DStv Access is preparing a banquet of festive viewing this December, and when there’s so much to choose from, it’s easy to Choose Joy. Now close out the year just where you want to be, doing what you love.
We’ve highlighted just six of the fun seasonal movies ringing those bells, including local hits A Zulu Christmas and A Christmas Chorus. And because it wouldn’t be the jolly holly season without a little romance in the snow, we’ve thrown in Christmas In The Highlands.
TLC (DStv channel 135) is going all out on their medical reality series, with a brand-new season of Dr. Pimple Popper, a Dr. Pimple Popper Christmas special, and 2 new shows, The Hair Loss Clinic and the documentary Germaphobia. And if you want that family feeling, there’s also reality with personality in 7 Little Johnstons Season 7, and 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way Season 3 (and the after-the-show show, Pillow Talk: The Other Way).
If you’re staying safe and staying home, DStv Access has plenty to keep you entertained around the house, too, from Buddy Valastro taking on Duff Goldman in their new competitive baking series, Buddy vs. Duff Holiday, to cooking and travel in A Long Weekend With Rory O'Connell and home reno with George Clarke's Old House New Home Season 3.
Finally, closing out the year, MTV Base (DStv channel 322) will give you the soundtrack for the season all the way from 1 December until New Year’s Eve, with Roundtable: Hottest MCs 2021, MVP Top 50, 31 Days DJ Takeover and more.
All this when you Choose Joy and choose DStv Access this December.
Merry movies!
First Christmas
Writer Halle Downing (Idara Victor), who was given up for adoption as a child, is invited to spend Christmas in New Orleans with the biological family she never knew she had. Being around the eccentric strangers who are now her family shifts her writer’s block and sparks a flurry of creativity.
Watch First Christmas on Saturday, 4 December on M-Net Movies 4 (DStv channel 108) at 17:00
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Merry Christmas
War drama centred on the Christmas Truce of 1914. French, Scottish and German soldiers in the trenches start an informal ceasefire after the sound of the Scottish troops singing Christmas songs and playing bagpipes drifts to the Germans and French, who respond with their own music. With Ian Richardson and Diane Kruger.
Watch Merry Christmas on Sunday, 5 December on M-Net Movies 4 (DStv channel 108) at 16:30
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A Zulu Christmas
Sometimes the best way to teach your child a lesson is to give the job to Granny. A city boy is sent to his Granny’s house in KZN where she teaches him all about his culture and dazzles him with stories of his heritage and family traditions. With Deli Malinga, Sphumuzo Sidzumo and Ayanda Banda.
Watch A Zulu Christmas on Saturday, 11 December on M-Net Movies 4 (DStv channel 108) at 17:00
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A Christmas Surprise
Tanya’s (Wendy Raquel Robinson) daughter, Brittney (Katelynn Bennett), throws her family Christmas plans into disarray when she announces her engagement. Now the guest list includes Britnney’s fiancé, Amiri (Mustapha J Slack), and his bossy mom, Demetria (Keesha Sharp). Then the young couple announce that they’re getting married on Christmas day!
Watch on Sunday, 12 December on M-Net Movies 4 (DStv channel 108) at 16:30
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Christmas In The Highlands
American perfume expert Blaire Henderson (Broke Burfitt) is sent to the remote Scottish Highlands during the Christmas season to get her hands on the formula for a limited edition perfume from an Earl (Dan Jeannotte) while he’s preparing for his annual ball. But she gets a new item on her to-do list: Fall in love.
Watch Christmas In The Highlands on Sunday, 19 December on M-Net Movies 4 (DStv channel 108) at 16:30
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A Christmas Chorus
Lockdown has hit the South African entertainment industry hard. Theatres are closed, and that means no festive pantomime. Now, a group of theatre friends are coming together to save Christmas from the Coronavirus. But egos are running hot and personal agendas could wreck their good intentions. With Bianca Flanders, Namisa Mdlalose and Dean Balie.
Watch A Christmas Chorus on Sunday, 26 December on M-Net Movies 4 (DStv channel 108) at 16:30
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Medical reality marvels
The Hair Loss Clinic Season 1
Leading hair transplant surgeon Dr. Edward Ball and hair and scalp specialist Eva Proudman transform patients’ lives in this reality series. See the emotional impact of hair loss on men and women, and come to grips with some unusual scalp issues before Dr. Ball and Eva work their magic, from radical hair transplants to extreme scalp injections.
Watch The Hair Loss Clinic Season 1 from Friday, 31 December on TLC (DStv channel 135) at 20:00
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Germophobia
Documentary special. Find out what happens when a fear of germs takes over people’s lives. Brian, Keshius and Toni are doing things like washing their hands 80 times a day, wrapping car seats in plastic, making guests wear hazmat suits and roasting in a hot sauna to kill bacteria before sex thanks to Germophobia.
Watch Germophobia from Friday, 17 December on TLC (DStv channel 135) at 22:00
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Dr. Pimple Popper Season 4
Dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee treats challenging skin conditions to give patients a shot at their dream lives. This season, Dr. Sandra treats Tamyra, who routinely shaves the skin off the bottom off her foot but it keeps growing back in thick layers, and Drag Queen Corey has an unsightly lump in an unmentionable place.
Watch Dr. Pimple Popper Season 4 from Friday, 17 December on TLC (DStv channel 135) at 21:00
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OMG December
TLC is loading their holiday sleigh with the most shocking moments from your favourite medical reality series. Look out for a brand-new Dr. Pimple Popper Christmas special, along with patients from The Bad Skin Clinic, My Feet Are Killing Me, My 600Lb Life and more.
Watch OMG December Mondays-Fridays from Wednesday, 1 December on TLC (DStv channel 135) at 19:00, Saturdays & Sundays from 11:05.
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Reality with personality
7 Little Johnstons Season 7
Reality series about the Johnsons, a family living with Achondroplasia Dwarfism. This season, Anna makes a strike for independence as she moves out on her own, while Liz and Brice celebrate their anniversary, and the family enjoys Mother’s Day. Anna and Elizabeth both throw dinner parties, while Josh struggles to find a place to rent.
Watch 7 Little Johnstons Season 7 from Wednesday, 8 December on TLC (DStv channel 135) at 21:00
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90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way Season 3
Americans move to a foreign country in the name of love, but they have just 90 days to sort out their paperwork before bureaucracy curb stomps Cupid. This season, Kenny and Armando are planning their wedding in Mexico, Ellie searches for Victor, who goes missing when a hurricane strikes their Colombian island home, and Corey and Evelyn are keeping huge secrets.
Watch 0 Day Fiancé: The Other Way Season 3 from Sunday, 5 December on TLC (DStv channel 135) at 20:00
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Pillow Talk: The Other Way
Your 90 Day reality franchise favourites invite you into their homes as they watch the latest episode of The Other Way. Libby is surprised to see Corey and Evelin together again, Molly and Cynthia react to Leonardo’s gift to Ari, while Brandon is convinced that Ari is still really into her ex.
Watch Pillow Talk: The Other Way from Sunday, 5 December on TLC (DStv channel 135) at 22:00
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Dangerous Flights Season 1 and Season 2
Cory Bengtzen and his team of daring pilots have the ultimate strange job: Delivering used aeroplanes to remote destinations around the world… by flying them there themselves. See them get planes everywhere from the Siberian Arctic to the Amazon rainforest, to the Sudan. If the weather doesn’t take you down, the tight sleep schedule might.
Watch Dangerous Flights Season 1 and Season 2 from Monday, 13 December on CBS Reality(DStv channel 132) at 09:30
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Water Patrol S1
Reality series about the officials who patrol New Zealand’s waterways. The Police Maritime and Dive Units have to be ready to take on everything from drunken “sailors” on party boats, to crowded water events, to criminals and emergency rescues. Follow the action with underwater footage shot by the Dive Squad.
Watch from Sunday, 26 December on CBS Reality(DStv channel 132) at 19:30
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Reality at home
Buddy vs. Duff Holiday Season 1
Buddy and Duff compete to see who reigns over the holiday season in this 4-episode competition. Each week the 2 cake artists will choose a different theme and then they and their teams will have just 20 hours to create a masterpiece each. masterpieces. Judges include Gesine Prado, Elizabeth Falkner, Stephanie Boswell, and Valerie Gordon.
Watch Buddy vs. Duff Holiday Season 1 from Saturday, 18 December on TLC (DStv channel 135) at 17:05
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A Place In The Sun: Summer Sun Season 1
British house hunters are looking for a holiday home where they can enjoy sunshine all summer long. Find out what properties look like in Huelva in Southern Spain, Andalucia, Almeria and the Costa Blanca. We’ll also see Limousin in France, Crete, Lazio in Italy and Portugal’s Algarve.
Watch A Place In The Sun: Summer Sun Season 1 from Monday, 6 December on The Home Channel (DStv channel 176) at 19:00
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George Clarke's Old House New Home Season 3
Architect George Clarke helps homeowners to make their Georgian, Victorian and Art Deco more liveable for modern life, without destroying the house’s spirit. In each episode, George will visit 2 houses, where he will present the owners with design solutions about what to chuck and what to cherish.
Watch George Clarke's Old House New Home Season 3 from Friday, 24 December on The Home Channel (DStv channel 176) at 20:00
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A Long Weekend With Rory O'Connell S1
Chef and food writer Rory O’Connell travels across Europe, visiting a different city in each episode – Palma de Mallorca, Vienna, Lisbon, Madrid, Bath, Nantes, Copenhagen and Edinburgh – to learn about the culture and the cuisine. Feast your eyes on local art and design and attractions, before Rory whips up dinner.
Watch from Monday, 20 December on The Home Channel (DStv channel 176) at 18:00
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Cheap Irish Homes Season 1
Host Maggie Molloy shines a light on the secret side of the Irish property market. She’s helping her house hunters – who live in expensive cities like Dublin and Galway – to snap up a prize, with properties valued at €100,000 (around R1,8 million), if not cheaper.
Watch Cheap Irish Homes Season 1 from Tuesday, 21 December on The Home Channel (DStv channel 176) at 18:30
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Million Dollar House Hunters Season 1
Let host Viviana Vigil take you house hunting with the rich and super rich who’re looking for that perfect luxury place to rest their tired feet. Anything they want, they can buy, from bowling lanes in the basement, to rooftops with pools and helicopter pads… in the kinds of neighbourhoods you see on TV.
Watch Million Dollar House Hunters Season 1 from Monday, 27 December on The Home Channel (DStv channel 176) at 18:30
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How To Garden Season 2
Carol Klein has been honing her gardening skills and knowledge at Glebe Cottage for more than 40 years. Now, week by week, she reveals how she works hand-in-hand with Mother Nature to help it to thrive. Learn what to plant in which season to transform your backyard desert into an oasis.
Watch How To Garden Season 2 from Tuesday, 28 December on The Home Channel (DStv channel 176) at 21:30
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Musical chairs
MVP Top 50
Join the party in style this New Year's Eve with live music performances at a socially distanced club. It’s the ultimate 2021-2022 countdown, featuring the hottest artists and hits from throughout 2021.
Watch MVP Top 50 in Friday, 31 December on MTV Base (DStv channel 322) at 20:00
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Roundtable: Hottest MCs 2021
MTV Base ends 2021 with the Hottest MC roundtable. A panel of established artists will spotlight the freshest talent making a name for themselves on the South African hip-hop stage. And they’ll be going toe-to-toe to argue for why their favourites should make the list.
Watch Roundtable: Hottest MCs 2021 on Friday, 3 December and Saturday 4 December on MTV Base (DStv channel 322) at 16:30
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MTV Base 21 Of 21
It’s the 21 hottest songs of 2021. MTV Base showcases the talent that created the soundtrack to our year, and made us feel powerfully, express ourselves emotionally, celebrate joyfully and just want to hit the dance floor and get loud.
Watch MTV Base 21 Of 21 on Wednesday, 1 December and Saturday 4 December on MTV Base (DStv channel 322) at 21:00
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31 Days DJ Takeover
Is the radio driving you mad with repeated oldies? Check out the coolest DJs in Africa & South Africa have to offer over the 31 days of December, with playlists that aim to reshape out entertainment culture through music.
Watch 31 Days DJ Takeover from Wednesday, 1 December on MTV Base (DStv channel 322) at 18:00
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Best Of 2021
Over five days, MTV Base delves into the music that’s creating movements, inspiring trends, moulding expression, and reflecting the youth. Music is culture and now we can see what was on our minds in our second pandemic year.
Watch Best Of 2021 Monday-Friday from Monday, 27 December on MTV Base (DStv channel 322) at 18:00
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Nadia Nakia: The Album
Time for a fan freak out. This behind-the-scenes film will give you an intimate look at African rap musician Nadia Nakai as she works on her debut album. Piecing together interviews and live performances, this documentary takes you on a remarkable journey to see the hard work and talent that was involved in making Nadia Naked.
Watch Nadia Nakia: The Album on Friday, 31 December on Mzansi Wethu (DStv channel 163) at 22:00
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