BBC America Announces Fall Programming Highlights

New this fall on BBC America: "Doctor Who," "Richard Hammond's Crash Course," "Chef Race," "Graham Norton," "Bedlam" and Simon Amstell Special. The cable channel further details its September and October programming highlights.

BBC AMERICA premieres five blockbuster episodes of Doctor Who in September as part of Supernatural Saturday. The new season sees the Doctor (Matt Smith), his companions, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams, (Arthur Darvill) and numerous friends on their latest escapades through space and time where they puzzle an unexpected invasion of Earth, save a spaceship full of dinosaurs, don Stetsons in a Wild Wild West adventure and in the season premiere were kidnapped by the Doctor's oldest foe - The Daleks. The explosive series concludes with Amy and Rory's heart-breaking farewell - a race against time through the streets of Manhattan. Will the Doctor really lose the Ponds forever? There's only one way to find out... Doctor Who premieres Saturdays, 9:00pm ET as part of Supernatural Saturday. Twitter: #DoctorWho

OCTOBER

CHEF RACE: U.K. vs. U.S. - WORLD PREMIERE

From executive producer Jamie Oliver, Chef Race: U.K. vs. U.S. pits 16 chefs, eight Brits versus eight Americans, against each other as they race across the country in the hopes of winning a grand prize of $100,000 dollars. Michelin-starred London restaurateur, Richard Corrigan (Masterchef), serves as a mentor and judge and Claire Robinson (5 Ingredient Fix) hosts the new BBC AMERICA original series. The race begins on the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, where Team U.K. and Team U.S. are stripped of their cash and credit cards and challenged to cook to survive, cook to prosper and cook to win. In the 10 one-hour episodes, the teams battle coast to coast from Los Angeles to New York City, with the chefs living off their culinary skills and business savvy to survive and make it to their next destination. In the beginning, they will work as teams and cook to turn a profit. The team with the biggest profit moves on and the losing team faces elimination, but in the end, there will only be one winner. Chef Race: U.K. vs. U.S. premieres with two back-to-back episodes on Tuesday October 2, 9:00pm ET and 10:00pm ET. The series continues in its regular timeslot on Tuesday, October 9, 10:00pm ET. BBC AMERICA will present a preview of episode one on Saturday, September 29, 10:00pm ET. Twitter: #ChefRace

BEDLAM - U.S. PREMIERE

In the second season of Supernatural Saturday's Bedlam, the horror and drama returns as the restless spirits of Bedlam Heights wreak their terrible revenge on unsuspecting new inhabitants. A few months ago Ellie started having visions of the dead re-enacting their violent, shocking deaths on the living. Through the hospital where she works, Ellie also knows that a former patient, Jed, was treated for exactly the same thing and if only she could track him down, she's sure he must know a way to make it stop. As the residents continue to be terrorized by the asylum's dark past, they soon realize whatever is waiting for them in the depths of Bedlam Heights is worse than anything they could have ever imagined. Bedlam premieres Saturday, October 6, 9:00pm ET as part of Supernatural Saturday. Twitter: #Bedlam

Richard Hammond'S CRASH COURSE - WORLD PREMIERE

Richard Hammond is taken out of his comfort zone to face some of the biggest challenges of his life in the second season of BBC AMERICA's original series Richard Hammond's Crash Course, produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. This season, Hammond will immerse himself in uniquely American - often terrifying - vocations. In each episode, he will tackle new, and at times frightening challenges, with less than five days to master each job. Can he conquer his fear of heights and jump from the top of a bridge and handle being set on fire as a Hollywood stuntman? Will he lose his grip (and suffer a venomous bite) when he takes on the role of a snake handler? From the true grit of a Texas cattle ranch to being a bicycle messenger in San Francisco to driving a taxi in New York City, viewers will see Richard Hammond absorb the advice of mentors and attempt to master skills that often take years to learn. Richard Hammond's Crash Course premieres in Monday, October 15, 10:00pm ET. Twitter: @TheHamstersCage #RichardHammond

SIMON AMSTELL: DO NOTHING - US PREMIERE

Simon Amstell: Do Nothing, the first special from this stand out British comedian, unusual among stand-ups; sensitive, vulnerable, yet bitingly funny and peculiarly wise. His recent acclaimed residency in New York played to sell-out audiences, and The New York Times compared him to "a young Woody Allen." This live comedy special, recorded in 2010 at Vicar Street, Dublin, captures Simon at his intimate, painfully honest best. 'Pin point timing... highly literate and charming... an endearing mixture of offhand candour and sharp wit. Simon Amstell: Do Nothing premieres Saturday, October 6, 11:00pm ET as part of the Ministry of Laughs. Twitter: @SimonAmstell #MinistryofLaughs

FUNNY AS HELL 2012 - U.S. PREMIERE

This original stand-up comedy two-part special filmed at this year's Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal. Hosted by Scottish comedian Danny Bhoy, the special features some of the world's funniest stand up comedians. Funny as Hell 2012 premieres Saturday, October 13, 11:00pm ET as part of the Ministry of Laughs. Twitter: @OfficialBhoy #MinistryofLaughs

THE Graham Norton SHOW - U.S. PREMIERE

Multi-award winning comedy talk-show host Graham Norton returns to BBC AMERICA in the latest season of The Graham Norton Show, his talk show based on the people, trends, stories and aspects of celebrity culture that interest him. Expect trademark Norton comedy monologues, celebrity chat along with eccentric stories and characters. The Graham Norton Show premieres Saturday, October 27, 11:00pm ET as part of the Ministry of Laughs. Twitter: @TheGNShow @GrahNort #GrahamNorton

ONGOING PREMIERES

Other series that will continue to premiere new episodes during September and October include:

Sundays: Copper

BBC AMERICA delivers US audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. Owned by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including an Emmy(R), five Golden Globes(R) and ten Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable's most affluent and educated audiences and is available on cable and satellite TV in more than 79 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition in all markets, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.bbcamerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist.