Historian Lucy Worsley Explores One of History’s Most Explosive Breakups and How the British Empire Lost the War for America’s Independence Against a Ragtag Band of Rebels
New Two-Part Series, Filmed on Both Sides of the Atlantic, Premieres Tuesdays, April 7-14, 2026, on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App
ARLINGTON VA; February 18, 2026 – On the eve of America’s 250th anniversary, popular British historian Lucy Worsley investigates the sabotage, espionage, and unrest that led to the birth of a new nation. In 1776, 13 American colonies declared independence from one of the most powerful empires in the world, igniting a bloody eight-year war that claimed thousands of lives and ended in Britain’s humiliating defeat. But how did this historic rupture come to pass, and could it have been avoided? Over two episodes, Lucy delves deeper into the American Revolution by examining it from the British perspective, discovering the human drama, radical ideas, and political missteps behind this seismic split, and revealing how losing America changed Britain forever. Part of the PBS America @ 250 special programming lineup, LUCY WORSLEY INVESTIGATES: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION premieres Tuesday, April 7 and 14, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS,PBS.org and the PBS app.
“Digging into the past is a true joy for me. So often history gets written by the winners: lots of people know the US side of the American Revolution, but much fewer the British one,” said Worsley. “Interrogating amazing sources and meeting people who can shine a light on this hidden history, I can’t wait to share the forgotten and surprising story of how losing America affected Britain and beyond.”
“Lucy is a PBS treasure, beloved by our audiences for bringing her signature wit and contemporary perspective to history,” said Zara Frankel, Senior Director, Programming and Development at PBS. “As America approaches its Semiquincentennial, I can’t think of anyone better to…