Sally Lindsay is Jean White in The Madame Blanc Mysteries, a two-part special that streams on Acorn TV on Dec. 15 and 22.Supplied
The Madame Blanc Mysteries, Acorn TV
Is it even a holiday without a special Christmas-themed episode of British television to look forward to? If you yearn for the days of Downton Abbey Christmas offerings and already have Call the Midwife on your docket, consider watching this festive two-part special that streams Dec. 15 and 22.
In it, Sally Lindsay returns as Jean White to attend an exclusive event at the Musée de Sainte Victoire, where she’s asked to authenticate a new treasure. But when she discovers a ticking bomb instead, everyone’s Christmas Eve turns sour. Steve Edge, Sue Holderness and Robin Askwith all reprise their original roles for this fourth annual special.
Lily Collins, left, as Emily and Eugenio Franceschini as Marcello in the fifth season of Emily in Paris.caroline dubois/Netflix
Emily in Paris Season 5, Netflix
Forget brushing up on your French and shopping for fresh pastries. For the latest season of this Lily Collins-led dramedy, you’ll want to learn Italian and make some homemade pasta instead. Yes, Emily is headed to Venice for a new career opportunity … and maybe a hot new man.
In Emily in Paris, older and wiser Sylvie Grateau and her powered-up wardrobe is the show’s star
Once again, she will navigate work and love in a foreign country, doling out more of the same easy viewing fans have come to expect. There will be lots of fashion, marketing mishaps and big life decisions along the way – because would it really be a Darren Star series without at least two of those three things?
A clip of Al Pacino in Dog Day from Breakdown: 1975, the essay film from Academy Award winner Morgan Neville.Netflix
Breakdown: 1975, Netflix
What do Jaws, Young Frankenstein, The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest have in common? They were all released in late 1974, 1975 or early 1976. It was, clearly, a great period for memorable films, and now there’s a documentary exploring how and why.
This essay film, from Academy Award winner Morgan Neville, goes down a cultural rabbit hole to see how filmmakers turned chaos into art during an era of social and political upheaval in the United States. It’s an interesting premise on its own, but with stars such as Albert Brooks, Ellen Burstyn, Jodie Foster and Martin Scorsese weighing it, it’s a must-watch for cinephiles and pop-culture lovers alike.
Kumail Nanjiani takes the stage in Chicago for his comedy special on Disney+ Night Thoughts.Disney+/Disney+
Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts, Disney+
Kumail Nanjiani has been busy doing the famous actor thing in series such as Only Murders in the Building, Mel Brooks’s History of the World: Part II and a memorable 2025 appearance in Poker Face. This week, he returns to his stand-up comedy roots, however, taking the stage in Chicago, the city where he got his start.
Night Thoughts is a tribute to all of those late-night inklings that keep you up, from cat medication to what it was like buying certain drugs before they were legalized. Along the way, he also addresses his “decorative” muscles and anxiety, as well as the terrible reviews he’s earned over his career. It’s an honest and chuckle-worthy hour full of signature Nanjiani humour and deadpan delivery.
The second season of Slaycation follows six drag queens from across the Drag Race franchise as they vacation together.Crave
Slaycation Season 2, Crave
Want a little escape from your own holiday madness? Tune in to this Crave original series that’s back for a second season, this time set in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The six-episode offering, which made its debut last week, follows six drag queens from across the Drag Race franchise as they vacation together.
It’s the type of antic-filled getaway you might not want to be a direct part of – but it’s perfect for living through vicariously from the comfort of your sofa. And with lots of activities and elaborate performances planned, there’s plenty to take in.
Catch four episodes this weekend and come back next week for the final two instalments featuring Alyssa Edwards, Miss Fiercalicious, Nicky Doll, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Tessa Testicle and Xana.