9^th December 2011:  BBC Worldwide Channels presents a perfectly wrapped parcel of festive television goodies and a sparkling New Year line up for viewers in the Nordics across BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and BBC HD.

On Christmas Eve, BBC Entertainment brings viewers a four-part adaptation of the timeless Jane Austen romantic masterpiece Emma.  Romola Garai (Atonement, Daniel Deronda) stars as hopeless match-maker Emma Woodhouse, alongside Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting) who plays the troubled yet heroic Mr Knightley.  From an uplifting romantic tale to comedy guaranteed to lift your spirits; Stand-up Comedy Month bursts on to BBC Entertainment from New Year’s Day, delivering the perfect antidote to the January blues.  Some of the UK’s greatest stand-ups including Michael McIntyre, Lee Evans and Alan Carr make the most depressing month of the year, the most hilarious yet.  And the icing on the cake this January is the territory premiere of Peep Show – the award winning British sitcom about flatmates Mark and Jeremy played by comedians David Mitchell and Robert Webb.

Over on BBC Knowledge, Nordic viewers will be captivated by a festive flurry of must-see television throughout December.  BBC Knowledge Loves Scandinavia celebrates the natural wonders, people, history and culture of Scandinavia with programmes including Reindeer Girls and the three part series Real Heroes of the Telemark.  Continuing the channel’s tradition of bringing viewers intelligent, entertaining and educational programmes, BBC Knowledge presents Into the Unknown this January, with exploration programmes including Expedition Borneo and the spectacular five part series Amazon.

For viewers in charge of creating an idyllic family Christmas, BBC Lifestyle has a yuletide schedule fit for a king, including the Nordics’ channel premiere of Kirstie and Phil’s Perfect Christmas.  Home experts Kirstie and Phil have the magic touch when it comes to creating a beautiful home and in this four-part Christmas special, they provide the ultimate guide to festive party: organising sourcing the best decorations, gifts, food and drinks as well as showing us how to put together the ultimate New Year’s celebration for all the family.  BBC Lifestyle has even tastier treats on the menu in the New Year, with a blend of programmes to inspire what to eat, with brand new Come Dine with Me series 4 and Masterchef series 6, as well as what to wear with Gok’s Fashion Fix and how to act with The Boss is Coming to Dinner.

BBC Worldwide Channels Christmas and New Year highlights

BBC Entertainment

Emma (4 episodes) – Christmas Eve Saturday 24^th December at 1700

Stand-up Comedy Month – starting Sunday 01^st January 2012 and continuing weeknights at 2200

Peep Show TERRITORY PREMIERE (6 episodes) – from Monday 9^th January at 2245

BBC Knowledge

BBC Knowledge Loves Scandinavia Season:

Reindeer Girls TERRITORY PREMIERE - Monday 12^th December at 2130

Real Heroes of the Telemark (3 episodes) – Wednesday 14^th December at 2130

Voyages of Discovery (3 episodes) – from Sunday 5^th February at 2000

Into the Unknown Season:

Expedition Borneo (3 episodes) – from Wednesday 4^th January at 2130

Amazon (5 episodes) – from Thursday 5^th January at 2130

BBC Lifestyle

Kirstie and Phil’s Perfect Christmas TERRITORY PREMIERE (4 episodes) from Tuesday 5^th December at 1700

Masterchef series 6 TERRITORY PREMIERE – from Sunday 01^st January at 2000

Come Dine with Me series 4 TERRITORY PREMIERE – from Monday 2^nd January at 1000

The Boss is Coming to Dinner – from Tuesday 3^rd January at 1135

BBC HD

Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey Xmas Special – Saturday 24^th December at 17.10

Carols from Kings - Saturday 24^th December at 18.55

Escape to the Sun - from Tuesday 3^rd January at 2000

And not forgetting BBC HD, which will light up the holiday season with Christmas programmes for all the family, with highlights including Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey Xmas Special and Carols from Kings.  In January the channel invites viewers to Escape to the Sun with our four week special dedicated to uncovering unique African, Indian, European and South Pacific adventures.