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Brand New British TV Shows in the US in December 2024
Published 7 months ago • 4 min read
After our last email, several people (actually, a couple hundred) replied with questions about the status of some specific British TV shows that weren't mentioned in the email. While we can't reply to that many emails individually, we DO have a resource page where we regularly update the status for 350+ shows.
Just go HERE and then scroll down to select the part of the alphabet you need. You may also discover some new shows while you're there.
What we're...
Watching: Black Doves - This new Netflix series follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a wife and mother who leads a double life as a professional spy, passing along her politician husband's secrets. When her lover is murdered, she relies on her handler, Reed (Sarah Lancashire) and an assassin, Sam (Ben Whishaw) to help her.
Warning: If you can't handle strong violence, profanity, and sex (including a fairly graphic scene with two men engaging in a bit of the old rumpy-pumpy), you may wish to skip this one. No judgment on our part either way, we just like to make sure people get matched with the kind of shows that suit them.
Reading: Nobody's Hero by MW Craven - When a shocking murder in London unearths a decade-old secret tied to a fugitive gatekeeper of a deadly conspiracy, fearless operative Ben Koenig must track her down before the truth ignites global chaos. If you enjoy Craven's Washington Poe crime series, you might also enjoy this mostly US-based series about a former elite US Marshal who lacks the ability to feel fear. This is the second in the series, and while it can occasionally be a bit cheesy, they're fast-paced and fun.
On BritBox, December 5th brought Joan (2024), which stars Sophie Turner as infamous jewel thief Joan Hannington. On the 11th, look for season 9 of Shetland.
On Acorn TV, new episodes of The Graham Norton Show continue on Fridays, along with new episodes of Dalgliesh on Mondays through the 16th. On the 9th, look for season 2 of the Chilean series Inspector Rojas.
On PBS Masterpiece, season 5 of Miss Scarlet (formerly Miss Scarlet & the Duke) premieres on the 8th.
On Netflix, Black Doves (mentioned above) premiered on December 5th. On the 6th, they added the film Mary, which tells the classic story from her side of things. Welsh actor Sir Anthony Hopkins plays King Herod. They also added the animated Richard Curtis film That Christmas on the 4th, and The Great British Baking Show: Holidays, Season 7 will premiere on the 9th.
On Amazon Prime Video, Jack in Time for Christmas premiered on December 3rd. The semi-scripted comedy-travelogue sees him stranded in the US with just a few days to get back to the UK for Christmas.
On Hulu, Paris Has Fallen premiered on December 6th. The Paris-based thriller is a spin-off of the Gerard Butler "Has Fallen" franchise.
On BBC Select, the 12th brings seasons 1-5 of Auction, The Pyrenees with Michael Portillo, Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry, and Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas.
On PBS Documentaries, Lucy Worsley's Holmes vs. Doyle premieres on Sunday the 8th. It explores Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's complicated relationship with his fictional detective.
8 of the Best British TV Christmas Specials: Comedy Edition
Curious about Christmas specials for some of the older shows in BritBox's archives? We'll take a look at comedies today, then dramas and mysteries in a future email. Here are a some of our favourites, including the season/episode number for easy lookup...
Rev (S2 E7) - It's Christmas time in Reverend Adam Smallbone's inner-city parish, and he's about to find out that it's VERY different from Christmas in his former (and more rural) parish in Suffolk.
Keeping Up Appearances - This classic series had not one, but four Christmas specials to help show us how truly classy ladies handle the holiday: S2 E11, S4 E8, S4 E9, S5 E11
Waiting for God (S3 E11) - It'll come as no surprise that Diana plays the Scrooge in this Christmas episode at the Bayview Retirement Community.
Gavin & Stacey - In the show's original run, there was just one Christmas special - S2 E8. It holds such a special place in British pop culture, though, that it came back for another one ten years later in 2019 (S4 E1). They're due to release a final Christmas episode in 2024, but for now there's been no announcement about when/where it will be available in the US.
To the Manor Born - This class-based comedy had one Christmas special during its original run, followed by a reunion special in 2007 (decades later). The first sees Audrey determined to continue acting as lady of the manor despite her sudden change in social standing - and the second follows up on their 25th wedding anniversary. On Amazon, they appear as "Season 4", but on BritBox direct, you'll find the first one at the end of season 1 (the other is under "Special".
Are You Being Served? - This delightfully silly classic comedy has five Christmas specials at the Grace Brothers Department Store. They are: S3 E9, S4 E7, S6 E6, S7 E8, S8 E8
Inside No 9 - If you're tired of sappy and sweet Christmas specials, this might be right up your alley. In S3 E1, "The Devil of Christmas" is sure to horrify sentimental Christmas purists.
Vicar of Dibley - It's only proper that a show about a village vicar should have some Christmas specials. Look for: S1 E8 (under “Specials – The Christmas Lunch Incident” on BritBox app), S3 E2. There are further specials under the “Specials 2004-2006” tab.
No, no, no, no, yes! I like the way you move from the superficial and facile messages of popular culture to the subtle and more complex revelations of the nativity.
British TV news for American audiences. Enjoy British TV shows like Sherlock, Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, or Midsomer Murders? Wish it was easier to know when new shows are out on each of the different streaming services? Want a way to discover older British shows you might like? Sign up and we'll keep you updated.
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