BBC highlights for the month of December include Call the Midwife Christmas Special, Death in Paradise Christmas Special, The Royal Variety Performance, Mrs. Brown’s Boys Christmas, Taskmaster New Year’s Eve marathon, Earth’s Greatest Rivers, Louis Theroux: Shooting Joe Exotic, Thomas Tinsel Time marathon and Bluey’s New Year’s Eve Party.
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Call the Midwife Christmas Special 2022 (M)
Australian Premiere
Coming in December
Starring: Helen George, Megan Cusack & Leonie Elliot
1 x 90′
It’s Christmas 1967 and life in Poplar is slowly returning to normal after the terrible train crash.
December 1967. Life in Poplar is returning to normal after the terrible train crash. The midwives move the maternity clinic into new premises and one of their first patients is Rhoda Mullocks, who the team know well after her last baby was affected by Thalidomide. Nurse Crane cares for a pregnant single mother, recently released from prison, while Sister Frances attends a delivery in a garment factory. Elsewhere, Fred decides to raise money for the families affected by the train crash and suggests a festive talent show – Poplartunity Knocks!
Cast includes Jenny Agutter, Fenella Woolgar, Judy Parfitt, Linda Bassett and Georgie Glen.
Death in Paradise Christmas Special 2022 (M)
Australian Premiere
Coming in December
Also available on Binge
Starring: Ralf Little, Don Warrington & Tahj Miles
1 x 90′
A true-crime podcaster is murdered while on the hunt for a child who disappeared on Christmas Eve 1977 – and Selwyn’s past comes back to haunt him.
There’s just one case that Selwyn has never solved – and this Christmas it will return to haunt him. As the inhabitants of Saint Marie prepare for the festive season, true-crime podcaster Jennifer Langan is found shot dead. Langan had been investigating the strange disappearance of a nine-year old boy on Christmas Eve in 1977. When recordings from the night of the murder are uncovered, the team are left with a chilling question. Are supernatural forces at work? And, in the biggest shock of them all, will Neville find love just in time for Christmas?
Cast includes Shantol Jackson, Elizabeth Bourgine, Naomi Thomas, Les Dennis and Siobhan McSweeney.
The Royal Variety Performance (PG)
Australian Premiere
Coming in December
Hosted by: Lee Mack
1 x 90′
Only a show with the history and prestige of The Royal Variety Performance can boast such a wide range of internationally acclaimed stars.
Global acts and stars of the West End are brought together for one night only to bring the best of entertainment to a single stage. There is something for everyone in this feast of comedy, dance and musical performances.
This much-loved show has built a huge worldwide audience of over 150 million who return every year to experience this warm, family-friendly event.
Stars lined up to appear at the prestigious event are Disco Soul R&B band Nile Rodgers & Chic, Brit Award winner George Ezra, multi-award winner Ellie Goulding, Eurovision star Sam Ryder and pop star Becky Hill.
Christmas on UKTV
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 6.00am
Join us on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for a mix of all UKTV’s best Christmas specials. Series include Would I Lie To You, QI, Mrs Brown’s Boys, Midsomer Murders, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and more
Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas (M)
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 8.30pm
Starring:Brendan O’Carroll
Smash-hit comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys explodes back onto UKTV this Christmas with wonderfully heart-warming and uproarious Christmas Special episodes back to back.
Taskmaster New Year’s Eve Marathon
All day NYE from 6:00am
End 2022 on a high with UKTV this New Year’s Eve with back to back episodes of BAFTA winning and International Emmy nominated comedy game show Taskmaster.
Greg Davies stars as the all-powerful ‘Taskmaster’ who, with the help of his loyal assistant Alex Horne, sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five comedians through a series of strange and surreal challenges in what is the most hard-fought and ridiculous comedy entertainment format on TV.
Earth’s Great Rivers – Series 2 (PG)
Australian Premiere
Wednesdays at 7.20pm from December 7
3 x 50′
Travel along three more of the planet’s most spectacular rivers: the Danube, the Yukon and the Zambezi.
In Europe, find out how the Danube, is coping with years of human impact. Visit North America’s Yukon and see the rich variety of life that has made this great frozen river home, from musk ox to bears. And in Africa, explore the length of the Zambezi, from a tiny trickle deep in a forest to the thundering Victoria Falls, and meet the hippos, elephants, lions and buffalo drawn to its wild waters.
Louis Theroux: Shooting Joe Exotic (MA15+)
BBC Earth Premiere
Thursdays at 9.40pm from December 15
2 x 45′
Louis investigates the story of a man whose become one of the most controversial and captivating icons of recent times: the self-described ‘gay hillbilly’, ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic.
Ten years after he met Joe for the documentary America’s Most Dangerous Pets, Louis returns to Oklahoma, responding to a direct call from Joe to tell the ‘real story’ and to explore the saga of an animal hoarder turned convicted felon. Looking back at his original documentary, Louis reflects on hours of unseen footage to try and understand who the real Joe Exotic is and how he roped a vast menagerie of animals and humans into a grand project of vanity and deception. He tells how Joe’s captivating charisma became a key ingredient in a viral television sensation, with life-changing consequences for all those involved – including Carole Baskin, the target of his murder-for-hire plot and a mass trolling campaign.
Christmas on CBeebies (G)
All throughout December
25 x 7′
Celebrate Christmas on CBeebies, with all your CBeebies friends all throughout December. Christmas specials featuring favourites Bluey, Sarah & Duck, Hey Duggee, Thomas and Friends, Go Jetters, The Furchester Hotel and Charlie & Lola.
Thomas Tinsel Time Marathon
Christmas Eve from 5.15pm
This Christmas Eve, catch the Thomas & Friends Tinsel Time Express! Join CBeebies for the Thomas & Friends Tinsel Time Marathon on Christmas Eve with Thomas and his friends bringing back-to-back Christmas adventures, toot toot!
Bluey New Year’s Eve Party
New Year’s Eve from 4.30pm
Wackadoo! This New Year’s Eve get ready to have lots of family fun with Bluey! Gather round to party with your favourite Heeler family and friends, with a Bluey marathon on CBeebies back to back episodes from 4.30pm.
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