BBC AMERICA DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

WOULD YOU RATHER...? WITH GRAHAM NORTON - WORLD PREMIERE

Graham Norton brings his trademark style of wit and humor to BBC AMERICA's first original comedy series. Based on popular British panel-style shows, each week celebrities and comedians are asked to contemplate and discuss ridiculous predicaments and moral quandaries. Would you rather everything you ever said for the rest of your life was the absolute truth or an absolute lie? Would you rather live the rest of your life with Darth Vader's voice or Alvin the Chipmunk's voice? Would you rather sleep with your best friend's partner or sleep with your partner's best friend? After a hilarious and candid debate the panelists must ultimately decide what they'd rather do and Graham picks his favorite response. Panelists include: Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Stanley Tucci, The Good Wife's Alan Cumming and 30 Rock's Scott Adsit and Judah Friedlander plus comedians Michael Ian Black, Mo Rocca, Eugene Mirman and more. Would You Rather...? with Graham Norton premieres on December 3, 11:00pm ET/PT with two back-to-back episodes as part of BBC AMERICA's Ministry of Laughs comedy block. It follows new episodes of The Graham Norton Show at 10:00pm ET/PT. WATCH TRAILER: http://bbca.me/Dec3isWYR

HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING

WAIT WAIT... DON'T TELL ME! - WORLD PREMIERE

BBC AMERICA and NPR are bringing the Peabody Award-winning radio quiz show, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, to television with a 2011 Year in Review. Host Peter Sagal, along with official judge and scorekeeper Carl Kasell, lead a panel of both US and UK talent, including comedians Paula Poundstone, Alonzo Bodden and Phill Jupitus, through 2011's biggest events. The special looks back at the year's top stories from an American and British perspective and also includes listener contests and award-winning writer Neil Gaiman (Coraline, The Sandman, Doctor Who) plays the three-question multiple-choice quiz "Not My Job." Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! premieres Friday, December 23, 8:00pm ET/PT. The year-end special will also broadcast on NPR stations that weekend, December 24 and 25.

THE NERDIST - WORLD PREMIERE

Five specials of The Nerdist, based on comedian, writer, Doctor Who fan and web pundit Chris Hardwick's hit Nerdist podcast, are set to air throughout the next year on BBC AMERICA, coinciding with big events for the channel. The first special is a one-hour year-end review of all the things that nerds love from pop culture to tech trends and more. The show will feature panelists from LA to London, including celebrity guests, comedians, bloggers, and podcasters, in a comedic roundtable discussion. The Nerdist year-end special premieres Saturday, December 24, 9:00pm ET/PT.

THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - US PREMIERE

Spend Christmas Eve with your favorite UK chat show host with this special Christmas edition of The Graham Norton Show. Expect great guests, hilarious happenings and an even more festive than usual Graham Norton in this BBC AMERICA holiday event. The Graham Norton Show: Christmas Special airs Saturday, December 24, 10:00pm ET/PT.

DOCTOR WHO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL COUNTDOWN

From Christmas Invasion to Christmas Carol, the ghost of Doctor Who Christmas past is haunting BBC AMERICA in this special holiday marathon of legendary Doctor Who Christmas specials. Then, on Christmas Day, don't miss a special encore of this year's thrilling season of Doctor Who with an all-day marathon of season six. Doctor Who Christmas Special Countdown begins Friday, December 23, 9:00pm ET/PT and continues through Sunday, December 25, 9:00pm ET/PT.

DOCTOR WHO: BEST OF THE CHRISTMAS SPECIALS - WORLD PREMIERE

This all-new special takes an inside look at the very best moments from the incredible Doctor Who Christmas specials that have captivated audiences around the world. A collection of fans from the celebrity, comedy, sci-fi and digital worlds discuss their favorite moments from Doctor Who Christmas specials as part of the countdown to this year's main event. Doctor Who: Best of the Christmas Specials premieres Saturday, December 24, 8:00pm ET/PT.

DOCTOR WHO: THE DOCTOR, THE WIDOW AND THE WARDROBE - US PREMIERE

The Doctor (Matt Smith) returns for a favorite holiday tradition. This year he is joined by Claire Skinner (Outnumbered), Bill Bailey (Black Books), Arabella Weir (Skins, The Fast Show) and Alexander Armstrong (Armstrong & Miller) in the emotional festive special, packed full of Christmas thrills and chills. Set during World War II, the special follows Madge Arwell and her two children, Lily and Cyril, who have been evacuated to a draughty old house in Dorset. When they arrive they are met by the property's caretaker, a mysterious young man in a bow tie, and a big blue parcel is waiting for them under the tree. They are about to enter a magical new world and learn that a Time Lord never forgets his debts... Doctor Who: The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe premieres Sunday, December 25, 9:00pm ET/PT. WATCH TRAILER: http://bbca.me/DWXmas

GORDON RAMSAY'S ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS

Join Gordon Ramsay in his home as he prepares a spectacular menu of Christmas dishes that include his recipe for the ultimate turkey, superb stuffing, perfectly cooked vegetables and a stunning Christmas dessert. This is Gordon's most instructional food series yet, teaching viewers how to prepare his favorite festive recipes. Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Christmas Parts 1 and 2 air back-to-back on Tuesday, December 20, 10:00pm and 11:00pm ET/PT.

DRAMAVILLE

STATE OF PLAY

Experience a rollercoaster thriller of deception and collusion in the corridors of power. Following the critically acclaimed series Luther, The Hour and Whitechapel, BBC AMERICA's Dramaville (hosted by Luther star Idris Elba) presents another opportunity to see the award-winning conspiracy drama, State of Play. Written by Paul Abbott (Shameless) and directed by David Yates (Harry Potter, Sex Traffic), the miniseries stars Bill Nighy (Love Actually), John Simm (Life on Mars), David Morrissey (South Riding), James McAvoy (X-Men: First Class) and Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire). State of Play premieres Wednesday, December 7, 10:00pm ET/PT as part of BBC AMERICA's Dramaville.

STUNTS

BBC AMERICA END OF THE YEAR MARATHON EXPLOSION

Nothing says the holidays like a marathon. When you're done opening gifts and you're waiting for the New Year to arrive, there's only one thing to do: watch TV. Kick back with BBC AMERICA for some well-deserved time off and enjoy extra helpings of your favorite shows, movies and more. BBC AMERICA End of the Year Marathon Explosion begins on Monday, December 26, 8:00am ET/PT and continues through Sunday, January 1.

Monday, December 26: Top Gear Top 40 (8:00am-5:00am)

Tuesday, December 27: Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (8:00am-5:00am)

Wednesday, December 28: The Tudors (8:00am-9:00pm)

Thursday, December 29: Heroic Heroes Movies (12:00pm-4:30am)

Friday, December 30: Heroic Heroes Movies (11:30am-5:00am)

Saturday, December 31: Top Gear Top 40 (6:00am-6:00am)

Sunday, January 1: Top Gear (6:00am-6:00am)

BBC EARTH SUNDAY

Don't miss an afternoon full of breathtaking natural history programming from the BBC, the finest producer of nature documentaries in the world. Tune-in at 12:00pm for five incredible specials including: Great Natural Wonders of the World and Amazon: Super River. BBC Earth Sunday airs Sunday, December 18, 12:00pm-5:00pm ET/PT.

KITCHEN NIGHTMARES SUNDAY

It's an entire Sunday dedicated to Gordon Ramsay's ultra tough-love approach to failing restaurants in this special holiday-season marathon of the very best episodes of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. Kitchen Nightmares Sunday airs Sunday, December 18, 5:00pm ET/PT through Monday, December 19, 6:00am ET/PT.

ONGOING PREMIERES

Other series that will continue to premiere new episodes during December include:

Mondays: Top Gear Top 40

Tuesdays: 24 Hours in the ER

Wednesdays: The Tudors

Saturdays: Battlestar Galactica, Primeval, The Graham Norton Show