Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death Series 4 – Channel 5 Time, Episode 1 and How to Watch
Series 4, episode 1: Wednesday 4 November 2026, 9pm, Channel 5 (5 +1 at 10pm).
Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death returns to Channel 5 at 9pm on Wednesday night. The series is filmed at University Hospitals Birmingham, and the first episode of series 4 follows a 20-year-old woman called Emma through facial surgery.
Updated Tuesday 3 November 2026, before episode 1.
What time is Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death on?
Channel 5 has it at 9pm on Wednesday 4 November 2026. 5 +1 repeats the episode at 10pm. Only episode 1 is in the listings we check so far. Series 3 went out on Wednesdays, and we’ll add dates for later episodes once they are listed.
What is the series?
It is a medical documentary that follows surgeons and their patients through major operations. It is filmed at University Hospitals Birmingham, which includes the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and it has been on Channel 5 since 2023.
What happens in episode 1?
Emma is 20 and has a rare condition that made her skull fuse earlier than it should have. The episode follows her as she has facial surgery.
These are real patients, so we stick to what the broadcaster and the listings have published. Other cases in the hour aren’t confirmed by two sources yet, and we haven’t named them.
How many episodes are there?
Nobody has published a reliable episode count for series 4 that we can find, so we’re not guessing. Series 3 had six. We’ll update this page when Channel 5 confirms the number.
Earlier series
The first series started on Channel 5 in July 2023. Series 3 began on Wednesday 7 January 2026, and its episodes went up on Channel 5’s streaming service as they aired.
How to watch
| Platform | Channel 5 | 5 +1 |
|---|---|---|
| Freeview | 5 (HD on 105) | 38 |
| Sky Q | 105 | 205 |
| Virgin Media | 105 | 305 |
| Freesat | 105 | 128 |
To stream it, use Channel 5’s streaming service (called 5, previously My5). Everything else on the channel that night is in our Channel 5 TV guide. For the whole evening, see what’s on TV Wednesday.
Frequently asked questions
What time is Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death on tonight?
Series 4 starts on Channel 5 at 9pm on Wednesday 4 November 2026. 5 +1 shows the same episode an hour later, at 10pm.
Where is Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death filmed?
At University Hospitals Birmingham, whose sites include the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The programme-makers follow surgical teams and their patients there.
What happens in episode 1 of series 4?
It follows Emma, a 20-year-old whose skull fused too early because of a rare condition, as she goes through facial surgery. The listing and a preview we found both describe this as the main story. Other patients in the hour aren’t confirmed by two sources, so we haven’t named them.
How many episodes are in series 4 of Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death?
We haven’t found a reliable episode count for series 4. Series 3 was six episodes. Only episode 1 is in the listings we check so far, and we will add the rest when they appear.
Where can I stream Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death?
On Channel 5’s streaming service, now called 5 (it was My5 until March 2025). New episodes appear there after they air.
Is this the first series of Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death?
No, it is series 4. The first series started on Channel 5 in July 2023, and series 3 began on Wednesday 7 January 2026.
What channel number is Channel 5?
Channel 5 is 5 on Freeview (HD on 105), 105 on Sky Q, Virgin Media and Freesat. 5 +1 is 38 on Freeview.
Related: Channel 5 TV guide | What’s on TV tonight, Wednesday
