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We've got a bit of British TV news about some upcoming high-profile premieres, so we'll dive right in.
First off, CB Strike - the latest season premieres in the UK on BBC One on December 16th. In the past, the UK has gotten it first, followed by HBO/Max in the US within the next year (no date yet). For now, US viewers can check out the trailer below.
What we're...
- Watching: Accidental Renovators - When a couple mistakenly bid on the wrong property at auction, they end up with a derelict property in Dunoon, Scotland. Instead of cutting their losses, they decide to invest a great deal of time, money, and effort into restoring the Victorian era property.
- Reading: Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson - Though the author is Australian rather than British, Stevenson's books have been quite popular in the UK, and this is the third in his Ernest Cunningham series (Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and Everyone On This Train is a Suspect precede it). They're fun, light mysteries that are great for anyone who enjoys Golden Age-style mysteries with a modern twist - and at time of writing, the Christmas one was heavily discounted on Kindle.
Vera's Final Season
Brenda Blethyn returns as Vera one last time. The two-episode 14th season will premiere on BritBox (North America) on January 2nd, 2025.
In the first episode, DCI Vera Stanhope investigates the murder of a young man by the Tyne, uncovering a tangled web of secrets, betrayal, and regret. The final episode takes Vera back to a familiar place, where the violent death of a promising student near The Dark Wives unearths memories of her past in a poignant and emotional farewell.
Sad as it is to see Vera go, Brenda Blethyn has certainly earned her retirement. The good news is that Ann Cleeves has stated that she has no plans to stop writing the series on which the TV show is based.
New & Upcoming
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On BritBox, the 11th brought the premiere of season 9 of Shetland. On the 13th, look for The Jetty, and on the 17th, we can look forward to the Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas special.
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On Acorn TV, new episodes of The Graham Norton Show continue on Fridays, along with new episodes of Dalgliesh on Mondays through the 16th. Season 2 of the Chilean series Inspector Rojas premiered on the 9th. On the 16th, they add the Chelsea Detective Christmas special for season 3.
- On PBS Masterpiece, season 5 of Miss Scarlet (formerly Miss Scarlet & the Duke) premiered on the 8th.
- On Netflix, The Great British Baking Show: Holidays, Season 7 premiered on the 9th.
- 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 premiered on Sunday the 8th. It explores Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's complicated relationship with his fictional detective.
View all the brand-new British TV premieres in the US for December 2024 HERE
Father Brown News
Father Brown returns for its 12th season, premiering January 2025 (exact date TBA) on BritBox in North America. The 10-episode season promises weekly doses of mystery and drama as Mark Williams reprises his role as the clever clerical sleuth.
With Kembleford abuzz over a big wedding, chaos ensues when the groom’s father stirs up trouble. From a medieval death at a Tudor battle re-enactment to a Vatican Cardinal’s top-secret mission and Brenda’s turn on national TV, Father Brown and his team will face their most thrilling challenges yet.
More to Read...
The Wonderful Dame Judi...
Dame Judi Dench celebrated her 90th birthday this week - so as she enters her 10th decade of life, we wanted to highlight some of her performances which are currently available to stream. It's be no means comprehensive (she's been in a LOT), but we wanted to highlight a few of the "can't miss" options and a few of the lesser-known productions.
- As Time Goes By - If you've never seen this delightful 1990s sitcom, we recommend starting here. Dench stars alongside Geoffrey Palmer as a couple reunited 38 years after their youthful romance - a bit older and wiser, but still very compatible.
- A Fine Romance - Personally, I like this 1981 sitcom even better than As Time Goes By, but they're both delightful. Dench stars alongside her real-life husband Michael Williams as an awkward middle-aged couple who find love they weren't expecting.
- Wetherby - This 1985 psychological drama follows Jean Travers (Dame Vanessa Redgrave), a schoolteacher whose life is shaken after a stranger at her dinner party commits suicide. Dame Judi plays her lifelong friend Marcia. BAFTA nominated.
- Philomena - In this 2013 drama, Judi Dench portrays a kind-hearted woman on a decades-long quest to find the son taken from her as a young mother. Steve Coogan also appears as the journalist who helps her uncover the injustice.
- Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport - Dame Judi narrates this moving true story of a British effort to rescue more than 10,000 mostly Jewish children prior to WW2.
- Tea With the Dames - Dames Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, and Joan Plowright came together in 2018 to discuss their combined hundreds of years in British stage and cinema.
- Red Joan - Dame Judi stars as a suburban widow concealing a double-life as a Soviet spy.
- Louis Theroux Interviews Dame Judi Dench - In 2022, Louis Theroux sat down with Dame Judi at her home, and they two discussed her long career, her love of theatre, and her personal life.
- Mrs. Henderson Presents - Set in 1930s London, this 2005 drama follows a wealthy widow, played by Judi Dench, who opens a daring theater featuring nude performances.
- Roald Dahl's Esio Trot - This charming 2015 adaptation tells the story of a shy bachelor, played by Dustin Hoffman, who uses an elaborate plan involving tortoises to win the affection of his neighbor, played by Judi Dench.
- Ladies in Lavender - Set in 1930s Cornwall, this 2004 drama follows two sisters, played by Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, who care for a mysterious young man washed ashore near their home.
- The Shipping News - In this 2001 drama, a grieving widower moves with his daughter to a remote Newfoundland town. Dench gives a memorable performance as his sharp-tongued aunt (adding a great deal of character and humour).
"You should take your job seriously but not yourself. That is the best combination."
Dame Judi Dench
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