CBC is ready for the holidays with festive fun, seasonal favourites and must-see series
CBC's Top 5 picks for the holidays
It's the most wonderful time of the year, and CBC is here to make your December magical. As the snowflakes drift gently outside, gather your loved ones and get ready to celebrate the season with a lineup of must-watch shows and festive fun.
Before you nestle into CBC's Top 5 picks for the holidays, be sure to join us and help support local food banks across Canada through CBC's Make the Season Kind campaign.
Kick off your holiday viewing with a celebration of a Canadian legend with the heartwarming documentary, Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make Believe, honouring the life and career of the beloved Ernie Coombs.
When background character Willis Wu witnesses a crime, his life finally goes off script in the action-comedy series Interior Chinatown.
Drama is served lavishly in the highly anticipated Season 2 of Marie Antoinette, where the stakes are higher than ever.
For those needing a sweet treat, the kilts are on and the ovens are hot for The Great British Baking Show New Year's Special, guaranteed to inspire your sweet tooth.
And before you raise a glass to cheer, get the facts on one of society’s most hot-button health topics with The Nature of Things: Proof: The New Science of Alcohol.
This is just a glimpse of the great programming waiting for you in CBC’s Top 5 picks for the holidays.
Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make Believe - Watch Free Wednesday, Dec. 3 on CBC Gem.
Celebrating the life and career of legendary Canadian children’s entertainer Ernie Coombs, or as he is more commonly known by millions of fans, Mr. Dressup. One of Canada’s most beloved CBC children shows, Mr. Dressup built a legacy of kindness, patience, inclusiveness, and creativity in 4,000 episodes across 29 years on CBC in Canada.
The feature-length documentary blends archival interviews with behind-the-scenes footage, with memories from notable Canadians who were influenced by the show: Michael J. Fox, Eric McCormack, Bif Naked, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Andrew Phung, Fred Penner, Barenaked Ladies, Graham Greene, Bruce McCulloch, Scott Thompson, Jonathan Torrens, Yannick Bisson, and more.
Interior Chinatown - Watch Free Friday, Dec. 5 on CBC Gem.
Based on Charles Yu’s award-winning book of the same name, the show follows the story of Willis Wu, a background character trapped in a police procedural called Black & White. Relegated to the background, Willis goes through the motions of his on-screen job, waiting tables and dreaming about a whole world beyond Chinatown. When he inadvertently becomes a witness to a crime, Willis begins to unravel a criminal web in Chinatown, his family’s buried history, and what it feels like to be in the spotlight.
Marie Antoinette Season 2- Watch Free Friday, Dec. 12 on CBC Gem
In Season 2, bigger and stronger enemies are waiting in the wings to destroy Marie Antoinette. The higher she climbs in the estimation of the French people, the greater the threats are against her. At the height of their power, Marie Antoinette and Louis face an unprecedented financial crisis. The incessant attacks of Provence and Chartres against the royal couple stir up the hatred of the nobles while disastrous consequences loom with the Diamond Necklace Affair. From Versailles to the Palais-Royal, the revolt rumbles on.
The Great British Baking Show Season 15: New Year’s Special - Watch Free Friday, Dec. 26 on CBC Gem
Grab a dram and don your tartan as The Great British Baking Show celebrates Hogmanay! Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, along with presenters Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, are joined by a bevy of Scottish bakers from across the years. The trio of traditional Scottish bakes begins with a Signature featuring an old-fashioned dish that some might say is an acquired taste. The Technical Challenge tests the bakers on a Scottish staple: shortbread. And in the Showstopper, the bakers showcase their national pride with a celebratory cranachan creation. Who will ring in the bells victorious and be crowned Star Baker of this New Year’s Baking Show special?
The Nature of Things - Proof: The New Science of Alcohol - Watch Free Tuesday, Dec. 30 on CBC Gem.
A spirited debate on one of society’s most hot-button health topics. The world’s top alcohol experts seek to answer the question: should I change my drinking habits as a moderate drinker?
Holiday romances
Still looking for more great entertainment to keep you feeling festive all month long? Fall in love with these holiday romances: A Country Christmas Harmony (Dec. 1), Merry Little Mystery (Dec. 1), A Clüsterfünke Christmas (Dec. 5), Jingle Bell Wedding (Dec. 6), and Love, Lights, Hanukkah! (Dec. 12). All this and so much more in our Stream for the Holidays collection on CBC Gem.
Christmas classics
Looking for all your favourite holiday classics like Rudolph and Frosty? Check out CBC-TV’s full holiday line-up. Don’t forget to set the mood and cue up one of our 13 curated music playlists for your next party.