Celia Imrie Joins 'Trying' Season 5 As Series Gets U.K. Home

It speaks volumes about how short a time Apple TV+ has existed as a streaming service that Trying, which is heading into its fifth season, is one of the service's longest-running shows. But more importantly, it's also a reminder of how little it needs production partners to finance series like Trying, and how American-centered Apple TV+ is, having thus far produced four seasons of its sleeper hit British comedy without a single minute of it ever being legally aired in the U.K. Thankfully, as the production rounds into Season 5 and Apple is pressured to close the yawning chasm of debt spending to finance these shows, it's finally sold Trying in the U.K. to the place it'll get most viewership: the BBC.

Considering that Apple's production pipeline now debuts enough British-made and British-starring series that it can essentially debut new episodes year-round, almost none of which are available outside an Apple TV+ subscription, it's somewhat surprising that it's taken this long for the BBC to pick up a show from the tech company. John Oliver famously once called the American streamer "where Hollywood stars go to hide," and it's more true than not: Apple's tiny U.S. only subscriber base means that its ever-expanding library of really well-made and entertaining shows isn't being seen. If it wants to rectify that without putting its shows on Netflix, the BBC is absolutely the next best spot.

Season 5 is also a perfect time for the BBC to board the show, as the cast is expanding again to include a new British star, plus a handful of up-and-comers.