Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. Adapted from August Wilson’s play of the same name.
Set in 1869, two children receive a mysterious game after their father goes missing in the jungles of Africa. They unravel both the secret of their father’s disappearance and the origin of Jumanji. See how it all began.
Christmas Special 2012
Christmas is coming, and in Poplar the midwives of Nonnatus House are busier than ever. When an abandoned baby is discovered on the steps of the convent, the whole community rallies round to provide food and clothing, and to try and trace his mother. Meanwhile, Jenny Lee finds herself drawn into the mystery surrounding elderly local woman Mrs. Jenkins, while Chummy is determined to stage an unforgettable nativity play.
Christmas Special 2013
An unexploded bomb is discovered in Poplar, throwing festivities into chaos.
Christmas Special 2014
When harsh conditions at a home for unmarried expectant mothers are exposed, Chummy and Patsy are required to take over the running of the home, and later help a young mother decide that she is not as set on giving her baby up for adoption as she had thought. Cynthia wrestles with a calling to become a nun, but an encounter with a former mental hospital inmate helps her to make up her mind and she leaves midwifery behind to become a postulant.
Christmas Special 2015
Festive cheer is in plentiful supply as Poplar readies itself for Christmas. An unexpected surprise for a grieving mother helps bring the Christmas magic home, while Nonnatus is rocked to the core when one of its own goes missing.
Christmas Special 2016
The nuns are trying to help a tiny struggling mission hospital on the Eastern Cape. But can they save the hospital from closing down – and perform a Christmas miracle a long way from home?
Christmas Special 2017
Boxing Day sees heavy snowfall covering the country and the adverse weather causes major disruption across Poplar as roads become blocked and pipes freeze meaning families have to queue outside for water from standpipes. Sister Julienne must inform a family about the death of their loved one and uncovers an uncomfortable truth, while Valerie helps an unmarried couple living in a caravan prepare for their baby, but unforeseen complications knock her confidence in her ability as a midwife. Guest starring Anita Dobson.
Christmas Special 2018
As Poplar prepares for Christmas, the nuns leave for the Mother House to vote in a new mother superior and to help care for a group of Chinese orphans. Meanwhile, Trixie returns to Poplar refreshed and is shocked to discover that many mothers no longer want to give birth at home.
Christmas Special 2019
Mother Mildred and the Nonnatus House team head to the Outer Hebrides in response to a nursing shortage.
Christmas Special 2020
Sister Monica Joan is rushed to hospital, while Trixie is less than impressed to receive a subscription to a Marriage Bureau as a Christmas present. Meanwhile, the circus is in town.
Christmas Special 2021
Lucille and Cyril are planning a Christmas wedding!
A Texan traveling across the wild West bringing the news of the world to local townspeople, agrees to help rescue a young girl who was kidnapped.
Release Dates:
25 December 2020 (USA)
1 January 2021 (UK)
Christmas Special 2017
Crow Christmas Carol – As Christmas approaches Will is in London rehearsing his new play ‘Eighth Night’ for the queen and is surprised that the usually hostile Greene is giving out presents, claiming it is because he is lonely and wants to cheer others. A sympathetic Will invites him, along with Kate and Kit, to join his family for the festivities but Greene has a sinister motive – to steal the present Will has bought for the queen, thereby ruining his career. Fortunately Anne has an idea to save her husband.
Christmas Special 2018
A Crow Christmas Carol – Still dealing with grief after his tragic loss, Will gets inspired by a ghostly traveler to use his setup for Christmas Carol to save Green’s soul for Christmas by making him face his past, present and future with the help of his troupe.
Christmas Special 2020
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow: A Lockdown Christmas 1603
Kate is filling the endless time with baking, painting and DIY haircuts while Will is trying to write a new classic for the new King. Can Will come up with the perfect play? And, far from their loved ones in the festive period, can the pair find ways to make merry?
Theatre and film comes together in this radical new take on Dickens’ classic seeks both to exhume the original story’s gritty commentary on social inequality and the corrupting influence of greed, and to breathe new life into the lyricism of the original text by setting its scenes to extraordinary tableaux of modern dance.
Due to the pandemic, producers Frith Street Films have released the film in cinemas and theaters in order to support both industries.
Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Based on Agatha Christies novel of the same name.
Release Date: 17 September 2021 18th December 2020
Himalayas, 1934. A remote clifftop palace once known as the ‘House of Women’ holds many dark secrets. When the young nuns of St. Faith attempt to establish a mission there, its haunting mysteries awaken forbidden desires that seem destined to repeat a terrible tragedy. Adaptation of the 1939 novel by Rumer Godden.
Christmas Special 2020
Season 4 is a special Christmas season taking the viewers back to the summer of 1951. This is the year Calle and Nina choose to leave their respective families in order to finally be together.
Years after their summer romance comes to an end, an aspiring television producer and a talented musician cross paths, only to find their feelings for each other never changed. With their careers taking them in different directions, they must choose what matters most.
Christmas Special 2021
Released 25 December 2021
Christmas Special 2020
Not feeling very festive James Harriot is struggling to hide his feelings for Helen. While travelling together in Dales they are trapped in thick fog. Will James tell Helen of his feelings and will Helen make it to her wedding?
In this live-action adaptation of the beloved fairytale, old woodcarver Geppetto fashions a wooden puppet, Pinocchio, who magically comes to life. Pinocchio longs for adventure and is easily led astray, encountering magical beasts, fantastical spectacles, while making friends and foes along his journey. However, his dream is to become a real boy, which can only come true if he finally changes his ways.
Wealth, lust, and betrayal set in the backdrop of Regency era England, seen through the eyes of the powerful Bridgerton family. Based on Julia Quinn’s novel series ‘Bridgerton’.
Release Dates: 25th Dec 2020 (Netflix)
The origin story of Bruce Wayne’s legendary butler, Alfred Pennyworth, a former British SAS soldier who forms a security company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne, Bruce’s billionaire father, in 1960s London.
A spiritualist medium holds a seance for a writer suffering from writers block but accidentally summons the spirit of his deceased first wife which leads to an increasingly complex love triangle with his current wife of five years. Based on the 1941 Play of the same name.
1930s Hollywood is reevaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane.
Release Dates: 4th Dec 2020 – Netflix
Part 1 – released 4th Dec 2019
Bjorn struggles with the responsibilities of kingship and finds he can’t rely on his mother, Lagertha; she has other plans. Ivar falls into the hands of Kievan Rus, and in their ruthless and unpredictable ruler, Prince Oleg, he may finally have met his match.
Part 2 – released 30th Dec 2020 – the season finale.
Details to follow.
Period Dramas for December 2020
4th December 2020 – Mank – (Movie) – Netflix
Hollywood is reevaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane.
Set in 20th Century, 1930s.
4th December 2020 – A Christmas Carol – (Movie)
Theatre and film comes together in this radical new take on Dickens’ classic.
Set in 19th Century, 1840s, Historical Fantasy.
13th December 2020 – Pennyworth – (TV Series) – Season 2
The origin story of Bruce Wayne’s legendary butler, Alfred Pennyworth, a former British SAS soldier who forms a security company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne, Bruce’s billionaire father, in 1960s London.
Set in 20th Century, 1960s
18th December 2020 – Death on the Nile – (Movie) **Has been moved to 17 September 2021**
Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Based on Agatha Christies novel of the same name.
Set in 20th Century, 1930s.
18th December 2020 – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – (Movie)
Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. Adapted from August Wilson’s play of the same name.
Set in 20th Century, 1920s.
22nd December 2020 (UK) – All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas Special – (TV Series) – Season 1 – Channel 5
Not feeling very festive James Herriot is struggling to hide his feelings for Helen. While travelling together in Dales they are trapped in thick fog. Will James tell Helen of his feelings and will Helen make it to her wedding?
Set in 20th Century, 1930s.
23 December 2020 (UK) – Upstart Crow: Christmas Special – (TV Series) – Season 4 – BBC Two
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow: A Lockdown Christmas 1603.
Set in 17th Century.
25th December 2020 – Bridgerton – (TV Series) – Season 1 – Netflix
Based on Julia Quinn’s novel series ‘Bridgerton’.
Set in 19th Century.
25th December 2020 – Call the Midwife: Christmas Special – (TV Series) – Season 9
25th December 2020 (USA) – News of the World – (Movie)
Other dates – 1st January 2021 (UK)
A Texan traveling across the wild West bringing the news of the world to local townspeople, agrees to help rescue a young girl who was kidnapped.
Set in 19th Century.
25th December 2020 (USA/Canada) – Pinocchio – (Movie)
Due to Covid-19 this 2019 adaptation of Pinocchio has now been dubbed in English and to be released this Christmas.
Set in Historical Fantasy.
25th December 2020 – Sylvie’s Love – (Movie) – Amazon Prime
Years after their summer romance comes to an end, an aspiring television producer and a talented musician cross paths, only to find their feelings for each other never changed. With their careers taking them in different directions, they must choose what matters most.
Set in 20th Century, 1950s.
25th December 2020 (Sweden) – The Restaurant (Vår tid är nu): Christmas Special – (TV Series) – Season 4
Season 4 is a special Christmas season taking the viewers back to the summer of 1951. This is the year Calle and Nina choose to leave their respective families in order to finally be together.
Set in 20th Century, 1950s.
26th December 2020 (UK) – Blithe Spirit – (Movie)
Other dates – 19th February 2021 (USA/Canada)
Comedy. A spiritualist medium holds a seance for a writer suffering from writers block but accidentally summons the spirit of his deceased first wife which leads to an increasingly complex love triangle with his current wife of five years. Based on the 1941 Play of the same name.
Set in 20th Century, 1930s.
27th December 2020 (UK) – Black Narcissus – (TV Mini-Series) – Season 1 – BBC1
Himalayas, 1934. A remote clifftop palace once known as the ‘House of Women’ holds many dark secrets. When the young nuns of St. Faith attempt to establish a mission there, its haunting mysteries awaken forbidden desires that seem destined to repeat a terrible tragedy. Adaptation of the 1939 novel by Rumer Godden.
Set in 20th Century, 1930s.
30th December 2020 (Ireland) – Vikings – (TV Series) – Season 6 – Part 2 – Prime Video
Other dates – 1st January 2021 (Canada) – History Channel
Vikings comes to an end. A sequel series, titled Vikings: Valhalla, is in development for Netflix.
Set in 8th Century.
31st December 2020 (USA) – Jumanji: Level One – (Movie)
Set in 1869, two children receive a mysterious game after their father goes missing in the jungles of Africa. They unravel both the secret of their father’s disappearance and the origin of Jumanji. See how it all began.
Set in 19th Century, 1860s.