You don’t need a plane ticket to indulge in Christmas traditions across the pond. As part of our Season of Giving this year, we’re bringing you a variety of special shows all set in the United Kingdom. From familiar faces, such as the midwives at Nonnatus House, to new stories like Dickensian, we’ll be showing holiday selections of British comedies, dramas, and cooking programs this season.

The large and varied cast of "Dickensian"

Classic literature and murder mysteries come together in Dickensian, airing Monday through Friday evenings beginning December 17 at 8 p.m. Charles Dickens’ most memorable characters from Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, and more become entwined in a murder investigation as Inspector Bucket (Bleak House) is sent to investigate the murder of Jacob Marley (A Christmas Carol). As he uncovers clues to Marley’s killer, the suspects’ individual stories converge to shape the familiar characters and plots for Dickens’ famous works. Dickensian will air for ten episodes over five evenings.

Host and television personality Nigella Lawson on "Nigella's Christmas Table"

Gourmet food writer Nigella Lawson shares her Christmas meal favorites set in the English countryside on Nigella’s Christmas Table airing December 24 at 8:30 p.m. Lawson sets her table in a converted barn in a remote and rural landscape, encouraging her guests to celebrate both the beauty of nature and warmth of the season. Among crackling fires and sparkling lights, she cooks a seasonal meal featuring roast duck and provides tips for easy, festive entertaining.

The characters of Are You Being Served? and Keeping Up Appearances at Christmas

In addition to Nigella Lawson’s festive cooking, fans of British comedies on Saturday nights won’t want to miss our schedule of programming on Christmas Eve! Beginning at 9 p.m. on December 24, we’ll be airing a marathon of the best Christmas specials from GPB fan favorite programs Are You Being Served? and Keeping Up Appearances. The staff of Grace Brothers indulge in the fun of Christmas crackers over a staff lunch and dress up in novelty costumes, including Father Christmas, in order to attract customers to the store in several episodes of Are You Being Served?. Meanwhile, Hyacinth is overjoyed with receiving over 100 Christmas cards and forces Richard to dress up as Father Christmas to distribute presents at the Church hall, but after one to many sherries with Emmet, Elizabeth must fulfill Richard’s obligations and don the suit herself on Keeping Up Appearances.

The cast of "Call the Midwife" celebrates the holiday season. Courtesy of Neal Street Productions 2018.

The Christmas spirit continues on Christmas Day with a holiday special of Call the Midwife on December 25 at 9 p.m. Starring special guest Miriam Margoyles (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) as Sister Mildred, the residents of Nonnatus House find their hands full with both expectant mothers of Poplar and four Chinese orphans who will be adopted in the U.K. Meanwhile, Trixie (Helen George) returns to Poplar while the Sisters leave for the Mother House, as the Order’s Mother Superior has taken ill and a new spiritual leader needs to be elected.

Watch the trailer for the Call the Midwife holiday special below.

WYSIWYG: EMBEDDED VIDEO

We hope you’ll tune in for all of our wonderful holiday programming this year as part of our Season of Giving initiative. A full online schedule can be found on our website. Your thoughtful contributions to GPB allow us to bring you a variety of programming from the U.K. as well as other programs and initiatives. Additionally, we invite you to catch up with your favorite Masterpiece programs, such as season 2 of Victoria, with GPB Passport.