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British TV Specials Newly Available in North America
Published 5 months ago • 3 min read
Welcome back! If you're a Christmas person, we hope you had a lovely one - and Happy Hanukkah to those who are observing the holiday.
Now that Christmas has passed, a number of new holiday specials have become available to North American audiences. To make sure you haven't missed any, we'll take a look at the specials that have come to the US so far, along with the ones that will be premiering in the US over the coming days (most, but not all, are also available on the same services in Canada). As always, we expect some specials won't make it to North American streaming services until 2025.
Today is also the birthday of the late Dame Maggie Smith, who would have been 90 today. If you want to take a look at some of our past posts on her life and work, you can see them below:
Watching: Gavin & Stacey: The Finale - It's been available for a couple days now, but I've been saving this one for the perfect evening. If you haven't watched the full series, I strongly recommend doing so first - and give it a couple episodes if it doesn't grab you immediately. What initially seems like just another comedy about a young couple quickly evolves into something much warmer and more enduring.
Reading: Dead Fall by AK Turner - Ann Cleeves called this book "Witty, assured, and entertaining" and Val McDermid said it had "Spellbinding storytelling". The fourth entry in the Cassie Raven series, it follows a twentysomething mortuary technician in Camden who frequently finds herself mixed up in police cases. In this instance, it's the case of an Amy Winehouse-like musician who fell from a window. You may prefer to start with Body Language if you're new to the series.
2024 Christmas Specials in the US
The Chelsea Detective Christmas Special (Season 3) - Adrian Scarborough returns as the Chelsea Detective in this murderously fun Christmas special. Former pop star and tabloid sensation Chloe Carmichael is discovered dead in her Chelsea mansion just days before Christmas. While an apparent drug overdose is initially suspected, forensics quickly reveal she was drowned in her bathtub. Max and the team are faced with a variety of suspects, including her ruthless manager, a scheming journalist, and a Tory MP—each hiding a secret link to Chloe. But which of them is her killer? Now on Acorn TV.
Sister Boniface Mysteries 2024 Christmas Special - Pantomime season in Great Slaughter takes a deadly turn when a cast member is mysteriously killed during rehearsals. Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson, Father Brown) steps in to solve the case as the local constabulary join the production of Cinderella. The drama begins when Tibbles the cat delivers a grisly surprise—a human eyeball—and escalates when an actor is found stabbed in the back. As another cast member meets a grim fate, Sister Boniface must race to catch the murderer before they strike again. But can she unravel the mystery in time to save both lives and the town’s much-anticipated Christmas pantomime? Now on BritBox.
Call the Midwife 2024 Christmas Special - It's Christmas 1969, but the festive season is dampened somewhat by fears of the flu and an escaped prisoner. This double-length episode is available on PBS.org (but not PBS Masterpiece via Amazon, and not Netflix).
Beyond Paradise 2024 Christmas Special - As the annual Christingle nears, Humphrey (Kris Marshall) faces unusual mysteries. A man claims his late wife's ghost torments him, and Humphrey sees it too. Esther (Zahra Ahmadi) seeks logic, but things get stranger. Kelby (Dylan Llewellyn) investigates a missing Virgin Mary statue, while Martha (Sally Bretton) struggles to connect with their foster child. Now on BritBox.
Death in Paradise Christmas Special - A new arrival shakes things up on Saint Marie. DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) hates island life, clashing with Selwyn (Don Warrington) and the team. But when two Santas are killed simultaneously with the same gun in different places—and another survives an attempt—they'll have to unite to solve the mystery and uncover how it was done. Now on BritBox.
Gavin & Stacey Finale Christmas Special - Seventeen years after their first episode back in 2008, the gang has reunited for one last episode to tie up loose ends (well, most of them). Now on BritBox.
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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Today, Gavin & Stacey is 18! This charming classic series first aired on May 13th in 2007. The series follows the long-distance relationship between Gavin (Mathew Horne), an easygoing guy from Essex, and Stacey (Joanna Page), a sweet and slightly shy Welsh woman. As their romance blossoms, their eccentric families and outspoken best friends—Smithy (James Corden) and Nessa (Ruth Jones)—add plenty of chaos and laughs along the way. The show is unique in that many consider the titular characters...
This week, the British TV series MI-5 (aka Spooks) turns 23. First broadcast on May 13th in 2002, the fast-paced espionage drama became known for its gritty realism, shocking character deaths (don't get attached), and storylines that reflected real-world political tensions. Over its 10-series run, the series introduced audiences to a number of actors who have since become household names. Matthew Macfadyen (Succession) played original team leader Tom Quinn, while Keeley Hawes (The Durrells)...
