The BBC has officially set the October premiere date for A Course Called Ireland, a new six-part documentary series starring actor and comedian Bill Murray alongside bestselling author Tom Coyne. Produced by Skydance Sports and Stellify Media, the travel and sports docuseries blends competitive golf with an unpredictable exploration of local communities, Irish heritage, and traditional culture across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Originally announced under the working title Off Course in September 2025, the project adapts Tom Coyne’s acclaimed 2009 links odyssey, A Course Called Ireland: A Long Walk in Search of a Country, a Pint, and the Next Tee. While the original book chronicled an exhaustive 1,100-mile trek on foot, the television adaptation swaps the heavy walking boots for a road trip format that covers plenty of distance through humor, friendship, and spontaneous encounters.
Release Schedule and Where to Watch
Viewers in the United Kingdom can catch the series beginning on Friday, October 23, when it launches simultaneously on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer. The broadcast rollout continues later that weekend on BBC Two on Sunday, October 25, at 9:30 p.m.
For international audiences, the series arrives globally on Paramount+ on Sunday, October 25, excluding Latin America and the United Kingdom. Each episode runs for approximately 30 minutes, focusing on a different renowned golf course paired with a unique guest.
Cast, Crew, and Celebrity Guests
While golf provides the narrative framework, the heart of the series lies in its diverse roster of companions and unscripted interactions. Bill Murray and Tom Coyne anchor the journey, joined by an eclectic mix of family members and high-profile guests:
- Bill Murray: Actor and comedian leading the adventure and exploring his personal Irish roots.
- Tom Coyne: Bestselling author, golf writer, and Murray’s longtime companion on the links.
- Chris O’Dowd: Irish actor and comedian.
- Joanne McNally: Stand-up comedian.
- Jason Kelce: Retired NFL star and sports personality.
- Joel Murray and John Murray: Bill Murray’s extended family members.
Behind the Scenes
The six-part series received funding and support from Northern Ireland Screen. Behind the camera, the production features a robust team of executive producers and showrunners.
Key Production Credits
- Showrunners and Executive Producers: Casey Scharf and Morgan Roberts
- Series Director: Chris Cottam
- Stellify Media Executive Producers: Kieran Doherty and Matthew Worthy
- Skydance Sports Executive Producers: Jesse Sisgold, Jason T. Reed, Jon Weinbach, and Greg Groggel
- Commissioning Editors for the BBC: Catherine Catton and Eddie Doyle
Reflecting on the motivations behind the project, Bill Murray noted his early roots in the sport. “I started out caddying, and golf was the best education I ever received,” Murray explained. “Ireland feels like the right place to put all that to work. They’ve got this wonderful word there, ‘craic,’ which means fun, but it means a lot of other things. A lot of good things. And this show will be about us finding it.”
Stellify Media CEO Kieran Doherty added that the unpredictable nature of travel ensured the journey frequently went off script. Rather than acting as a traditional sports instructional show, A Course Called Ireland positions itself as a celebratory look at life, local storytelling, and unforgettable characters encountered between the first tee and the final pint.
