CBC Gem’s Fall, Sorted

Lord of the Flies arrived 22 Oct, The Assembly returns 1 Nov and Diamonds & Plastic lands 19 Nov, each streaming first on CBC Gem at 9 a.m. ET.

By Alicia Loveday October 10, 2026 4 min read

Photo: BBC/Eleven

Trailer: North of North. Cast, where to watch and more on the title page.

CBC‘s fall is back-loaded. The returning favourites are already up and running, but three new arrivals land between late October and mid-November: a British adaptation of Lord of the Flies, a second season of The Assembly and a three-part docuseries about a Montreal Tupperware seller. The streaming rule is simple. According to CBC, “The first episode of all series will be available to stream on CBC Gem starting at 9 a.m. ET” on premiere day, with later episodes arriving weekly at the same time unless otherwise noted. In the Eastern time zone, that puts each premiere on Gem 12 hours ahead of the 9 p.m. broadcast on CBC TV.

Coming up

Lord of the Flies (22 Oct). CBC calls this four-part limited series the “exclusive Canadian premiere” of a prestige adaptation, airing Thursdays at 9 p.m. (9:30 in Newfoundland and Labrador) on CBC TV and streaming on CBC Gem. Written by Jack Thorne and directed by Marc Munden for the BBC, it is based on William Golding’s novel, in which, in CBC’s words, “innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys become desert island castaways.” CBC Gem lists it as four 60-minute episodes from the UK producer Eleven Film.

The Assembly, season 2 (1 Nov). The interview series, in which, according to CBC, “one of Canada’s most popular celebrities and public figures faces a group of 30 atypical interviewers,” returns Sunday 1 Nov at 9 p.m. for six episodes. CBC says the new season has “an expanded cast of more than 30 neurodivergent and autistic adults interviewing celebrities.” The format is adapted from Les Rencontres du Papotin, which launched on France 2 in 2022, and Sean De Vries and Stephen Sawchuk are executive producers.

Diamonds & Plastic (19 Nov). A new three-episode docuseries at 9 p.m. CBC says it “plunges inside the secret sisterhood built by Montreal’s Maria Meriano,” whom the network describes as one of Tupperware’s top global sellers. Nathalie Bibeau directs; Alexandra Cliche-Rivard produces, with Nicola Merola and Charles Lafortune as executive producers.

Already streaming

North of North, season 2. Premiered 8 Sept with two back-to-back episodes, eight in all. The comedy, co-commissioned by CBC and Netflix in association with APTN, follows Siaja (Anna Lambe), “a young Inuk mother who dreams of reinventing herself in her tiny Arctic community of Ice Cove.” It was created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril. CBC says the series led its nominations at the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, with 20.

Son of a Critch, final season. Also premiered 8 Sept, with 12 episodes. CBC says the series, based on Mark Critch’s memoir, “goes back to high school one last time in its fifth and final season.” Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays young Mark in St. John’s, with Critch as his father and Malcolm McDowell as Pop.

Doula: A True Crime. A three-part docuseries that began 7 Oct, about Kaitlyn Braun, who, according to CBC, “reached out to over 40 doulas with the same devastating story.” CBC says the series “elevates a sensationalist media story to an uncommon examination of empathy.”

The long-runners. Heartland (10 episodes) and Murdoch Mysteries (21 episodes) have started what CBC calls “their landmark 20th seasons,” on 4 Oct and 5 Oct. The Great Canadian Baking Show began its 10th season on 4 Oct, with nine episodes.

Where to watch

Lord of the Flies: CBC Gem and CBC TV, CA, from 22 Oct (Gem 9 a.m. ET; CBC TV 9 p.m.).
The Assembly, season 2: CBC Gem and CBC TV, CA, from 1 Nov.
Diamonds & Plastic: CBC Gem and CBC TV, CA, from 19 Nov.
North of North, season 2: CBC Gem, CA, streaming now.
Son of a Critch, final season: CBC Gem, CA, streaming now.
Doula: A True Crime: CBC Gem, CA, streaming now.
Heartland and Murdoch Mysteries, season 20; The Great Canadian Baking Show, season 10: CBC Gem and CBC TV, CA, new episodes weekly.