As we say goodbye to 2023, we have the premieres of 34 new series, seasons, specials, and films from the UK and Canada in the US and beyond in December.
For updates about shows from the UK, Canada, and Ireland added to US linear TV and streaming channels throughout the month, see the British TV Viewing Guide.
Programs and dates are subject to change without prior notice.
Videos below may contain content that is not suitable for everyone.
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NATIONAL PREMIERES
It’s a Wonderful Knife (US-UK-CA)
A spin on the Christmas classic, this horror film centers on Winnie Carruther (Jane Widdop, Yellowjackets), who saves her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve. A year later, her life is less than wonderful, so when she wishes she’d never been born, she finds herself in a nightmare parallel universe and discovers that without her, things could be much, much worse. Now, the killer is back, and she must team up with the town misfit to identify the killer and get back to her own reality.
Costarring Joel McHale (Community) and Justin Long (Barbarian), It’s a Wonderful Knife premieres in the US on Friday, December 1, on Shudder and AMC+.
The Shepherd (US-UK)
In this fantasy short film, a young RAF pilot flying home across the North Sea on Christmas Eve finds himself in peril when his radio and electric power cut out, leaving him stranded and running on limited fuel. Just when it appears his luck is about to run out, a mysterious good Samaritan guides him to safety.
Starring Ben Radcliffe (Anatomy of a Scandal), Steven Mackintosh (Payback), and John Travolta (Pulp Fiction), The Shepherd, a Disney+ Original, premieres globally on Friday, December 1, exclusively on Disney+.
Doctor Who: Wild Blue Yonder (UK)
In the second Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, the TARDIS takes the Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) on a journey to a faraway, mysterious place and abandons them in the middle of Hostile Action.
Doctor Who: Wild Blue Yonder premieres globally (outside the UK and Ireland) on Saturday, December 2, exclusively on Disney+.
Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen (UK)
In this new three-part docuseries, Lucy Worsley, who recently published the acclaimed biography Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman, turns her powers of investigation to the mysterious figure of Agatha Christie, uncovering the story of one of the most famous, complex, and misunderstood women of the 20th century. As in the best of Christie’s mystery novels, clues are hiding in plain sight, and Lucy uncovers surprising new evidence and some carefully concealed secrets that illuminate the life of a writer whose work continues to delight readers worldwide. (For a detailed description of the series and its episodes, read this article.)
Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen premieres in the US on Sunday, December 3, at 8 PM ET, on PBS (check your local listings), with streaming available on PBS.org and the PBS app. New episodes will drop on Sundays through December 17, when the series will become available on the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel.
Midsomer Murders: Season 24 (UK)
Back with brand new whodunit stories featuring creatively-executed murders, the new season of this international hit mystery series finds DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and DS Jamie Winter (Nick Hendrix) investigating more homicides in seemingly idyllic towns and villages in Midsomer County. Midsomer Murders: Season 24 premieres in the US on Monday, December 4, exclusively on Acorn TV.
Geddy Lee Asks: Are Bass Players Human Too? (CA)
In this new four-part docuseries, famed Rush bassist Geddy Lee travels to the homes of some of music’s most renowned bass players and digs into the stories that make these musicians stand out. A follow-up to his recent book, Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass, the series features Krist Novoselic of Nirvana, Les Claypool of Primus, Melissa Auf der Maur of Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, and Rob Trujillo of Metallica.
Geddy Lee Asks: Are Bass Players Human Too? premieres in the US and Canada on Tuesday, December 5, exclusively on Paramount+, followed by the UK, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria on Wednesday, December 6.
Archie (UK)
From BAFTA® Award-winning and Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter and executive producer Jeff Pope (Philomena, A Confession, Cilla) comes Archie, the remarkable, little-known story of the formative years of actor Cary Grant, which stars BAFTA nominee Jason Isaacs (“Harry Potter” films, Case Histories, Awake) as the Hollywood superstar.
Cary Grant was one of the twentieth century’s most iconic figures, captivating the world with his charm, wit and grace, not to mention his chiseled good looks. But few knew Archie Leach, the man behind the name, and the enormous challenges he overcame on his path to stardom. From his troubled childhood to the one overpowering lie that shaped his life, this surprising and emotional drama captures the struggles, fears, loves, and losses of Archie Leach — a man who couldn’t be further from the character he invented to save himself.
Executive produced by Jennifer Grant, Cary Grant’s daughter, and Dyan Cannon, his ex-wife, the limited series features a top-notch cast that includes Laura Aikman (The Job Lot), Niamh Cusack (The Tower), Lisa Faulkner (Murder in Suburbia), Henry Lloyd-Hughes (The English Game), Ian McNeice (Doc Martin), Ian Puleston-Davies (Silent Witness), Kara Tointon (Mr Selfridge), Harriet Walter (Succession), and Jason Watkins (McDonald & Dodds), amongst others.
Archie, a BritBox Original, premieres in North America on Thursday, December 7, exclusively on BritBox. New episodes will drop on Thursdays through December 28.
The Lovers (UK)
Hailed by The Standard in its five-star review as “a brilliant rom-com with as much bite as it has heart… a must-watch” when the series debuted across the pond, this six-part comedy series is a sexy, funny, fight-y love story about two people who appear to be utterly wrong for each other — yet may just be utterly right.
Set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, it follows Janet (Roisin Gallagher, The Fall, The Dry), a bad-tempered but hilarious supermarket worker in Belfast who couldn’t give a monkey’s about much of anything, like her life, and Seamus (Johnny Flynn, Emma., Lovesick, Genius), a handsome and self-centered political broadcaster who has a celebrity girlfriend and what looks to be a perfect London life. When Seamus unexpectedly drops into Janet’s world (literally over the wall and into her backyard), they instantly clash — and find themselves inextricably drawn to each other…
Featuring Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones, Holding) and Alice Eve (Belgravia, Ordeal by Innocence), The Lovers, a Sundance Now Original, premieres in the US and Canada with two episodes on Thursday, December 7, exclusively on Sundance Now and AMC+, with new episodes dropping on Thursdays on both platforms through January 4, 2024.
World War II: From the Frontlines (UK)
Through vividly enhanced archival footage and voices from all sides of the conflict, this six-part docuseries brings WWII to life like never before. World War II: From the Frontlines, a Netflix Documentary, premieres globally on Thursday, December 7, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Culprits (UK)
This eight-episode comedy-crime thriller kicks off where most crime stories end: after a high-stakes heist, when a crew of elite criminals went their separate ways and tried to leave their old lives behind. Then past and present collide when a ruthless assassin starts targeting them, killing them off one by one.
The cast includes Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Misfits), Gemma Arterton (Rogue Agent), Eddie Izzard (Stay Close), Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Barry), Niamh Algar (Deceit), Kamel El Basha (Room 207), Tara Abboud (Rebel), Ned Dennehy (Peaky Blinders), Kevin Vidal (Workin’ Moms), and Baeyen Hoffman (The Good Doctor).
Culprits, a Hulu Original Series, premieres in the US as a full-season binge on Friday, December 8, exclusively on Hulu.
The Great British Baking Show: Holidays: Season 6 (UK)
Ring in the holidays with judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood as bakers gather for festive fun in the tent and a chance to win the coveted cake stand. The Great British Baking Show: Holidays: Season 6, a Netflix Series, premieres in the US on Friday, December 8, exclusively on Netflix.
Your Christmas or Mine 2 (UK)
Following on from the goings-on in Your Christmas or Mine, this holiday film follows young couple James (Asa Butterfield, Sex Education, Hugo) and Hayley (Cora Kirk, Father Brown, Midsomer Murders) as they gear up for their second Christmas as a couple. James’s father (Alex Jennings, The Crown) has invited Hayley’s family to spend Christmas at a luxury ski resort in the Austrian Alps, so they can meet his new American girlfriend (played by Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock). But things go sideways, as they are wont to do with this lot. Because Hayley’s dad, Geoff (Daniel Mays, Mrs. Biggs), insisted on handling his family’s side of the booking, there’s a mix-up with transport at the airport, and the two families end up at each other’s accommodations, on different sides of the valley, and on opposite ends of the Tripadvisor ratings scale.
Costarring David Bradley (“Harry Potter” films), Angela Griffin (Crime), Natalie Gumede (Titans), and Rhea Norwood (Heartstopper), Your Christmas Or Mine 2, an Amazon Original Film, premieres globally on Friday, December 8, exclusively on Prime Video.
Doctor Who: The Giggle (UK)
In the third Doctor Who 60th anniversary special — the final onscreen adventure of the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) — the giggle of a mysterious puppet is driving the human race insane. When the Doctor discovers the return of the terrifying Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother), he faces a fight he can never win. (This special marks the first appearance of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor.)
Doctor Who: The Giggle premieres globally (outside the UK and Ireland) on Saturday, December 9, exclusively on Disney+.
Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas Special 2023 (UK)
In this period mystery series’ Christmas Special, Britain is in the grips of the “Big Freeze,” the worst winter on record. Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson, Father Brown) and her fellow travelers are stranded in a train after a frozen coupling snaps, leaving the last carriages stuck in snow. When the precious jewel The Star of the Orient is stolen from its safe and a passenger is discovered murdered, Sister Boniface must use her exceptional detection skills to decide who amongst the suspects is responsible. But with little signs of rescue and a failing generator, passengers must also contend with a more pressing issue: freezing to death. Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas Special 2023, a BritBox Original, premieres in North America on Tuesday, December 12, exclusively on BritBox.
The Crown: Season 6, Part 2 (UK)
In the final six episodes of this historical drama, with the Commonwealth irrevocably changed, Queen Elizabeth II (Imelda Staunton, A Confession) reflects on her life and legacy, and paves the way for her successors, Charles (Dominic West, The Affair) and William (Senan West).
The Crown: Season 6, Part 2, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Thursday, December 14, exclusively on Netflix.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (UK-US-FR)
The chickens are back! In this eagerly-anticipated sequel to Chicken Run, the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, Ginger (voice of Thandiwe Newton, Westworld) has finally found her dream: a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky (Zachary Levi, Spy Kids: Armageddon) hatch a little girl called Molly (Bella Ramsey, Game of Thrones), Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland, the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat, prompting Ginger and her team to do a break in!
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Friday, December 15, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Such Brave Girls (UK)
This sitcom follows sisters Josie (Kat Sadler) and Billie (played by Kat’s real-life sister, Lizzie Davidson) and their single mother, Deb (Louise Brealey, Sherlock), as they navigate life armed with nothing but poor judgement and self-esteem that’s exclusively tied to people who couldn’t care less about them. They’re vain, selfish, heavily in debt, pathologically desperate for affection, and bursting with misplaced, terrifying love.
Such Brave Girls premieres in the US on Friday, December 15, exclusively on Hulu. (You can add it to your watchlist now.)
Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?! (UK)
Following rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and an Off-Broadway run, Leo Reich, in his first solo stand-up special, faces the swirling uncertainty of our collective future, asking the big questions, such as: “Is this helping?”, “Am I hot?”, and “No offense guys but literally what is going on?” Treading the line between hilarious stand-up and humorless performance art, this special blends songs, anecdotes, and anxious non-sequiturs in a valiant attempt to raise awareness about important social and political causes… or something.
Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!, an HBO Original comedy special, premieres in the US on Saturday, December 16, on HBO, with streaming available on Max.
Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas (UK)
In this hour-long holiday special, food writer and television presenter Mary Berry goes on a winter break to the Highlands of Scotland, her mother’s homeland, where she reflects on her heritage with fascinating anecdotes about her Scottish roots, cooks up sumptuous seasonal dishes that won’t break the bank, and embarks on magical days out with friends. (For further details, read this article.)
Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas premieres in the US on Monday, December 18, at 9 PM ET, on PBS (check your local listings), PBS.org, and the PBS app, as well as on the PBS Living Prime Video Channel.
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Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific: Season 2 (UK)
Actor and outdoorsman Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) embarks on an epic ocean-wide adventure in search of the real Pacific, traveling to Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Micronesia. Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific: Season 2 premieres in the US on Monday, December 18, exclusively on Acorn TV.
Border Control: Sweden (UK)
Narrated by actress Katherine Kelly (Criminal: UK, Liar), this docuseries follows the security and customs services at the border of Sweden, which are on constant watch to detect crime and stop illegal items entering the country. Border Control: Sweden premieres in the US on Tuesday, December 19, on Max.
Vera: Season 12 Christmas Special (UK)
Brenda Blethyn returns to our screens in the trademark mac and bucket hat as DCI Vera Stanhope, who, along with her detective team, investigates a wintry mystery in Northumberland in this hit mystery-crime drama’s first-ever Christmas special. Vera: Season 12 Christmas Special premieres in North America on Wednesday, December 20, exclusively on BritBox.
Would I Lie To You?: Season 16 (UK)
In this long-running panel show hosted by comedian and actor Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey), two teams, captained by David Mitchell (Peep Show) and Lee Mack (Not Going Out), reveal unusual facts and embarrassing stories about themselves, often to hilarious effect. Some of what they share is real, some not; it’s up to the other team to decide what’s true and what isn’t. (Video is from Season 14)
Would I Lie To You?: Season 16 premieres in North America in its 12-episode entirety on Friday, December 22, exclusively on BritBox.
Call the Midwife Holiday Special (UK)
In this hit period drama’s 2023 holiday special, it’s two weeks before Christmas, and delicate situations cause uncertainty for the midwifes. The Call the Midwife Holiday Special premieres in the US on Monday, December 25, on PBS (check your local listings), with streaming available on PBS.org and the PBS app.
Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road (UK)
After a six year absence, the Doctor Who Christmas Special returns with this episode, which features Ncuti Gatwa in his first full-length outing as the Fifteenth Doctor and introduces audiences to the Doctor’s new companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road premieres globally (outside the UK and Ireland) on Monday, December 25, exclusively on Disney+.
Madame Blanc Mysteries: Season 3 (UK)
The third season of this popular mystery series opens with a holiday special. It’s coming up to Christmas, and Judith (Sue Holderness, Still Open All Hours) and Jeremy (Robin Askwith, Coronation Street) have arranged for Jean (Sally Lindsay, Scott & Bailey), Dom (Steve Edge, Benidorm), Caron (Alex Gaumond, Derry Girls), and Gloria (Sue Vincent, Mount Pleasant) to attend a murder mystery night at an old friend’s hotel with a spooky history. During the evening, a terrible storm starts, heavy rain pounds the isolated hotel, and the murder mystery soiree becomes a night of actual murder as someone is killed. With several suspects trapped together in the hotel, can Jean discover who the killer is? And will this answer the mystery of the ghostly goings-on at Hotel Sanguinet? The Madame Blanc Mysteries, an Acorn TV Original Series, premieres in the US and Canada on Monday, December 25, exclusively on Acorn TV.
Ricky Gervais: Armageddon (UK)
Ricky Gervais, the BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning mind behind The Office, Extras, and Afterlife, takes the stage for a provocative new stand-up comedy special about the end of humanity — riffing on political correctness, oversensitivity, family weddings, funerals, and Artificial Intelligence.
Ricky Gervais: Armageddon, a Netflix Comedy special, premieres globally on Monday, December 25, exclusively on Netflix.
Letterkenny: Season 12 (CA)
This hilarious, award-winning Canadian comedy series’ new season is also its last. Created by and starring Jared Keeso (Shoresy, 19-2), the rated TV-MA series, set in the fictional rural town of Letterkenny in Ontario, revolves around the goings-on in the lives of its quirky residents.
Letterkenny: Season 12 premieres in Canada on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, on Crave, and in the US on Boxing Day, Tuesday, December 26, on Hulu.
Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare (UK)
In this gripping, tell-all documentary, the brutal conditions of an infamous wilderness therapy camp and the alleged abuse of the troubled teens who attended are exposed. Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare, a Netflix Documentary, premieres globally on Wednesday, December 27, exclusively on Netflix.
Gardeners’ World Winter Specials 2023 (UK)
This specials anthology features Monty Don and the team celebrating the joy that the gardening year brings with a selection of brand new stories of cultivation, inspiration, and discovery in the exuberant world of horticulture. Gardeners’ World Winter Specials 2023 premieres in North America with all four episodes on Sunday, December 31, exclusively on BritBox.
Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2023 (UK)
In this special hour-long festive episode, DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall, My Family) and the detectives of Shipton Abbot are tasked with solving a puzzling case involving a series of break-ins and mysterious gifts on Christmas Eve. Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2023, a BritBox Original, premieres in North America in December (date tba) exclusively on BritBox.
Here We Go Christmas 2023 (UK)
This comedy series, which follows Sam (Jude Collie, Terminator: Dark Fate), the youngest son of the Jessop family, as he documents the family’s highs and lows with a handheld camera, returns with a holiday special. Here We Go Christmas 2023 premieres in North America in December (date tba) exclusively on BritBox.
Lot No. 249 (UK)
Written and directed by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock), this half-hour program is this year’s installment of the BBC tradition of “A Ghost Story for Christmas.” Adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle’s eponymous tale, the spooky, festive program starring Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) and Freddie Fox (The Great) follows a group of Oxford students, one of whom undertakes research into the secrets of Ancient Egypt, which becomes the talk of the college. As these experiments continue, strange occurrences abound in the mysterious Lot. No 249. Lot No. 249 premieres in North America in December (date tba) exclusively on BritBox.
Mrs. Brown’s Boys Christmas Special 2023 (UK)
Brendan O’Carroll reprises his role as everyone’s favorite Irish mammy, Mrs. Brown, for another hilarious holiday special of this hit comedy series. Mrs. Brown’s Boys Christmas Special 2023 premieres in the US in December (date tba) exclusively on BritBox.
LOCAL/REGIONAL PREMIERES
Select public TV stations and regional networks will begin airing the programs below on or after December 1. Check you local listings or contact the station that serves your area for air dates and times. To request the shows, contact your public TV station or American Public Television.
A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (UK)
In this comedy, the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society have been blacklisted by the BBC after ruining Peter Pan (in Peter Pan Goes Wrong). However, they are not taking their ban lying down and force themselves back on the BBC by hijacking the jewel of the Christmas schedule: a “live” production of A Christmas Carol. With a little help from Sandra’s aunt, Dame Diana Rigg (All Creatures Great and Small), the Cornley gang try to make the show work but soon realize they are completely out of their depth, with no idea how to direct a live studio or handle the special effects. Worse still, internal rivalries are revealed during the broadcast while an angry professional cast tries to get back into the studio. Special guest star Sir Derek Jacobi (Last Tango in Halifax) tries to keep up!
A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is confirmed for airing on Idaho Public Television, Kentucky Educational Television (KET), KERA, KPTS, KQEH, KTWU, KUAT, KWSU, Maryland Public Television, New Hampshire PBS, NJ PBS (New Jersey), PBS Wisconsin, WBGU, WCVE, WETA, WLRN, WNED, WPBS, WPTO, WTTW, and WVPT. (Contact the station that serves your area to request the show.)
Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse (UK)
Set in 1922, this family-friendly comedy-drama is inspired by the true story of a young Roald Dahl (Harry Tayler, The Trip to Greece), future author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as he sets off on an adventure to meet his favorite author, Beatrix Potter (Dawn French, The Vicar of Dibley, The Trouble with Maggie Cole). Their encounter proves to be a life-changing moment for them both.
Narrated by John Hannah (Transplant), the TV movie features an all-star cast that includes Jessica Hynes (W1A), Rob Brydon (The Trip), Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso), Bill Bailey (Black Books), Nina Sosanya (Good Omens), and Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey).
Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse is confirmed for airing on Idaho Public Television, KENW, KERA, KMOS, KPBS, KRSU, KSPS, KTWU, KUAT, KWSU, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Maryland Public Television, Montana PBS, Nebraska Public Media, Oregon Public Broadcasting, PBS Wisconsin, WHYY, WITF, WNED, WPTO, and WyomingPBS. (Contact the station that serves your area to request the show.)
The Savoy at Christmas (UK)
Narrated by Celia Imrie (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), this documentary takes viewers behind the scenes at The Savoy, the first luxury hotel in Britain, during the holiday festivities. The staff are pushed to the breaking point as they welcome hundreds of residential guests and diners across Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, delivering the glamour, elegance, history, and character guests wish to experience. The six weeks from mid-November to New Year’s Day are of utmost importance, as they generate £3.5 million in revenue.
The Savoy at Christmas is confirmed for airing on Georgia Public Broadcasting, Iowa PBS, KERA, KPBS, KQEH, KUAT, KVIE, KWSU, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Maine Public Television, Maryland Public Television, Oregon Public Broadcasting, PBS Wisconsin, WCET, WCVE, WEDU, WETA, WFYI, WILL, WLRN, WNED, WPBS, WPTO, WSBE, WVPT, and WyomingPBS. (Contact the station that serves your area to request the show.)
Treasures with Bettany Hughes
Historian, author, and broadcaster Bettany Hughes (Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities, Genius of the Ancient World) presents this six-part docuseries, in which she investigates the most remarkable treasures of civilization that reveal the story of humanity. Boasting unique access and state-of-the-art technology, the series champions what ordinary people throughout time have achieved through sheer force of will, inspiration, and collaboration.
Treasures with Bettany Hughes is confirmed for airing on Idaho Public Television, KPBS, KRSU, KUAT, KUEN, KWSU, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, New Hampshire PBS, Oregon Public Broadcasting, PBS Wisconsin, WETA, WLRN, WNED, and WPTD. (Contact the station that serves your area to request the show.)
NON-PREMIERE PROGRAMS BEING ADDED TO STREAMING SERVICES
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Acorn TV and its digital channels, including Acorn TV on Amazon.
The Killing: Seasons 1-4 (US-CA)
Based on The Killing, the hit Nordic noir series from Denmark, the first two seasons of this mystery-crime drama follow the investigation into the murder of 17-year-old Rosie Larsen by homicide detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos, Hanna) and rookie detective Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman, For All Mankind). Season 3 revolves around murders connected to one of Linden’s previous homicide investigations, and Season 4 follows the detective duo’s investigation into a murder while dealing with the fallout of their actions (in Season 3). The Killing: Season 1 begins streaming Monday, December 4, followed by Season 2 on December 11, Season 3 on December 18, and Season 4 on December 25.
The Pier (IE)
In this drama, Jack McCarthy (Gerard Hurley, The Pride) travels from New York to his father Larry’s (Karl Johnson, Hot Fuzz, Mum, Lark Rise to Candleford) death bed in Cork after not having had any contact with the man for 20 years. When Jack arrives, he discovers that Larry is alive and well and has duped him into returning home. The Pier begins streaming Monday, December 4.
Short Film Showcase: Series 2
This anthology of short films includes Oscar® winner An Irish Goodbye, Boogaloo & Graham, Crossword, Parting Gift, Psychic, Ruby, Ship of Souls, The View from Up Here, and Wish 143. Short Film Showcase: Series 2 begins streaming Monday, December 11.
SisterS: Season 1 (US-IE-CA)
In this dark comedy-drama, after her mother’s death, Sare (Sarah Goldberg, Barry) learns that her father wasn’t her actual father but an Irish busker her mother met while backpacking thirty years ago. In traveling to Ireland to track him down, she discovers she has a half-sister, Suze (Susan Stanley, Fair City), whose life is unraveling following the loss of her partner, her flat, her job, and her dignity. On her 37th birthday, Suze’s life takes an unexpected turn when her Canadian half-sister, Sare, shows up and convinces her to go on a road trip across Ireland to find their alcoholic father. Confined by the four walls of a crumbling ice cream van, the sisters forge an unbreakable bond as they realize sometimes it’s the family you choose that can carry you through. SisterS begins streaming Monday, December 25.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on BritBox and its digital channels, including BritBox on Amazon.
Maid Marian and Her Merry Men (UK)
This classic comedy series claims to be the true story of Sherwood Forest, but offers a revisionist (and feminist) account of the outlaws’ struggles, with Maid Marian (Kate Lonergan, The Bill) as the brains of the outfit and Robin (Adam Morris, Sister Boniface Mysteries) as a posh but cowardly tailor. Costarring Danny John-Jules (Red Dwarf) and Tony Robinson (Blackadder), the complete Maid Marian and Her Merry Men begins streaming Monday, December 4.
Bringing Up Baby (US)
In this utterly hilarious screwball comedy, Cary Grant plays David Huxley, a mild-mannered paleontologist who must make a good impression on society matron Mrs. Random (May Robson), who is considering donating one million dollars to his museum. On the day before his wedding, Huxley meets Mrs. Random’s high-spirited young niece, Susan Vance (Katharine Hepburn), a madcap adventuress who immediately falls for the straitlaced scientist. Between Susan, a pet leopard named Baby, and a missing dinosaur bone, Huxley doesn’t stand a chance. Bringing Up Baby begins streaming Wednesday, December 6.
North by Northwest (US)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this classic suspense film, which features some of the most iconic action sequences in cinema history, stars Cary Grant as Roger O. Thornhill, a New York City ad executive pursued by ruthless spy Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) after Thornhill is mistaken for a government agent. Hunted relentlessly by Vandamm’s associates, the harried Thornhill ends up on a cross-country journey, during which he meets the beautiful and mysterious Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) — followed by his being attacked by a crop duster plane and then forced to climb Mount Rushmore to flee the murder-minded henchmen. North by Northwest begins streaming Wednesday, December 6.
No Offence: Seasons 1-2 (UK)
Created and written by Paul Abbott (Shameless), this humor-filled police procedural follows a team of detectives in Manchester, led by DI Vivienne Deering (Joanna Scanlan, Hold the Sunset). Season 1 follows the team’s investigation into the serial murders of young girls with Down syndrome, and Season 2 revolves around the investigation into Manchester crime boss Nora Attah (Rakie Ayola, Grace). No Offence: Seasons 1-2 begins streaming Sunday, December 24.
Princess Anne: The Plot to Kidnap a Royal (UK)
This hour-long documentary tells the forgotten story of the daring and bloody criminal plot to kidnap Princess Anne in March 1974, including an extraordinary shootout in the shadow of Buckingham Palace, and the recounting of mayhem and violence by key witnesses. Princess Anne: The Plot to Kidnap a Royal begins streaming Thursday, December 28.
Jamaica Inn (UK)
Based on Daphne Du Maurier’s eponymous classic novel, this limited series stars Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) as Mary Yellan, whose move to Jamaica Inn in 19th-century Cornwall after her mother’s death reunites her with the only family she has left: Aunt Patience (Joanne Whalley, The Borgias). It also introduces her to petty criminal Jem Merlyn (Matthew McNulty, The Paradise), and Jem’s brother and Patience’s husband, the violent Joss Merlyn (Sean Harris, Southcliffe), head of a gang of wreckers. Jamaica Inn begins streaming Saturday, December 30.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Netflix.
Bank of Dave (UK)
Based on the true-life experiences of working class Burnley man and self-made millionaire Dave Fishwick (played by Rory Kinnear, The Diplomat, Our Flag Means Death), this historical comedy-drama follows Dave, who struggles to set up a community bank to help the town’s local businesses to thrive. To do so, he must battle London’s elite financial institutions and compete for the first banking license in over 100 years. Bank of Dave begins streaming Monday, December 18.
Titles in this section begin streaming on the dates shown below on Sundance Now and its digital channels, including Sundance Now on Amazon.
Being Human: Seasons 1-3 (UK)
This fan-favorite drama follows the lives of a group of friends who happen to be a ghost (Lenora Crichlow, Avenue 5), a vampire (Aidan Turner, Poldark), and a werewolf (Russell Tovey, American Horror Story), as they deal with their desire to be human while handling the challenges of being supernatural creatures. Binge Season 1 starting Thursday December 14, followed by Season 2 on December 21 and Season 3 on December 28.
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Did you miss any of the new shows from previous days, weeks, or months? Check out the British TV Viewing Guide and Archives to find out.
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For details about the December premieres of shows from Australia and New Zealand, visit The Down Under TV Place. For info about the debuts of original-language, English-subtitled programs from Europe, visit The Euro TV Place. And for that of a select list of titles from other countries, visit The Global TV Place.
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