24 Brand New British TV Shows Coming to the US in December 2024
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Last Updated on December 7, 2024 by Stefanie Hutson
BritBox and Acorn TV offer the biggest chunk of the new British TV shows streaming each month – but there are another 5-10 services that semi-consistently offer new British TV premieres, and if British TV isn't your full-time job, it's hard to keep track. To help, we put this list together each month to make it easy to locate shows which:
- Premiered in the UK or Ireland within the last year or two
- Are premiering (in the US) in December 2024 (we've made an exception this month for Joan and The Jetty – mainly because almost none of our readers use the CW, where they originally premiered)
Below, we have photos, premiere dates, and descriptions.
Dalgliesh, Season 3
PD James's iconic detective/poet returns with another set of three challenging cases. This time, we're in 1979 and the UK is on the cusp of Margaret Thatcher's historic victory and all the change that went along with it. Episodes will premiere on Acorn TV as follows:
- December 2nd:
- Death in Holy Orders, Part 1: Commander Dalgliesh heads to a seminary in West Sussex to investigate the bloody murder of a senior churchman. He finds that nearly everyone here had a personal grievance with the victim. And several of them are lying.
- Death in Holy Orders, Part 2: A second death shakes the order. As Commander Dalgliesh uncovers a secret agenda on the part of one of his suspects, the seminary falls further into disrepute. But perhaps this is the very key to unlocking the killer’s motive.
- December 9th:
- Cover Her Face, Part 1: A murder in the house of an influential family brings Commander Dalgliesh to the heart of Essex. As he considers the prospect of a politically motivated attack, a local man comes forward with an explosive allegation.
- Cover Her Face, Part 2: Through a pair of grueling interrogations, the victim’s life comes into sharper focus, but will it lead the police to their killer? After a shocking confession is made, Dalgliesh realizes he has been lied to.
- December 16th:
- Devices & Desires, Part 1: Kent police search for a serial killer targeting the female employees of a nuclear power station. Dalgliesh arrives to investigate a possible terrorist connection.
- Devices & Desires, Part 2 (SEASON FINALE):The hunt is on for a second killer as the threat to the local community looms larger than ever. Can Dalgliesh unpick a complex web of loyalties before it’s too late?
Catch up on previous seasons HERE.
Jack in Time for Christmas (2024)
Actor-comedian Jack Whitehall stars in this unique holiday special that blends scripted comedy with travelogue elements. When Jack gets stranded in the US, he has just four days to return to the UK for Christmas. His wild journey home involves various modes of transport from planes to husky sleds, while celebrity friends including Michael Bublé, Dave Bautista, Rebel Wilson, and Jimmy Fallon appear along the way to help with his chaotic holiday adventure.
Premiered December 3rd on Amazon Prime Video.
That Christmas (2024)
Based on Richard Curtis's beloved children's books, this animated holiday film tells stories of love, family, and chaos in the seaside town of Wellington-on-Sea. When the worst snowstorm in history hits, it disrupts everyone's plans—including Santa's big mistake involving countless turkeys! The voice cast includes Brian Cox as Santa, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Bill Nighy.
Premiered December 4th on Netflix.
Black Doves (2024)
In this six-part spy thriller, Helen Webb (Keira Knightley) leads a double life as a devoted mother and secret agent for the Black Doves, passing on her politician husband's secrets. When her lover is murdered, her spymaster Reed (Sarah Lancashire) assigns former assassin Sam Young (Ben Whishaw) to protect her. As they investigate the killing, they uncover a sprawling conspiracy connecting London's criminal underground to an international crisis, forcing them to confront their own moral choices.
Premiered December 5th on Netflix.
Joan (2024)
Set in the 1980s, this crime drama stars Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) as Joan Hannington, a tough yet vulnerable young mother trapped in a dangerous marriage. When her husband, Gary, goes on the run, Joan grabs the chance to reinvent herself. Embracing her new identity, she becomes a skilled jewel thief, using her wit and charm to navigate a high-stakes world. Fueled by her love for her young daughter Kelly, Joan takes on daring heists, pushing herself to the limit to secure a better future.
Premiered December 5th on BritBox.
Mary (2024)
This biblical drama follows Mary (Noa Cohen), who faces persecution after a miraculous conception. When King Herod (Sir Anthony Hopkins) orders a deadly search for her newborn son Jesus, she and Joseph (Ido Tako) must flee to protect their child.
Premiered December 6th on Netflix.
Paris Has Fallen (2024)
In this French spin-off of the “Has Fallen” franchise, protection officer Vincent Taleb (Tewfik Jallab) and MI6 agent Zara Taylor (Ritu Arya) must thwart terrorist Jacob Pearce's (Sean Harris) attack on the French Defense Minister. As they uncover a broader conspiracy and a potential mole in their ranks, the unlikely partners can trust only each other.
Premiered December 6th on Hulu.
Lucy Worsley's Holmes vs Doyle (2024)
Historian Lucy Worsley investigates Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's growing hatred for his creation, Sherlock Holmes, in this three-part documentary. From Holmes's origins in Doyle's medical career to the author's turn to spiritualism after WWI, the series reveals how both creator and character reflected Britain's transformation from Victorian times to the 1920s.
Premieres December 8th on PBS and PBS Documentaries.
Miss Scarlet (formerly Miss Scarlet & the Duke)
In this new season of the period mystery series, private detective Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) finds her agency flourishing, though her personal life is complicated by the Duke's extended stay in New York. Her professional life, too, is complicated by the need to develop a working relationship with Scotland Yard's new DI Alexander Blake (Tom Durant-Pritchard) to maintain her valuable police connections.
Premieres December 8th on PBS Masterpiece and the PBS app. The broadcast premiere will follow on January 12th, 2025.
The Great British Baking Show: Holidays: Season 7
Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith return to the tent as past contestants compete to create festive desserts and vie for Star Baker in this holiday-themed series.
Premieres December 9th on Netflix.
999 Murderer Calling (UK)
In this UK true-crime series, murderers attempt to mislead police with their emergency 999 calls, but detectives analyze the recordings to expose their lies and bring them to justice.
Premieres December 9th on Discovery+.
Shetland, Season 9
This popular Scottish crime drama returns for another season with Ashley Jensen (Extras, Agatha Raisin) as DI Calder, now a Shetland resident. When a friend of DI Tosh McIntosh (Alison O’Donnell, Holby City) vanishes and her young son is found traumatized on the moors, Calder and Tosh unravel a gripping mystery of love, death, and betrayal, set against Shetland’s breathtaking landscapes.
Premiered December 11th on BritBox. New episodes air weekly with a total of 6. Catch up on past seasons HERE.
The Pyrenees with Michael Portillo (2022)
Approaching his milestone 70th birthday, Michael Portillo embarks on a journey of self-discovery as he walks the Pyrenees mountain range between France and Spain.
Premieres December 12th on BBC Select.
The Jetty (2024)
Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) stars as Detective Ember Manning, a recently widowed mother in a picturesque Lancashire lake town. When a fire devastates a local holiday home, Ember's investigation uncovers connections to a cold case involving a missing girl and an illicit relationship between a man in his twenties and two underage girls. As she investigates, she's forced to confront unsettling truths about her own past, challenging everything she believed about her life and community.
Premieres December 13th on BritBox.
The Chelsea Detective, Season 3 Christmas Special: “Everyone Loves Chloe”
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?
Premieres December 16th on Acorn TV, with the rest of the season following in 2025. Catch up on past episodes HERE.
Sister Boniface Mysteries 2024 Christmas Special: Once Upon a Time
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?
One feature-length episode premieres December 17th on BritBox. Catch up on previous seasons HERE.
The Secret Lives of Animals (2024)
This 10-part wildlife series, narrated by Hugh Bonneville, documents remarkable and previously unseen behaviors across 77 animal species, following their pivotal life moments while demonstrating their surprising intelligence and survival skills.
Premieres December 18th on Apple TV+.
Black Widow: The Murder of David Jackson (2023)
On Valentine’s Day 2021, a quiet birthday celebration at a seaside resort turned into a shocking crime. By the next day, recordings of the aftermath and a chilling confession had gone viral, captivating audiences worldwide. Penny Jackson, a 66-year-old retired accountant, brutally stabbed her husband, ex-army officer David Jackson, three times over 18 minutes—all while calmly discussing it with emergency services.
Premiered December 20th on Britbox.
Beyond Paradise 2024 Christmas Special
As the annual Christingle approaches, Humphrey (Kris Marshall, Death in Paradise) and his team are faced with an unusual series of mysteries. A man reports being tormented by the ghost of his late wife, but what starts as a seemingly superstitious claim takes a strange turn when Humphrey himself sees the apparition. Esther (Zahra Ahmadi, Count Arthur Strong) insists there must be a logical explanation, things continue to get stranger. Meanwhile, Kelby (Dylan Llewellyn, Derry Girls) investigates a peculiar case—the Virgin Mary statue has vanished from the church—and Martha (Sally Bretton, Not Going Out) struggles to find common ground with their foster child, Jaiden.
Premieres December 25th on BritBox. Catch up on previous seasons HERE.
Doctor Who: Joy to the World
In this festive Doctor Who special, hotel guest Joy (Nicola Coughlan) stumbles through a mysterious portal from 2024 London into the Time Hotel, where she encounters the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), dinosaurs, and a sinister Christmas threat to Earth.
Premieres December 25th on Disney+.
Carols from King's 2024 Christmas Special
This beloved Christmas tradition is filmed amidst the beauty of historic King's College Chapel in Cambridge.
One 75-minute episode premieres December 26th on BritBox.
Protection (2024)
Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley) stars as DI Liz Nyles, who becomes entangled in a breach within the witness protection program. Compromised by an affair with a colleague, she's determined to uncover the corruption threatening her unit and safeguard her witnesses. Binge premiere of 6 hour-long episodes, December 29th on BritBox.
Gardeners' World 2024 Winter Special
Monty Don and crew return with another round of delightfully calming holiday episodes to help you make the most of your garden, no matter its size.
Four hour-long episodes premiere at once on December 31st on BritBox. Watch more Gardener's World HERE.
Death in Paradise 2024 Christmas Special
There’s a new face in paradise, and he’s already shaking things up. DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet, EastEnders) has just arrived on Saint Marie, but he’s not shy about wanting to leave. A true Londoner, DI Wilson finds island life unbearable, leading to frequent clashes with Selwyn (Don Warrington, Chasing Shadows) and the rest of the team. However, a mind-boggling case forces them to set aside their differences and work together. Two Santa Clauses have been killed at the same time, with the same gun, but in entirely different locations – while another Santa was the target of an attempted murder. To find the killer, they'll first have to figure out how he or she did it.
One feature-length special episode premieres, but the precise date hasn't yet been announced. Catch up on previous seasons HERE.
A Few More Suggestions…
The winter months bring a larger number of new British TV premieres, but if December's lineup isn't enough for you, we recommend checking out some of the other recent months to see if you might have missed something good.
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- 20 Brand New British TV Shows in November 2024
- 20 Brand New British TV Shows in October 2024
- 12 Brand New British TV Shows in September 2024
- 15 Brand New British TV Shows in August 2024
- 13 Brand New British TV Shows in July 2024
- 17 Brand New British TV Shows in June 2024
- 31 Brand New British TV Shows in May 2024
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