December on BBC – BBC highlights for the month of December include Time, Call the Midwife, Beyond Paradise, Death in Paradise, The Royal Variety Performance 2023, Christmas Allsorts, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Natural Born Rebels, Where the Wild Men Are, Thomas & Friends and Bluey.
Time
Series 2
Australian Premiere
Tuesdays at 8.30pm from December 5
Also available on Binge and On Demand
Starring: Bella Ramsey, Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance & Siobhan Finneran
3 x 60’
Jimmy McGovern’s BAFTA-winning series returns in this moving and high-stakes portrayal of life inside a woman’s prison.
This brand-new story is told through the lens of three very different female inmates. Arriving at Carlingford Prison on the same day, Kelsey (Bella Ramsey), Orla (Jodie Whittaker) and Abi (Tamara Lawrance) are thrown together to face an unfamiliar world. But even with the ever-present threat of violence within its walls, they discover that an unexpected sense of community, and a shared understanding, still might be possible.
A Week in Paradise and Beyond
From Friday, December 22 at 4.00pm
Get ready for a thrilling and captivating marathon as BBC First features back to back episodes of Death In Paradise and its spin-off series Beyond Paradise. A Week in Paradise and Beyond promises a combination of murder mysteries, stunning Caribbean landscapes and your favourite charismatic detectives.
Call the Midwife Christmas Special 2023
Australian Premiere
Coming in December, express from the UK
Also available on Binge and On Demand
Starring: Megan Cusack, Helen George & Judy Parfitt
1 x 90′
Christmas, 1968. All eyes are heavenwards as astronauts embark on their latest space exploration. But events on Earth continue to unfold at Nonnatus House.
With Apollo 8 poised to orbit the moon, Sister Monica Joan believes this will be her last Christmas and decides she will not live to see a man walk on the moon. The Nonnatus Family rally round to lighten her mood. Nancy recommits to staying on and Sister Julienne offers her and Colette a room for the foreseeable future.
Fresh from their honeymoon, Trixie and Matthew prepare their first Christmas as husband and wife when Trixie’s brother Geoffrey pays an unexpected visit. And Nurse Crane, away on her refresher course, gets home in time for Christmas despite treacherously heavy snowfall.
Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2023
Australian Premiere
Coming in December, express from the UK
Also available on Binge and On Demand
Starring: Kris Marshall & Sally Breton
1 x 60′
Beyond Paradise, starring Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman and Sally Breton as Martha, returns with its very own Christmas special. Following the couple’s break-up and subsequent reconciliation in Saint Marie at the end of series one, what does the future hold for Humphrey and Martha?
And with the Chief Superintendent on a mission to close Shipton Abbott, will Humphrey’s trip to Saint Marie affect the future of the station?
Death in Paradise Christmas Special 2023
Australian Premiere
Coming in December, express from the UK
Also available on Binge and On Demand
Starring: Ralf Little, Shontal Jackson & Elizabeth Bourgine
1 x 90′
DI Neville Parker’s mum is in town for Christmas – and a wealthy business owner is found dead at the bottom of a ravine.
It’s Christmas in the Caribbean and Neville’s larger than life mum is in town. But she’s disheartened to see how down on romance Neville is – can she instil some festive cheer in her unlucky-in-love son? Meanwhile, a wealthy business owner is found dead at the bottom of a ravine whilst his house guest Debbie has completely vanished. As Debbie’s hapless fiancé flies in on a rescue mission, the team learn that the victim’s picture-perfect family aren’t all that they seem.
The Royal Variety Performance 2023
Australian Premiere
Thursday, December 21 at 8.30pm
Hosted by: Bradley Walsh
1 x 90′
Only an event with the history and prestige of The Royal Variety Performance can boast such a wide range of internationally acclaimed stars. Offering something for everyone, this much-loved feast of comedy, dance and musical performances has built a huge worldwide audience of over 150 million, who return every year to experience this family-friendly entertainment extravaganza.
This years event will be a star-studded affair featuring performances from Cher and Britain’s Got Talent winner Viggo Venn. Among the performances are McFly, Rick Astley, Zara Larsson, Paloma Faith, Hannah Waddingham, and Melanie C.
Also on the agenda is an exclusive 100th Anniversary celebration from Disney Theatrical, which will showcase a medley, featuring performances from The Lion King, Frozen, Aladdin, Hercules and Beauty & The Beast.
Christmas Allsorts
From Sunday, December 24 at 6.00am
Two days of festive fun across Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the best Christmas episodes of all your favourite UKTV shows. From QI, Would I Lie to You and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown to The Jonathan Ross Show, Midsomer Murders, The Vicar of Dibley, Father Brown, Grantchester and Call The Midwife, there will be no shortage of seasonal cheer.
UKTV will also broadcast The King’s Speech.
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown to New Year
From Sunday, December 31 at 6.00am
As the clock ticks closer to midnight on New Year’s Eve, UKTV presents an exciting and hilarious marathon of your favourite 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown episodes.
The countdown promises to deliver uproarious laughter, clever wordplay, and unexpected surprises. Hosted by charismatic Jimmy Carr, the marathon features a compilation of the show’s most memorable episodes, showcasing the best moments of previous seasons. Viewers are treated to a star-studded lineup of celebrity guests, including renowned comedians, actors and musicians.
Natural Born Rebels
BBC Earth Premiere
Wednesdays at 7.30pm from December 6
3 x 60′
Swaggering peacocks lying about their sexual exploits. Sneaky rhesus macaques using psychology to pull off scams. Delinquent cockatoos burgling bijou Sydney residences. These are nature’s usual suspects. But is their bark worse than their bite? Whether breaking bad to feed the family, or engaging in a bit of mutual back-scratching, many of these apparent miscreants are actually helping out.
But be careful as you infiltrate this criminal animal underworld. There are some thugs who wreck the rules just because they want to. This is your chance to get inside the heads of the planet’s most crooked felons. And that’s an offer you can’t refuse.
Where the Wild Men Are: Then and Now
Fridays at 7.30pm from December 1
Presented by: Ben Fogle
10 x 60′
Over the past 10 years of Where the Wild Men Are, Ben Fogle has met some incredible people around the world living their dreams in the wild. This December on BBC Earth we look at some of our favourite people and families to see how it started and where they are now.
Over 5 weeks we meet and revisit Barb in the Kimberly Region in Australia, The Mason Family in Devon, Anna Lisa in Sweden, Steve in India, and David on Restoration Island in Australia.
Thomas Tinsel Time Marathon
Christmas Eve from 5.25pm
This Christmas Eve, Thomas and his friends are bringing back-to-back Christmas adventures, toot toot! Join CBeebies for the Thomas & Friends Tinsel Time Marathon on Christmas Eve, and catch the Thomas & Friends Tinsel Time Express!
Bluey New Year’s Eve Party
New Year’s Eve from 4pm
CBeebies is throwing a Bluey New Year’s Eve party! Get ready to have lots of fun with your favourite Heeler family and friends, with a Bluey marathon on CBeebies – favourite Bluey episodes all New Year’s Eve from 4pm.
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BBC programming info can be viewed HERE
December on BBC
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BBC First, BBC Earth, UKTV, CBeebies, BBC World News, BBC Kids and BBC Brit are channels owned by BBC Studios featuring our content. Selected channels are available through a Foxtel, Fetch or Binge subscription.