For many of us, we’re quite content with being alone, provided we have plenty of snack and our favourite box sets to hand. But for a hardened few, fighting to survive a slew of challenges in some of the harshest and most remote landscapes on Earth is a more enticing pastime.

That’s what makes the brutal survival competition series Alone so intriguing. Originating in the US, the first-of-its-kind show saw contestants self-documenting their time in wild isolation, with limited equipment and supplies. And nothing is off limits in this UK edition either (with the exception of medical check-ins), as food becomes scarce, temperatures plummet and predators roam nearby.

But that’s not even the wildest part. Before each season begins, participants are warned that the show can last up to one year(!!) depending on the willpower and tactics of their fellow competitors. Indeed, in the US show, some have made it to 100 days before being evacuated due to run-ins with wild animals, broken bones, starvation and frostbite. Yikes!

It might sound like the stuff of nightmares, but for 11 ordinary people it’s a test of their mental and physical endurance, as well as a chance to win a life-changing £100,000 cash prize. Over six episodes, the UK contestants will be forced to fend for themselves in the desolate Canadian wilderness, entirely alone.

And when we say alone, we really mean it. No camera crews, no producers, nothing. The participants are dropped off at the banks of the Mackenzie River that leads to the Arctic Ocean, where they’ll head their separate ways into the unknown. And before they know it, they’ll be required to build shelters in the dark, hunt for their meals and evade wolves and bears.

Plus, not only will they be dealing with the extreme physical challenges of being exposed to the elements, they’ll also have to battle the psychological effects of their prolonged solitude. The only means of escape is to signal a rescue crew using a provided satellite telephone.

Up for the challenge? Grab your survival kit (snacks and the remote) and tune into Alone from 9pm on Sunday 6 August on Channel 4 HD (CH 104/108).

Whether you’re yearning for adventure, after a rib-tickling laugh or searching for a compelling series to binge, we’ve got you covered. Check out some of the award-winning and unmissable Channel 4 shows you can stream right now, including their spin-offs for when you’re hungry for more.

Gregg Wallace: The British Miracle Meat

Find it in Apps & Games > Channel 4

The mockumentary that’s been on everyone’s lips, Greg Wallace put his investigative skills to the test in this controversial sting operation. The premise is simple enough – Wallace explores a new lab-grown meat product that its creators argue could counter rising food costs. What ensues is a satirical secret tour of the Lincolnshire factory Good Harvest, which sources meat from… well, we won’t ruin the surprise. Just don’t watch it while eating your dinner.  

Queer As Folk US

Find series 1 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

An Americanised retelling of Russell T Davies’ groundbreaking LGTBQ+ drama (watch the original in Apps & Games > Channel 4 now), this re-imagining will have you in tears of both joy and sorrow. Set in New Orleans, the story follows a group of diverse friends dealing with the aftermath of a nightclub shooting, while navigating vulnerability, addiction, grief and relationships. Kim Cattrall (Sex And The City), Fin Argus (The Other Two), Devin Way (Grey’s Anatomy), Johnny Sibilly (POSE) and social media royalty Benito Skinner make up just some of the brilliant cast.

SAS: Who Dares Wins

Find series 1-8 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

Think your tough? Think again. Inspired by the UK’s own Special Forces selection course, this reality military series pits contestants against harsh environments, death-defying stunts and a series of physical and mental tests – all under the watchful eyes of former SAS, Marine and Navy SEAL staff. Not for the faint of heart, the series even has four celebrity spin-offs where famous faces are pushed to breaking point with gruelling challenges (find Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in Apps & Games > Channel 4).

I Am...

Find it in Apps & Games > Channel 4

Dominic Savage’s outstanding anthology series tells the stories of several women who confront incidents in their personal lives, from instances of domestic abuse to poor mental health. Each episode is centred around a titular character (crafted by both Savage and its leading actor), and the latest award-winning instalment follows the relationship between Ruth and her child who’s consumed by social media (played by real-life mother-daughter duo Kate Winslet and Mia Threapleton). Some of the industry’s finest talent including Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Lesley Manville (World On Fire) and Gemma Chan (Don’t Worry Darling) have also starred.

We Are Lady Parts

Find series 1 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

A trailblazing music comedy about a Muslim female punk band? Sign us up! Adapted from Nida Manzoor’s screenplay of the name, the series centrals around Amina (Anjana Vasan, Killing Eve), a geeky PhD student who leads a quiet life and has a secret talent for playing the guitar. When she catches the eyes of Lady Parts aka Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey, Maternal), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed, Ellie & Natasia), Bisma (Faith Omole, Endeavour) and Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse, Bulletproof), Amina’s double life begins and nothing will stop the band from securing a proper gig. Talk about girl power!

Celebrity Hunted

Find series 1-5 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

Prepare to watch celebrities as you’ve never seen them before, in this spin-off to real-life thriller Hunted where ordinary people go on the run as fugitives (watch all six series in Apps & Games > Channel 4 now). Their mission is simple enough (and for a good cause) – stay uncaptured from an elite team of hunters for 14 days. Using a mix of cunning, stamina, dirty tactics and er, hiding out in Michelin-starred restaurants, these famous faces prove just how hard it is to lay low when you’re in the spotlight.

Married At First Sight UK

Find series 1-7 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

Would you trust a panel of experts to find your happy ever after? Inspired by the original Danish series Gift Ved Første Blik, this reality dating show sees couples paired together with an extreme twist – they must decide whether to say “I do” at the alter, or not, shortly after meeting. Filled to the brim with tears, tantrums and true love, there are a whopping 24 international versions of the show out there and you can catch the Australian, USA and New Zealand iterations in Apps & Games > Channel 4 too.

Taskmaster

Find series 1-15 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

From the hilarious mind of comedian Alex Thorne comes this offbeat comedy challenge show that’ll have you in stitches. Presenting alongside fellow funny man Greg Davies (The Cleaner), Thorne dishes out a slew of wacky tasks to unsuspecting celebrities that result in ridiculous consequences and memorable one-liners. And if you’re only just tuning into this silly series (have you been living under a rock?), you can tune into every single episode ever only on Channel 4.

Disturbing Disappearances

Find season 1 in Apps & Games > Channel 4

This dark and spine-tingling French drama has your attention from the word go, as the first episode opens with the murder of a teacher in plain sight. During the commotion, nine students disappear into thin air and it’s up to the local police department to locate their whereabouts. A gripping watch from the start, the show forces both its characters and viewers to rethink their perceptions of good and evil, as the officers run out of time while juggling their personal lives and multiple cases of missing persons.

Screw

Find series 2 in Apps & Games > Channel 4 from Wednesday 30 August. Series 1 available now

Derry Girls alumna Jamie-Lee O’Donnell has swapped the streets of Derry for the halls of Long Marsh prison in this award-winning drama. The brainchild of Suspicion and The Victim creator Rob Williams, the dark comedy series follows the lives of Rose (O’Donnell) and Leigh (Nina Sosanya, Good Omens) who navigate the trials and tribulations of working in an all-male prison in 21st-century Britain. Also starring are Laura Checkley (Detectorists), Stephen Wight (I May Destroy You) and Ron Donachie (Game Of Thrones).

When is Alone on TV?

You can watch the first UK series of Alone from 9pm on Sunday 6 August on Channel 4 HD (CH 104/108).