more than mere political programming—it functions as a cultural barometer, a place where the nation's anxieties and grievances surface in real time. The show's longevity reflects both its institutional importance and a consistent audience loyalty, even as media consumption patterns have shifted dramatically. In an era when trust in institutions has fractured and political discourse has become increasingly polarized, Question Time represents a remnant of a different broadcasting philosophy, one that assumes political disagreement can occur within a shared factual framework and that public debate, conducted respectfully, remains valuable in itself.

Themes

politicsbritish politicscurrent affairspanel show

Is Question Time renewed or cancelled?

Working toward renewal

high

TMDB status: Returning Series

high

Institutional BBC One flagship current affairs programming

high

48 seasons, 1,675 episodes since 1979 — consistent long-term renewal pattern

high

Most recent episode aired May 2026 (1 month ago)

high

No cancellation or ending announcement from BBC

Working against it

low

Wikipedia pageview trend: falling

Question Time Season 49 Release Date

Question Time follows a consistent annual or multi-series broadcast calendar on BBC One. The most recent season aired through May 2026. The BBC typically schedules new series in autumn, though the exact timing depends on the broadcaster's schedule and Parliament's sitting calendar (the show often ties to the political calendar). Absent any production disruption, the next series should air within the next 12 months, most likely in autumn 2026 or early 2027.

S48

S47