# How to watch UK Christmas specials in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [December 17, 2022, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-watch-uk-christmas-specials-in-the-us/976685 "2022-12-17T02:18:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-watch-uk-christmas-specials-in-the-us/976685/1 "2022-12-17T02:18:48Z")
I like a lot of British television shows and they have a tradition of Christmas (or end-of-the-year) special episodes for many TV shows. I’m trying to figure out whether they will be available for viewing in the US, such as via one of the streaming services. This [article](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/christmas-tv-2022/) from RadioTimes lists many of them. In particular, I’m interested in the following: Bad Education The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (although this is often available on YouTube) Call the Midwife (though I already know that this one will be broadcast on PBS on Christmas evening) Death in Paradise The Detectorists Doc Martin Also, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Doctor Who, though I don’t know if they will have new episodes. Any other special shows worth watching? (I’m willing to subscribe to one or more streaming service for a month just to watch these.) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-watch-uk-christmas-specials-in-the-us/976685/2 "2022-12-17T02:54:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (although this is often available on YouTube) I’d replace “often” with “always.” Same for Cats/Countdown, and most other panel shows. The most they tend to do is block them in the UK and claim them so they can run ads on them. I don’t know about Cats/Countdown, but there is definitely no Christmas special this year for Doctor Who, as those won’t begin again until next year. And I see no evidence of a New Year’s Special, as the other 2023 specials are all listed with a November date. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-watch-uk-christmas-specials-in-the-us/976685/3 "2022-12-17T17:38:52Z")
Thank you for that. I found another one I want to watch; the original UK series Ghosts (on which the CBS sitcom is based), which will have a special episode on Christmas night. This is sort of part of the fourth series/season. The first three series are available on HBO Max but the fourth series, which aired the UK in September and October is not. So I think we’ll have to wait for HBO Max to get the fourth series. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-watch-uk-christmas-specials-in-the-us/976685/4 "2022-12-17T17:59:15Z")
I’d like to find a way to watch the Cambridge carol service. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-watch-uk-christmas-specials-in-the-us/976685/5 "2022-12-17T19:53:20Z")
I see there’s an older instance on Youtube (not sure how legal it is -looks like it’s from a DVD). But you should be aware that the (pre-recorded) TV version isn’t necessarily the same as you’d hear on the live radio broadcast (BBC Radio 4, at 3pm GMT on Christmas Eve - AFAIK it’s possible for people outside the UK to listen in, through their website or the BBC Sounds phone app.