FEATURED PROGRAMS on Blue Ridge PBS

Be sure to check our schedule for additional air times!

All Creatures Great and Small, Season 5, on Masterpiece 

Back-to-Back Episodes! Sundays, December 14-28 @ 9pm 
It is Spring 1941, and we return to Darrowby to find young baby Jimmy keeping everyone in Skeldale House on their toes. Helen is getting the hang of motherhood with James away at RAF Abingdon, Mrs. Hall and Siegfried are enjoying having a little one around and Carmody is now a full-fledged member of the Skeldale family. With World War II now fully underway, Siegfried is taking up the slack at the surgery, Mrs. Hall and Helen are considering their contribution within the community, and Carmody is eager to step up. Siegfried is keen to have everyone back, but Tristan’s surprise return won't be quite as straightforward as he hoped.

Brenda Lee: Rockin’ Around on American Masters 

Tuesday, December 23 & 8pm & Saturday, December 27 @ 10pm
Discover the story behind Brenda Lee and explore how her early fame and life of poverty shaped her music, including the classic “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.” The film features interviews with Keith Urban, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo and more.

Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2025 

Thursday, December 25 @ 8pm
Senior members of the convent embark on a mercy mission, swapping the snowy East End of London for the sun-drenched terrain of Hong Kong. The rise in hospital births, and wider changes in the NHS, have clipped their wings. But their mission to the Far East is a chance to take flight and work out what really matters. For her part, Sister Julienne suddenly finds herself excited about the Order’s future. After years of battling change, she decides to embrace it and see what love can do.

Gospel Live! Presented by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 

Friday, December 26 @ 9pm
GOSPEL Live! Presented by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is a concert celebration honoring the legacy of Gospel music in America. As a companion to GOSPEL, hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., secular and gospel artists sing their favorite gospel classics.

Great Performances: Rodgers & Hammerstein's 80th Anniversary 

Wednesday, December 31 @ 8pm 
Explore the vast repertoire of these musical theater pioneers in a star-studded concert featuring Aaron Tveitt, Patrick Wilson and more performing from shows like “Carousel,” “South Pacific,” “The King and I,” “The Sound of Music" and more. 

Happiness

Back-to-Back Episodes! Sundays December 14-28 @ 8pm 
After 20 years away, Broadway director Charlie Summers finds himself back in his childhood room, helping his mother at the local theater. The eclectic cast and crew there may lack professional skills, but certainly don’t lack passion.

Hometowns – NEW EPISODES 

Thursdays @ 7:30pm
In this season of Hometowns, we uncover the soulful narratives behind diverse communities across the country. From our mountain roots in Central Appalachia to the Alaskan wilderness, we explore how these places came to life and why people choose to call them home. Travel far enough and you see it—every hometown is its own world, yet somehow, we’re all telling the same story.

December 11 – Wythe County, VA
Journey to Wytheville, Virginia, a town at the crossroads of history and community spirit. From Revolutionary roots to Main Street revival, Wytheville embodies the resilience of Appalachia and the enduring power of home. 

December 25 – Grayson County, VA
Explore Grayson County, Virginia, where the Blue Ridge’s highlands shape music, craft, and life itself. Known for its natural beauty and strong traditions, it’s a place where community thrives against a wild and rugged backdrop. 

Hope of the Season: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir

Monday, December 15 & Wednesday, December 24 @ 8pm
Tony Award-winner Ruthie Ann Miles and iconic actor Dennis Haysbert inspire in this holiday special that combines classic Christmas carols with a contemporary story of how giving back and uplifting communities is the true meaning of the season.

The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song: Joni Mitchell

Wednesday, December 31 @ 10pm
The incomparable, trail-blazing talent of Joni Mitchell is celebrated in Washington, DC's historic DAR Constitution Hall by a cadre of musical stars who all drew inspiration from the woman many consider to be the most influential musical artist of her time. Be it lyrics, composition, playing, singing, or even painting, no artist has demonstrated the creative length, depth and breadth of Joni Mitchell.

Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas  

Monday, December 22 @ 9pm
Join Mary Berry as she travels to her mother’s homeland, Scotland, and is joined by her friends Andy Murray, Iain Stirling, and Emeli Sandé to cook indulgent Christmas dishes that can be enjoyed anytime over the holidays.

Mary Berry’s Ultimate Christmas  

Monday, December 22 @ 10pm
Much Loved British Home Cook Mary Berry is joined by some famous friends for her ultimate Christmas feast, packed with tips to plan and get ahead for the big day.  Planning is Mary’s top tip for a successful and enjoyable day and here she shares her definitive recipes perfected over 50 years.

Starring Dick Van Dyke on American Masters  Season 39 PREMIERE!

Friday, December 19 @ 9pm & Tuesday, December 30 @ 8pm 
Ahead of his 100th birthday, celebrate the life and career of legendary actor Dick Van Dyke. Known for iconic roles in Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and his classic CBS sitcom, he has delighted audiences on screen and stage for eight decades.

Too Hot to Handel: The Gospel Messiah  

Wednesday, December  24 @ 9:30pm
Handel’s 18th-century masterpiece, “The Messiah,” has been reimagined and infused with Gospel, Jazz, and R&B. The result is an uplifting reinterpretation of this seasonal favorite, captured at its European premiere at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

All Creatures Great and Small, Season 6, on Masterpiece - NEW SEASON! 

Sundays @ 9pm
We return to Darrowby in May 1945 to find Skeldale House at sixes and sevens. We watch as our characters reconnect with each other and find their renewed purpose, as the world around them starts to breathe again and look to a brighter future.

January 4 – All God’s Creatures 
Skeldale House prepares for Christmas and Jimmy's first birthday, but troubling news unsettles Mrs. Hall.

SEASON 6 PREMIERE!   January 11 – Gathering the Flock
Change comes to Skeldale House, and James struggles to keep up with Siegfried’s unpredictable ways.

January 18 – Old Dog, New Tricks  
James and Siegfried clash over new technology at the vet practice.

January 25 – Captain Farnon?  
Tristan and Siegfried compete for the case of a wealthy family’s prized horse.

American Experience: Bombshell

Tuesday, January 6 @ 9pm
Learn how the U.S. government tried to minimize the horrific human toll of the 1945 atomic bombings using propaganda, censorship and the co-opting of the press. Despite overwhelming odds, a group of intrepid reporters sought to reveal the truth. 

American Masters     

Explore the lives and creative journeys of America’s most enduring artistic and cultural giants. With insight and originality, the series illuminates the extraordinary mosaic of our nation’s landscape, heritage and traditions.

Monday, January 5 @ 10pm - Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames  
Discover the life and career of director Blake Edwards, one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures. Edwards redefined slapstick comedy through a lens that still resonates with today’s directors and actors. 

Tuesday, January 27 @ 9pm – Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire – NEW!  

The American Revolution   

Fridays @ 9pm 
Thirteen colonies unite in rebellion, win their independence, and found the United States.

January 9 – In Order to Be Free 
Political protest escalates into violence. War gives thirteen colonies a common cause.

January 16 – An Asylum for Mankind 
Washington takes command of the Continental Army. Congress declares American independence.

January 23 – The Times that Try Men’s Souls 
Washington abandons New York City and flees across New Jersey, before attacking Trenton.

January 30 – Conquer by a Drawn Game 
Philadelphia falls, but the American victory at Saratoga allows France to enter the war.

Antiques Roadshow - NEW SEASON!!   

Mondays @ 8pm
Part adventure, part history lesson, part treasure hunt.

January 5 – Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Hour 1 
ROADSHOW celebrates an all-new Season 30, starting with a stop in Salt Lake City! Discoveries include German candy containers, ca. 1910, a Donegal Arts & Crafts carpet and a 1937 “The Hobbit” first UK edition. Which find is valued at $100K?

January 12 – Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Hour 2 
See stunning treasures from ROADSHOW’s visit to Salt Lake City! All-new finds include a 1970 Rolex “Red” Submariner watch, an 1834 Baltimore St. James Episcopal Church sampler and 1961 Ed Ruscha drawings & letters. Which is the top find?

January 19 – Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Hour 3 
See a bounty of Utah treasures found during ROADSHOW’s visit to Red Butte Garden & Arboretum including diamond and star sapphire jewelry, a 1952 Al Stohlman tooled leatherwork picture, and Kenner “Star Wars” action figures, ca. 1978!

January 26 – Georgia State Railroad Museum, Hour 1  
Catch ROADSHOW’s stunning season-topping find in this first hour from Savannah, GA! Treasures include a 1901 Alexander Fisher enamel, a 1992 Olga de Amaral “Lost Image VII” tapestry and a signed 1936 “Gone with the Wind” first edition.

Bookish - NEW SERIES!     

Sundays @ 10pm
in post-war London, Gabriel Book, a literary enthusiast and bookseller, combines his day job with his favorite hobby — helping solve knotty murder cases. Although happily married to his best friend, Trottie, Book is a gay man at a time when homosexuality was illegal. When a new assistant, Jack, arrives at the bookshop, it soon becomes clear his appointment wasn’t as random as it seems.

January 11 – Slightly Foxed, Part 1

January 18 – Slightly Foxed, Part 2

January 25 – Deadly Nitrate, Part 1

Finding Your Roots – NEW SEASON! 

Tuesdays @ 8pm
The acclaimed series returns with Professor Gates exploring the mysteries, surprises and revelations hidden in the family trees of popular figures.

January 6 – American Dreams
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actors America Ferrera and Darren Criss uncover their immigrant roots—telling powerful stories that span the globe.

January 13 – Great Migrations
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces rapper Wiz Khalifa and actor Sanaa Lathan to ancestors who left the American South, boldly breaking racial barriers.

January 20 – Caribbean Roots
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Caribbean roots of actors Liza Colón-Zayas and Delroy Lindo—meeting ancestors who took enormous risks.

January 27 – The Road We Took 
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces actor Lizzie Caplan and comedian Hasan Minhaj to ancestors whose brave decisions forever reshaped their families.

From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2026

Friday, January 2 @ 9pm
Ring in the New Year with the Vienna Philharmonic at the world-famous Musikverein, with Hugh returning as host. The celebrations showcase the virtuosic dancing of the Vienna City Ballet performed on location in sumptuous Vienna landmarks.

Hometowns - New Episodes!   

Thursdays @ 7:30pm
An off-the-beaten-path look at what makes small-town truly America unique. 

January 8 – Fairbanks, Alaska
Step into Fairbanks, Alaska, where midnight sun and northern lights shape daily life. This frontier city blends Indigenous heritage, gold rush grit, and modern resilience, standing as a beacon of survival and wonder at the edge of the Arctic.

January 22 – Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas, thrives with Ozark spirit and youthful energy.

Lucy Worsley Investigates 

Thursdays @ 8pm
Lucy Worsley re-investigates some of the most dramatic chapters in British history.

January 15 – William the Conqueror
Lucy investigates how William the Conqueror won not just the Battle of Hastings but the battle for England.

January 22 – Bloody Mary
Lucy investigates whether England’s first ruling female monarch was as bloody as history suggests. 
When a man is shot dead during an illegal rave on a building site, Ridley investigates.

Miss Scarlet, Season 6, on Masterpiece – NEW SEASON!

Sundays @ 8pm, encore showing Thursdays @ 9pm
Miss Eliza Scarlet is doing her best to have it all. Her business is thriving, but her personal life enters new territory as she attempts to follow her heart and develop a relationship with Inspector Alexander Blake. Eliza may be an expert solving crimes, but she’s very much a novice when it comes to love. Can Eliza juggle the twin demands of her personal and professional life?

January 11 – Secrets and Lies
In a case centered around the fledgling world of psychiatry, a violent psychiatric patient is on the loose, leaving behind a murder, a mystery and an unidentified body. Blake hires Eliza to help him solve the case.

January 18 – Trafalgar Spring
The divorce of a high society couple causes scandal when their settlement becomes public and their prize racehorse goes missing. 

January 25 –  The Delivery
A treasure hunt brings Moses back to London from Paris to sell a priceless diamond.  eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

Nature 

Wednesdays @ 8pm 
NATURE on PBS brings rich and rewarding stories from the wild to homes across America.

January 7 – Hummingbirds of Hollywood
A woman finds herself on a journey as she nurtures wounded hummingbirds, unraveling a tale of love, fragility, healing and beauty in acts of kindness.

January 14 – Tusker: Brotherhood of Elephants - NEW!
Follow the lives of elephant bulls in Mount Kilimanjaro and Amboseli. Get a rare glimpse into the complexity of these giants, from their drive for dominance to the subtle social bonds that form between males.

January 21 – San Diego: America’s Wildest City
Experience San Diego, where dazzling biodiversity thrives amidst a transformed urban landscape.

January 28 – Expedition Killer Whale
A team of scientists and filmmakers explore the Antarctic waters to learn more about killer whales.

NOVA - NEW SEASON!

Wednesdays @ 9pm 
Explore the science behind the headlines in PBS's premier science series.  

January 7 – Arctic Sinkholes
Colossal explosions shake a remote corner of the Siberian tundra, leaving behind massive craters. In Alaska, a huge lake erupts with bubbles of inflammable gas.

January 14 – What are UFOs?
After decades in the shadows, UFOs are being studied seriously. Are they weather balloons, optical illusions, secret military technology? Or something else?

SEASON 53 PREMIERE! January 21 – Asteroids: Spark of Life?
What if violent asteroid impacts actually jump-started life on Earth? Explore a dramatic theory.

January 28 – Angkor: Hidden Jungle Empire
New evidence sheds light on the remarkable life – and mysterious collapse – of the ancient jungle city.
Meet the surprising, oddball worlds moving around our solar system.