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Answer: Never. Question: When was the last time there were this many British, Australian, New Zealander, and Canadian TV show premieres and streaming additions at the start of a month?

British TV Shows to Watch in Dec 2017

For updates about shows from the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada added to US channels and streaming services throughout the month, see the British TV Viewing Guide.

NATIONAL PREMIERES

Trust Me (UK)

Before Jodie Whittaker (Broadchurch) makes her formal debut as the next incarnation of a certain Time Lord, she stars in this psychological thriller as Cath Hardacre, a divorced mum and nurse whose whistle-blowing leads to her being sacked. Drastic times call for drastic measures, so Cath steals a friend’s identity and starts life anew as an A&E doctor in Edinburgh. Only she is ill-equipped to handle emergency care and under near-constant threat of her secret being exposed. Featuring Emun Elliott (The Paradise), Sharon Small (Inspector Lynley Mysteries), and Blake Harrison (Prime Suspect 1973), Trust Me premieres in the US on Friday, December 1st, on Hulu.

The Wine Show S2The Wine Show: Series 2 (UK)

Wine enthusiasts, rejoice! This fab infotainment series returns with Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey) and new co-host James Purefoy (The Following) in the south of France, where they sample fine wines, go caving and kayaking, cook their own lunch at the Palme d’Or restaurant in Cannes, and more. (They’re pictured on the left and right, with wine expert Joe Fattorini in the center.) Instead of traveling with them to le Midi, Season 1 co-host Matthew Rhys (The Americans) stays in London to serve as a consultant and show off cool wine gadgets. The Wine Show: Series 2 premieres in the US on Friday, December 1st, on Hulu. (Photo © The Wine Show)

The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 4 (New Zealand)

Hot diggity! This must-see Kiwi TV mystery series returns us to the small town of Brokenwood, where the murder rate might rival that of Midsomer County. In four new feature-length episodes, the country music-loving DSS Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea, Go Girls) and the methodical Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland, The Almighty Johnsons), along with the put-upon Detective Constable Sam Breen (Nic Sampson, Go Girls) and the eccentric medical examiner, Dr. Gina Kadinsky (Cristina Serban Ionda, Filthy Rich), investigate murders involving skydiving, an arrow, poison, and a Samurai sword. The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 4, Episode 1 premieres in the US on Monday, December 4th, exclusively on Acorn TV. Subsequent episodes will debut on successive Mondays.

The Crown: Season 2 (UK/US)

Before Olivia Colman (Broadchurch) takes over the role of Queen Elizabeth II in this multiple-award-winning historical drama series, Claire Foy (Wolf Hall) reprises it for this new season, whose timeline spans from 1956 to 1964. Political tensions and family dramas the Queen must navigate through include the Suez Crisis, rumors of Prince Philip’s (Matt Smith, Doctor Who) infidelity, and Princess Margaret’s (Vanessa Kirby, The Frankenstein Chronicles) commoner love interest-turned-husband (Matthew Goode, Downton Abbey), amongst others. The Crown: Season 2, a Netflix Original series, premieres in the US on Friday, December 8th, exclusively on Netflix.

The Grand Tour: Season 2 (UK/US)

Looking a bit worse for wear in the new season of this hilarious and thrilling infotainment series for motorheads are presenters Jeremy Clarkson, the still-alive Richard Hammond (following two accidents that landed him in hospital), and James May, who collectively have fun and frights with planes, tanks, and automobiles in Mozambique, Switzerland, the US, and Georgia (the country, not the state). The Grand Tour: Season 2, an Amazon Original series, premieres in the US on Friday, December 8th, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

The Great British Baking Show: Christmas Masterclass (UK)

Following up on the “Masterclass” episodes of past seasons, this new one features “Queen of Cakes” Mary Berry and master baker Paul Hollywood showcasing festive favorites and demonstrating how to make the perfect mince pies, Christmas pudding, and Christmas cake. They also introduce some new tasty treats for the holiday season. The Great British Baking Show: Christmas Masterclass premieres in the US on Friday, December 8th, at 9 PM ET, on PBS. (Check your local listings)

A&E: When Patients Attack (UK)

Filmed at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, this documentary highlights only a handful of the tens of thousands of assaults committed annually at hospitals throughout the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). A&E: When Patients Attack premieres in the US on Thursday, December 14th, on Netflix.

All Aboard! Sleigh Ride (UK)

Swap the yule log video for this Slow TV Christmas special, which features a traditional reindeer sleigh rigged with a fixed camera for a journey across the frozen Arctic wilderness. Filmed 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Karasjok, Norway, the sleigh ride follows the path of an ancient postal route, capturing the traditional world of the indigenous Sami people and taking viewers through breathtaking scenery not normally glimpsed by anyone other than the Sami. With no commentary, music, or presenter, All Aboard! Sleigh Ride premieres in the US on Saturday, December 16th, exclusively on BritBox.

Dalziel and Pascoe: Dialogues of the Dead (UK)

Based on the “Dalziel & Pascoe” mystery novels by Reginald Hill, this two-part special finds DS Andy Dalziel (the late, great Warren Clarke, Poldark) and DS Peter Pascoe (Colin Buchanan, A Touch of Frost), along with DC “Hat” Bowler (John Light, Father Brown), investigating a series of murders that are seemingly unrelated yet have one thing in common. Without much in the way of clues for them to catch the (serial) killer, the body count rises. Dalziel and Pascoe: Dialogues of the Dead (from Series 7) premieres in the US on Saturday, December 16, exclusively on BritBox.

Last Tango in Halifax Holiday Special (Series Finale) (UK)

The two-part holiday special finds Caroline (Sarah Lancashire, Happy Valley) getting a new job and moving to Huddersfield with her two sons, Celia (Anne Reid, Our Zoo), and Alan (Derek Jacobi, Vicious). Once there, Celia is cast in a play and gets a reluctant Alan to tread the boards with her. Meanwhile, Caroline (Nicola Walker, Unforgotten) thinks her late husband is haunting her, and Alan’s friend, Harry (Paul Copley, Downton Abbey), says Caroline’s ramshackle old house is haunted! The Last Tango in Halifax Holiday Special, which ends the series, premieres in the US on Sunday, December 17th, at 9 PM ET, and concludes at the same time on Sunday, December 24th, on PBS. (Check your local listings)

Gunpowder (UK)

Based on the real-life events that led to the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 London, this historical thriller miniseries stars Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) as Robert Catesby, the 33-year-old Catholic gentleman who was the mastermind and driving force behind the plot to kill King James I (Derek Riddell, Hard Sun). (For additional details, read this article.) Featuring Tom Cullen (Knightfall) as Guy Fawkes, Gunpowder premieres in the US with Episode 1 on Monday, December 18th, followed by Episodes 2 and 3 on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 19th and 20th — each at 10 PM ET, and all on HBO.

Made in Chelsea: Series 1-13 (UK)

This winner of the 2013 BAFTA TV Award for Reality and Constructed Factual is a scripted reality series that chronicles the lives of a close-knit group of flush, twenty-something friends in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, an affluent area in West London and one of the wealthiest districts in England. Currently on air with its 14th season on E4 in the UK, Made in Chelsea: Series 1-13 premieres in the US on Monday, December 18th, on Hulu.

The Indian Detective (Canada)

Russell Peters (Chef) stars in this comedy-drama series as Doug D’Mello, a cop in Toronto who travels to Mumbai to see his not-actually-dying father (Anupam Kher, Sense8) and ends up involved in a local murder investigation. Featuring Scott Cavalheiro (Mary Kills People) and Christina Cole (SS-GB), The Indian Detective, a Netflix Original series, premieres in the US on Tuesday, December 19th, exclusively on Netflix.

Peaky Blinders: Season 4 (UK)

One of the most highly-anticipated Brit TV returns is this gangster drama series set in 1920s Birmingham. If the Season 3 finale didn’t leave you holding your breath about the fates of the Shelby family, then the Season 4 opener probably will. Read this article for details. Peaky Blinders, a Netflix Original series, premieres in the US on Thursday, December 21st, exclusively on Netflix.

Eric Idle’s The Entire Universe (UK)

This comedic musical extravaganza of science edutainment features Monty Python’s Eric Idle, Professor Brian Cox (Human Universe with Professor Brian Cox), singers, dancers, and guests Warwick Davis (Harry Potter), Noel Fielding (The Mighty Boosh), Hannah Waddingham (Game of Thrones), and Robin Ince (The Late Edition). Eric Idle’s The Entire Universe premieres in the US on Friday, December 22nd, at 10 PM ET, on PBS. (Check your local listings)

The Last Post (UK)

Set in Aden in 1965, this period drama tells the story of the Royal Military Police fighting a Yemeni insurgency and the women and children who were there with them. Written by BAFTA winner Peter Moffat (Criminal Justice) and featuring Ben Miles (The Crown), Stephen Campbell Moore (Our Zoo), Jessica Raine (Jericho), and Essie Davis (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries), The Last Post, an Amazon Original series (in the US), premieres in the US on Friday, December 22nd, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Myths & MonstersMyths & Monsters (UK)

Presented by Nicholas Day (New Tricks), this documentary series explores the histories behind some of the stories that have gripped imaginations for centuries. Under themes about heroes and villains, the wild unknown, war, and the realms of love, betrayal, death, and the underworld in mythology, episodes feature stories about the Slavic legend of Ivan and Koschei the Deathless, King Arthur and the wizard Merlin, Sigurd and the dragon Fafnir from Norse mythology, Greek mythology’s Odysseus and Actaeon, the idyllic and magical Celtic Otherworld, the Kraken, the Brothers Grimm, the Vikings and the Valkyries, the Trojan War, Vlad the Impaler, and more. Myths & Monsters premieres in the US on Thursday, December 23rd, on Netflix. (Image © 3DD Entertainment)

Carols from King’s (UK)

This traditional celebration of Christmas at the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, has been broadcast on Christmas Eve for more than 60 years. It opens with a solo chorister singing “Once in Royal David’s City,” followed by the world-famous King’s College Choir performing carols old and new, and the story of Christmas being told in the words of the King James Bible and in poems by Christina Rossetti and Christopher Pilling. (The video is of last year’s Carols from King’s.) The 2017 Carols from Kings premieres in the US on Sunday, December 24th, exclusively on BritBox. (Time TBA)

Call the Midwife Holiday Special (UK)

Unlike their trip to South Africa last Christmas, the nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House face freezing temperatures, snow, ice, frozen pipes, and power cuts during winter 1963, one of the coldest in the UK in 300 years. Still, they provide the best care possible for their patients while the rest of the country is at a virtual standstill from the severe weather. (For more details, read this article.) The Call the Midwife Holiday Special premieres in the US on Monday, December 25th, at 9 PM ET, on PBS. (Check your local listings)

Coronation Street & EastEnders (+ Emmerdale) (UK)

There’s no Christmas special like a British soap opera Christmas special. The question is: If you’re a fan of both “Corrie” and EastEnders, which one do you watch when it airs live? Regardless of how you answer, both specials will be available for streaming within 24 hours after the live broadcast. And you Emmerdale fans will be able to get your Christmas special fix on, too! All three premiere in the US on Monday, December 25th, exclusively on BritBox. (Time TBA)

Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time (UK)

This year’s Doctor Who Christmas special, the final episode with Peter Capaldi as The Doctor (sob!), delivers the Time Lord’s latest regeneration (into Jodie Whittaker’s first female Doctor — yay!), a process that began in the two-part Season 10 finale that saw the current Doctor meet himself from eleven incarnations ago (played by William Hartnell’s near-doppelganger David Bradley, An Adventure in Space and Time). Featuring Pearl Mackie (Doctors) as Bill and Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) as the Captain, Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time premieres in the US on Monday, December 25th, at 9 PM ET, on BBC America.

Murdoch Mysteries: Season 11 (Canada)

Inspired by the “Murdoch Mysteries” novels by Maureen Jennings, the new season of this hit period mystery series opens with Detective Murdoch (Yannick Bisson, Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye) in jail for a murder he didn’t commit. His wife Julia (Helene Joy, Durham County) has been kidnapped, Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig, Where the Heart Is) has gone missing, and Crabtree (Jonny Harris, Republic of Doyle) and other constables have been ambushed and presumably killed. Making matters more difficult for Murdoch to prove his innocence are the corrupt government and police officials now running the station. Murdoch Mysteries: Season 11 premieres in the US on Monday, December 25th, exclusively on Acorn TV.

The Queen’s Christmas Message (UK)

Another British tradition at this time of year is the annual address that Queen Elizabeth II delivers to the people of the Commonwealth on Christmas Day. (The video is of Her Majesty’s address in 2015.) This year The Queen’s Christmas Message will be shown in the US as it happens on Monday, December 25th, exclusively on BritBox. (Time TBA)

Upstart Crow: Series 2 + Christmas Special (UK)

Already renewed for Series 3, this hilarious comedy series about the early days of Shakespeare’s career returns to the US with six new episodes plus “A Christmas Crow,” its first Christmas special. In the special Queen Elizabeth I (guest star Emma Thompson, King Lear) commissions Will (David Mitchell, Back) to present his new play, Twelfth Night, but his working draft is only Eighth Night. Upstart Crow: Series 2 premieres in the US on Monday, December 25th, exclusively on BritBox. The debut date for “A Christmas Crow” hasn’t been announced yet, so stay tuned for updates.

Travelers: Season 2 (Canada)

The new season of this sci-fi drama series, one of the best program premieres of 2016, finds FBI Special Agent Grant MacLaren (Eric McCormack, Will & Grace) and his team of specialists from the future on a mission to save the future from a dystopian existence. They face their most difficult obstacles yet, including the Faction, a deadly virus, and a mysterious new Traveler (Enrico Colantoni, Flashpoint) — all while living the everyday lives of the present-day host bodies they took over. Travelers: Season 2, a Netflix Original series, premieres in the US on Tuesday, December 26th, exclusively on Netflix.

QI: Oh Come All Yeah Faithful, Oh Christmas (UK)

The Christmas episode of this hilarious and whip-smart quiz show’s “O” series features guests Jason Manford (Ordinary Lies), Romesh Ranganathan (Asian Provocateur), and Holly Walsh (Dead Boss) as they match wits against permanent guest Alan Davies (Jonathan Creek) and presenter Sandi Toksvig (The Great British Baking Show). (The video is from the “N” series Christmas special.) The QI Christmas special premieres in the US exclusively on BritBox. (Date TBA)

Still Open All Hours Christmas Special (UK)

Forty years after the first episode of classic Britcom Open All Hours aired, David Jason (A Touch of Frost) reprised his role as Granville, the clerk who inherited the corner shop from his late Uncle Arkwright and is running the business with his son Leroy (James Baxter, Emmerdale). Originally planned as a one-off anniversary special, it was so popular with UK viewers that the BBC commissioned a full series, four times over. The Still Open All Hours Christmas Special premieres in the US exclusively on BritBox. (Date TBA)

Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special (UK)

This UK dance competition series features British celebrities paired with professional dancers in weekly elimination showdowns. The live Christmas special features six celeb-pro dancer pairs vying for the Christmas Glitterball trophy. (The video is from the 2016 special.) The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special premieres in the US exclusively on BritBox. (Date TBA)

ADDITIONAL PREMIERES TO CONSIDER

Knightfall (US)

You wouldn’t know it from the trailer that this is an American series. Be that as it may, this historical fiction drama series, about the persecution and final days of the Knights Templar in the 14th century, reunites three Downton Abbey alums: Julian Ovenden (as Guillaume de Nogaret), Jim Carter (as Pope Boniface VIII), and Tom Cullen, who stars as Landry, a veteran of the Crusades and the leader of the Knights Templar. Additional cast members include Ed Stoppard (Home Fires) as King Philip IV of France, Pádraic Delaney (The Tudors) as Gawain, and Sabrina Bartlett (Da Vinci’s Demons) as Princess Isabella. Knightfall premieres Wednesday, December 6th, at 10 PM ET, on History.

LOCAL/REGIONAL PREMIERES

The first two series below begin their US premieres starting this month. Air dates and times vary by market, so check your local listings or contact the public TV station that serves your area for details.

Flying to the Ends of the Earth: Series 2Flying to the Ends of the Earth: Series 2 (UK)

Former Royal Marine-turned-factual program presenter Arthur Williams (D-Day As It Happened, The Plane That Saved Britain) travels via prop plane to the globe’s most remote areas to find out how people establish life in such secluded places. In the second season he visits frozen Siberia, islands of the South Pacific, and Peru’s mountains, deserts, and jungles. This three-part travel series is confirmed for airing on the following public TV stations and regional networks:

STATE CITY STATION
ARIZONA Tucson
CONNECTICUT Fairfield, Hartford, New Haven, Norwich
MINNESOTA Minneapolis, St. Paul
NEW YORK Rochester
NORTH CAROLINA Asheville, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Concord, Edenton, Greensboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Linville, Lumberton, Raleigh-Durham, Roanoke Rapids, Wilmington, Winston-Salem
OHIO Dayton, Oxford, Portsmouth
RHODE ISLAND Providence
UTAH Richland, Salt Lake City, St. George
WASHINGTON Pullman/Clarkston, Richland/Pasco/Kennewick

Great Continental Railway Journeys Series 5Great Continental Railway Journeys: Series 5 (UK)

Michael Portillo returns with his trusted 1913 copy of Bradshaw’s Continental Railway Guide for more train journeys across Europe. In Series 5 he travels to Transylvania, Switzerland, North Africa, Italy, Finland, and The Netherlands, stays in the hotels recommended in the guidebook, explores the sights, and samples local traditions — all while providing viewers with early-20th-century context for the places he visits. This six-part travel series is confirmed for airing on the following public TV stations and regional networks:

STATE CITY STATION
CALIFORNIA San Diego
GEORGIA Atlanta
IDAHO Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, Pocatello, Twin Falls
KANSAS Topeka
MINNESOTA Minneapolis, St. Paul
NEVADA Las Vegas
NEW YORK Norwood, Watertown
OHIO Dayton, Oxford, Portsmouth
PENNSYLVANIA Allentown, Bethlehem, Philadelphia
UTAH Provo
WASHINGTON Spokane
WISCONSIN Milwaukee

(Above photos courtesy of American Public Television)

King George VI: The Man Behind the King’s Speech

This hour-long documentary — featuring interviews with director Tom Hooper and actor Colin Firth, each of whom won an Academy Award® for the film The King’s Speech — tells the story of the introverted and humble man who overcame shyness and a speech impediment for the sake of his nation. When his older brother, Edward VIII, abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, nervous-mannered successor George “Bertie” VI rose to the challenge and became an inspiration for the British nation during their war with Hitler’s Germany. King George VI: The Man Behind the King’s Speech debuts Wednesday, December 13th, on KCET at 10 PM PT, and nationally on Link TV at 10 PM ET/PT.

NON-PREMIERE PROGRAMS ADDED TO STREAMING SERVICES

Acorn TV

Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Acorn TV and the Acorn TV channel on Amazon.

The Indian Doctor: Series 1-3 (Complete) (UK)

Sanjeev Bhaskar (Unforgotten) stars in this binge-worthy, award-winning period drama as Prem Sharma, a highly-educated physician whose new job with the UK’s NHS brings him from Delhi, India, to the small, Welsh coal-mining village of Trefelin in 1963. With their dreams of living in London dashed, Prem and his wife Kamini (Ayesha Dharker, Coronation Street) settle in, learn to fit in, overcome prejudices and adversities, and ultimately make a positive impact on the community. Costarring Mali Harries (Hinterland), The Indian Doctor: Series One, Two & Three begins streaming Monday, December 4th.

East of Everything: Series 1 & 2 (Complete) (Australia)

This drama series from the creators of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries stars Richard Roxburgh (Rake) as Art Watkins, a travel writer whose return home to Broken Bay is too late for him to see his mum before she dies. And it’s too bad for him that a twist of fate forces him to remain at the rundown Far Out East resort, where he must face his bitter brother (Tom Long, SeaChange), his ex-fiancée (Susie Porter, Janet King), and his teen-aged son (Craig Stott, McLeod’s Daughters), and in Series 2 his estranged father (Nick Tate, The Blacklist). East of Everything begins streaming Monday, December 11th.

Morocco to Timbuktu: An Arabian Adventure (UK)

Adventurer and Arabist Alice Morrison journeys along Africa’s infamous salt roads from Morocco, via the Sahara Desert, to the legendary city of gold, Timbuktu, in this two-part documentary. (She also wrote the show’s companion book). Morocco to Timbuktu: An Arabian Adventure begins streaming Monday, December 18th.

Amazon Video

Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Amazon Prime Video.

Class (UK)

In this most recent Doctor Who spin-off, London’s Coal Hill Academy is home to Miss Quill’s (Katherine Kelly, Happy Valley) physics class. Unbeknownst to the rest of the school, four of her students — Charlie (Greg Austin, Mr. Selfridge), April (Sophie Hopkins, Brackenmore), Ram (Fady Elsayed, River), and Tanya (newcomer Vivian Oparah) — have been charged by The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) to battle alien threats, which have broken through the thinning walls of space and time, to save the world from being brought into Shadow. Class begins streaming as an Amazon Prime Video offering starting Sunday, December 3rd.

The Royals: Season 3 (US)

In advance of the premiere of Season 4, which arrives on E! in early 2018, Season 3 of this hit (American) drama about the (fictional) British royal family is filled with sex, scandal, and seriously naughty behavior, as in previous seasons. It guest stars Damian Hurley, series star Elizabeth Hurley’s son, in his debut role as Hansel, the Crown Prince of Lichtenstein, and introduces Max Brown (The Tudors) in the role of the presumed-dead-but-very-much-alive Prince Robert. The Royals: Season 3 begins streaming as an Amazon Prime Video offering starting Monday, December 4th.

Humans: Season 2 (UK)

The line between human and machine becomes blurrier and the question of what it means to be alive becomes harder to answer in Season 2 of this BAFTA-nominated Best Drama Series. Opening several months after the events in Season 1, it finds Joe (Tom Goodman-Hill, Mr. Selfridge) and Laura (Katherine Parkinson, In the Club) trying to mend their marriage; synths Mia (Gemma Chan, Bedlam), Leo (Colin Morgan, The Fall), and Max (Ivanno Jeremiah, The Jury) trying to find their place in the world; and AI expert Dr. Athena Morrow (Carrie-Anne Moss, The Matrix) trying to create a new kind of machine consciousness. Humans: Season 2 begins streaming as an Amazon Prime Video offering starting Thursday, December 21st.

BritBox Britmas

Everything’s coming up BritMas at BritBox this month. In addition to the streaming platform’s US premieres noted above, all of the holiday-themed UK TV goodies listed below are headed to BritBox and the BritBox channel on Amazon on the dates specified below.

The Dickens Dossier includes the following three programs, which are adapted from and inspired by the works of Charles Dickens and begin streaming Friday, December 1st.

A Christmas Carol — Miser and misanthrope Ebenezer Scrooge regards Christmas as an unwelcome interruption to the serious business of making money, but changes his perspective after visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.

Dickensian — The lives of some of Dickens’ most iconic characters, including Fagin (Anton Lesser, Endeavour) and Miss Havisham (Tuppence Middleton, War & Peace), are intertwined in one Victorian London neighborhood in this 20-part drama series that revolves around Inspector Bucket’s (Stephen Rea, The Honourable Woman) investigation into the murder of Jacob Marley (Peter Firth, MI-5), the late business partner of Ebenezer Scrooge (Ned Dennehy, Peaky Blinders).

Great Expectations — Ioan Gruffudd (Liar) stars as Pip, the humble orphan who becomes a gentleman thanks to the help of an unknown benefactor, in this TV adaptation featuring Charlotte Rampling (Broadchurch) as Miss Havisham, Justine Waddell (Wives and Daughters) as Estella, and Bernard Hill (Unforgotten) as Abel Magwitch.

The BritMas Comedy Collection includes special holiday episodes from some of the UK’s most beloved comedies, including A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Absolutely Fabulous, Are You Being Served?, Blackadder, Inside No. 9, Keeping Up Appearances, League of Gentlemen, The Office, Only Fools and Horses, Porridge, QI, and The Vicar of Dibley. They begin streaming on Tuesday, December 5th.

The BritMas Lifestyle Collection features special episodes of British lifestyle programs, including “Christmas Supermarket Secrets,” “The Hairy Bikers’ Christmas Party,” and Nigellissima, which begin streaming on Friday, December 8th.

The BritMas Drama Collection includes holiday episodes from Agatha Christie’s Marple, Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Ballykissangel, Inspector Morse, Jonathan Creek, Sherlock Holmes, and Upstairs Downstairs, which begin streaming on Tuesday, December 12th.

Additional Christmas Specials (below), which begin streaming on Saturday, December 16th.

Christmas Lights — This made-for-TV movie, which spawned the comedy-drama series and sequel Northern Lights and City Lights, stars Robson Green (Grantchester) and Mark Benton (The Halcyon) as lifelong mates whose constant one-upmanship entangles them in a battle over the Christmas decorations on their houses.

French & Saunders — Comedy greats Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders mix sketch, songs, and movie magic in seven holiday specials.

Last of the Summer Wine — BritBox wraps up every holiday special from this classic Britcom in a single box set.

To the Manor Born — This set of holiday specials from one of Britain’s most-loved sitcoms includes “The First Noel” and “Christmas Special 2007.”

Who Year’s Eve takes viewers on a time-travel adventure back to the six regenerations from Classic Doctor Who, as seen in the stories “The Tenth Planet,” “The War Games,” “Planet of the Spiders,” “Logopolis,” “The Caves of Androzani,” and “Time and the Rani.” “Who Year’s Eve” programming begins streaming on Sunday, December 31st.

Hulu

Inside No. 9: Series 2 (UK)

Written by and starring Reece Shearsmith (The Widower) and Steve Pemberton (Whitechapel), the second season of this dark comedy-horror anthology series features six stories and an all-star cast that includes Nikki Amuka-Bird (Hard Sun), Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey), Claire Skinner (Outnumbered), Sheridan Smith (Cilla), David Warner (Wallander), and Jack Whitehall (Good Omens). Inside No. 9: Series 2 begins streaming Friday, December 1st, on Hulu.

Netflix

Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Netflix.

Diana: In Her Own Words (UK)

This telefilm documentary, which debuted in the UK and US mere weeks before the 20th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, weaves archival footage and photography with rare recordings (most never broadcast before) to tell Diana’s story in her own words and voice. Diana: In Her Own Words begins streaming Friday, December 1st.

TURN: Washington’s Spies: Season 4 (US)

The Season 3 finale brought spies on both sides of the Revolutionary War to the gallows, and the final season finds those on the side of the Continental Army continuing to risk all for freedom and the birth of America. Based on the book Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose, and featuring a large and impressive cast of British actors, including lead Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot), TURN: Washington’s Spies: Season 4 begins streaming Friday, December 1st.

Planet Earth II (UK)

A triumph of nature documentary film-making, this Ultra Hi-Def sequel to Planet Earth is, in a word, stunning. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, the series takes us further into “Islands,” “Mountains,” “Jungles,” “Deserts,” “Grasslands,” and “Cities” to give us even closer views of nature in all its glory. The utterly brilliant, must-watch Planet Earth II begins streaming Monday, December 25th.

Sundance Now

Liar: Season 1 (UK)

This psychological thriller stars Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey) as teacher Laura Nielsen and Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four) as surgeon Andrew Earlham. The two have a seemingly innocent date that is followed by her accusation of rape, his denial, the unraveling of secrets and lies on both sides, and ultimately the revelation of the truth. Liar begins streaming Thursday, December 7th, exclusively on Sundance Now and the Sundance Now channel on Amazon.

Did you miss any of the new shows from previous months? Check the British TV Viewing Guide 2017 Archives to find out.

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British TV to Watch in Dec 2017: Brokenwood, The Crown, Doctor Who, Gunpowder, Upstart Crow, The Wine Show & More