When does it reach UK cinemas?
Onwards and Sideways is scheduled to open in UK cinemas on Friday, November 6, 2026, through Icon Film Distribution. The date appears in John Gore Studios’ September announcements and in DCM’s current UK film calendar.
This is the announced cinema release date. Individual venues set their own screening times, so check the local cinema’s listings before making plans.
What is the BBC One and iPlayer plan?
John Gore Studios’ notices dated September 2 and September 15 place BBC One and BBC iPlayer after the cinema release, later in 2026. Those notices provide no exact BBC transmission date or iPlayer upload time.
The November 6 cinema date therefore does not establish a same-day streaming release. The confirmed date in these sources is for the UK theatrical opening.
Who is in the film?
Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney lead the cast, with Monica Dolan and Rory Kinnear in supporting roles. John Madden directs the feature film, written by Paul Mayhew-Archer and produced by Hilltop Screen for John Gore Studios and the BBC.
What is it about?
Ifans plays Tony, a primary-school deputy headteacher, while Linney plays Emma, a musician and composer. The fictional story follows their unexpected friendship after they receive Parkinson’s diagnoses on the same morning. It combines drama with humour, music and their changing relationship.
