I Am Helen on Channel 4: Start Time, Cast, Both Episodes and How to Watch
Image: Josh Barrett / Channel 4 I Am Helen starts on Monday 16 November 2026 at 9pm on Channel 4. Part two, the last, is on Tuesday 17 November at 9.15pm.
Nicola Coughlan and Joe Cole lead I Am Helen, the newest story in Channel 4’s I Am anthology. It comes in two hour-long parts across two nights, and Dominic Savage is both writer and director. Coughlan plays Helen, whose partner Steve changes as he soaks up misogynist material online.
Updated Monday 9 November 2026. Checked Thursday 12 November 2026.
Set a reminder
- I Am, episode 1: Monday 16 November, 9pm, Channel 4
- I Am, episode 2: Tuesday 17 November, 9.15pm, Channel 4
When is I Am Helen on?
Part one airs on Monday 16 November 2026 from 9pm to 10pm on Channel 4. The story ends the next evening, Tuesday 17 November, with part two from 9.15pm to 10.20pm. Both parts are new to TV, with subtitles and audio description.
The rest of both evenings is in our Channel 4 TV guide, and every channel is in what’s on TV tonight.
I Am Helen episode guide
| Part | First on Channel 4 | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 of 2 | Monday 16 November 2026 | 9pm to 10pm |
| 2 of 2 (conclusion) | Tuesday 17 November 2026 | 9.15pm to 10.20pm |
There are only two parts, so this table is the whole story. In the listings it counts as series 4 of I Am.
What is I Am Helen about?
At the start, Helen and Steve look like a couple in love. Things shift once Steve gets hooked on misogynist porn and the talk of the online manosphere. What had been a shared, equal sex life becomes coercive, and when Helen insists on living her own way, Steve cannot square the woman in front of him with his idea of a partner who does as she is told.
Part two picks up with Helen on her own in a hotel room, where she finds out something that makes her situation far more urgent. Her attempt to leave Steve is where the story comes to a head. That is as far as Channel 4’s own listings go, and as far as we go.
Channel 4 has framed the drama as a look at the pressure on women in relationships shaped by toxic masculinity, told from Helen’s side.
Who is in the cast?
Nicola Coughlan, known for Derry Girls and Bridgerton, plays Helen. Joe Cole plays Steve.
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Nicola Coughlan | Helen |
| Joe Cole | Steve |
| Cavan Clerkin | Mark |
| Jack Colgrave Hirst | Phil |
| Sonny Poon Tip | Sam |
| Nick Preston | Martin |
| Lucie Shorthouse | Stacey |
| Thalissa Teixeira | Pippa |
Full cast and characters
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Nicola Coughlan | Helen |
| Joe Cole | Steve |
| Cavan Clerkin | Mark |
| Jack Colgrave Hirst | Phil |
| Sonny Poon Tip | Sam |
| Nick Preston | Martin |
| Lucie Shorthouse | Stacey |
| Thalissa Teixeira | Pippa |
Written by Dominic Savage. Directed by Dominic Savage.
Episodes: Series 4 has two episodes. Episode 1 is on Channel 4 on Monday 16 November at 9pm; episode 2 (the last) is on Channel 4 on Tuesday 17 November at 9.15pm.
Who made I Am Helen?
Dominic Savage wrote and directed both parts. Channel 4 commissioned it as the next instalment of the I Am anthology.
What is the I Am series?
I Am is a run of standalone dramas on Channel 4, each centred on one woman and named after her. Earlier stories starred Vicky McClure, Gemma Chan, Suranne Jones, Letitia Wright, Lesley Manville and Kate Winslet. Winslet’s I Am Ruth won at the BAFTA TV Awards. Each story stands alone, so you can start with I Am Helen.
Content warning
The drama deals with coercive control, aggressive sex and domestic violence. It is scheduled after 9pm on both nights and is not for children.
How to watch
| Platform | Channel 4 | Channel 4 +1 |
|---|---|---|
| Freeview | 4 (HD on 104; in Wales 7, HD 110, because S4C takes 4) | 15 |
| Sky Q | 104 | 204 |
| Virgin Media | 104 | 304 |
| Freesat | 104 | 121 |
Channel 4 +1 shows the channel’s schedule an hour later. The full Channel 4 line-up for both nights is in our Channel 4 TV guide.
Frequently asked questions
What time is I Am Helen on tonight?
Part one starts at 9pm on Monday 16 November 2026 on Channel 4 and runs for an hour, to 10pm. Part two follows on Tuesday 17 November 2026 at 9.15pm, finishing at 10.20pm.
How many episodes of I Am Helen are there?
Two. I Am Helen is a two-part drama, shown on consecutive nights: Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 November 2026.
What channel is I Am Helen on?
Channel 4. Channel 4 is 4 on Freeview (HD on 104; in Wales 7, HD 110, because S4C takes 4) and 104 on Sky Q, Virgin Media and Freesat.
Who is in the cast of I Am Helen?
Nicola Coughlan plays Helen and Joe Cole plays her partner Steve. Cavan Clerkin, Jack Colgrave Hirst, Sonny Poon Tip, Nick Preston, Lucie Shorthouse and Thalissa Teixeira are also in the cast.
What is I Am Helen about?
Helen and Steve appear happy together until Steve starts taking in misogynist pornography and manosphere talk online. His behaviour towards Helen turns controlling and aggressive, and the story follows what happens when she stands up for herself and then tries to leave.
Who wrote and directed I Am Helen?
Dominic Savage wrote and directed both parts for Channel 4.
Is I Am Helen part of a series?
Yes. It is the latest story in I Am, an anthology of standalone dramas about women’s lives. Earlier stories starred Kate Winslet, Suranne Jones, Lesley Manville, Vicky McClure, Gemma Chan and Letitia Wright. You do not need to have seen any of them.
Is I Am Helen suitable for children?
No. It airs after 9pm and deals with coercive control, aggressive sex and domestic violence.
Related: Channel 4 TV guide | What’s on TV tonight
