Class is in session for 12 months 4 of Professor T, the character-driven British detective sequence usually in comparison with its American counterpart, Monk. Whereas the previous’s principal character is an educator and the latter’s a non-public detective, each revolve round how the quirky professionals cope with their scientific obsessive-compulsive dysfunction (OCD) at work and at dwelling.
In Professor T‘s case, the brand new season finds the titular Jasper Tempest (Ben Miller) leaving the police power to concentrate on enhancing his life by remedy. Alas, when a mysterious homicide happens aboard a flowery yacht, Professor T is thrust again right into a anxious investigation that assessments his resolve and challenges his medical situation. With the highest-rated season premiere thus far, Professor T is again and higher than ever for Season 4.
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‘Professor T’s Premise
Tailored from the Belgian TV present bearing the identical title, Professor T is a British psychological crime drama that premiered on ITV in July 2021. The title refers to Professor Jasper Tempest (Miller), a genius criminology professor on the prestigious Cambridge College. Though he’s the main authority in his discipline, Jasper can also be identified with scientific Obsessive Compulsive Dysfunction (OCD), a continual psychological well being situation associated to an obsession with germs, cleanliness, tidiness, hurt, disaster, and extra.
Whereas OCD is commonly regarded as debilitating, Jasper proves the other is true in Professor T. As he continues to teach criminology college students and seek the advice of with the native police, Jasper overcomes his dysfunction and continues to assist remedy probably the most making an attempt homicide circumstances in England. At dwelling, Jasper should additionally cope with his domineering mom, Adelaide Tempset (Frances de la Tour), who gives a lot of the present’s comedian aid.
At work, Jasper’s OCD complicates his working relationship with DI Lisa Donckers (Emma Naomi), a former pupil who turns into his skilled accomplice. Lisa’s boyfriend, Dan Winters (Barney White), can also be a member of the police power, serving as a Detective Sergeant. Off work, Jasper usually consorts together with his therapist, Dr. Helena Goldberg (Juliet Stevenson), who helps him handle his OCD and preserve his eye on his skilled obligations.
Together with numerous different regulation enforcers, Jasper and Lisa tackle a brand new homicide thriller each week, which retains the present enjoyable, contemporary, and by no means a bore to look at.
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How ‘Professor T’ Compares to ‘Monk’
Though Professor T adapts the Belgian sequence of the identical title, it is practically similar to Monk‘s conceit. Premiering on the USA Community in 2002, Monk follows the non-public {and professional} exploits of Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a genius San Francisco murder detective who additionally has OCD. Manageable till the demise of his spouse left him unable to perform, Monk’s crippling fears, anxieties, and despair get one of the best of him, and he’s pressured to go away his work.
Motivated by his nurse, Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram), Monk finds newfound goal when he begins his personal non-public investigation observe and begins consulting with the SFPD. As he works to unravel his spouse’s homicide, Monk begins to beat his OCD and remedy a rash of excellent crimes that mystify your complete police power, together with Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine). What Monk might lack as a consequence of his medical situation, he greater than compensates for together with his eager observational abilities and extremely perceptive detection.
Adrian Monk and Jasper Tempest are two peas in a pod. Each work tirelessly of their struggles to not solely conquer a medical situation, however to make use of that very situation as a detective characteristic, not a bug. With out their OCD, each characters wouldn’t be capable of remedy as many murders as they do. Furthermore, each Monk and Jasper depart their major skilled posts behind to seek the advice of with the police and spend their off-hours working by their psychological stresses by remedy.
Nevertheless, the largest distinction between the 2 exhibits is that Monk is an outright comedy, whereas Professor T has moments of levity in a extra severe and sobering crime drama. Even so, each attraction equally, with Monk‘s 89% Popcorn Meter ranking and Professor T‘s 88% Popcorn Meter ranking on Rotten Tomatoes proving such.
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Why ‘Professor T’s 4th Season Is the Greatest Thus Far
Professor T‘s fourth season premiered on ITV on August 24, 2025, and is slated to conclude on September twenty eighth. With one new episode launched weekly, the underrated British crime sequence’ latest opening episode kicked off with a bang. Regardless of vowing to not seek the advice of with the police power, Dr. Goldberg implores Jasper to research the disappearance of a girl from a lavish yacht.
Though it is early, Professor T‘s Season 4 premiere has drawn one of the best IMDb rankings thus far (8.1). When Jasper is summoned to research a murderous backyard celebration in Episode 2, followers are reminded that Professor T has at all times been a great summer season present. With all episodes launched between July and September, Professor T additionally options the identical sunny seasonal vibration as Monk, which at all times premiered in June, July, or August.
Following one of the best begin in sequence historical past, Professor T guarantees extra appointment viewing this summer season. Circumstances that Jasper and his colleagues are assigned to unravel forward contain a brutally stabbed faculty instructor, an actual knife being swapped for a pretend on a theater stage, a mysterious portray that results in homicide, and a person who confesses to homicide earlier than lunging in entrance of a shifting automotive.
Whereas the tone is usually a bit extra extreme than Monk‘s at instances, Professor T is a perfect companion piece that’s hitting its stride in Season 4. The way in which by which it humanizes these with OCD somewhat than demonizing or denigrating them makes for an absorbing watch.
Professor T
- Launch Date
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June 3, 2021
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Ben Miller
Professor Tempest
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Sarah Woodward
Ingrid Snares
