Feel the love with uplifting series and shows on DStv this December.
DStv has just what you need if you’d like to keep it sweet, serene and uplifting during the holiday season. You can choose what’s right for your family when you Choose Joy with DStv this December.
Watch-together series include the beloved Supervet Christmas Special 2021 and Meet The Meerkats Season 1. And to fill your house with laughter, there’s new seasons of Kids Say The Darndest Things and The Greatest At Home Videos, and the brand-new British comedy talk show The Funny Thing About. And while there’s lots of riotous fun in DStv’s School of Laughter, there are also calm, sweet and educational specials for the little ones to relax with.
There are plenty of Christmas movies with uplifting messages including local films Season's Feelings, Asseblief En Dankie (which has an angelic wink in its eye for us) and the instant 2020 classic, A Zulu Christmas. Families can also sit down for inspiration with A Gospel Christmas and the moving tale of togetherness in First Christmas.
December’s hottest reality series on DStv are focussed on caring and healing, so get your tissues ready for Mina Nawe House Season 2, The Hair Loss Clinic Season 1, Dr. Pimple Popper Season 4, and Mamazala Season 10. And if you love to see people change lives with a little hard work and creativity, try shows like George Clarke's Old House New Home and How To Garden. Plus,there are outdoor adventures to help you be brave in Riaan Manser’s How To Adventure, and ex-British soldier and adventurer Jason Fox’s new show, Fearless 48 Hours.
And if you are looking for a little holiday glamour, there’s music and awards shows to entertain, including The Royal Variety Performance 2021, the 2021 People's Choice Awards: Live from E!, Brother Love 10de Herdenkingskonsert, along with a spectacular celebrity dinner in Festive Get-Together withIdols SA judge, Unathi Nkayi, and chef-restaurateur Alessandro Khojane.
PS: remember, if nothing lifts your spirits like seeing talented South Africans triumph, It’s the My Kitchen Rules Season 3 finale on Sunday, 12 December on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 18:00.
And there’s so much more to see when you Choose Joy with DStv this Festive season.
Four legged friends
Supervet Christmas Special 2021
It’s Christmas time at Fitzpatrick Referrals and Professor Noel Fitzpatrick and his team are working to get their animal patients well and home in time to celebrate with their families. This will be Noel’s first Christmas without his beloved animal companion, Keira, so we’re hoping to see a little tribute to her.
Watch on Saturday, 18 December on BBC Earth (DStv channel 184) at 20:00
Rob Delaney narrates this animal “soap opera” that follows the fates of 2 meerkats mobs rescued from animal trafficking, as they adjust to life in the Kalahari Desert. See the birth of baby meerkats, watch how a single mom struggles to raise her brood alone, and see how the meerkats hunt, flirt and survive.
Watch from Saturday, 18 December on Discovery Channel (DStv channel 121) at 20:00
Michael hosts a special celebrity Christmas episode in which the contestants, TV host Holly Willoughby, comedian Alan Carr and Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse answer questions to raise money for their favourite charities – with help from Alexander Armstrong, Clare Balding, Howard Donald, Kate Bottley, Ainsley Harriott, Olly Smith and Christopher Biggins.
Watch on Wednesday, 22 December on BBC Brit (DStv channel 120) at 20:00
Phillip Schofield hosts as Celebrities face intense pressure while they try to beat The Cube at its bizarre and difficult mini-games like Attract, Loop, Pathfinder and Dead Stop. If they beat The Cube, they will win £250,000 (about R5,276,285) for their chosen charity.
Watch on Thursday, 23 December on BBC Brit (DStv channel 120) at 20:00
The sisters of Poplar are in a tizzy when Sister Minica Joan is rushed to hospital. Meanwhile Trixie gets a subscription to a marriage bureau as an unwanted gift, Shelagh reunites with an old friend, and there’s excitement in the air because the circus is coming to town.
Watch on Tuesday, 28 December on BBC Brit (DStv channel 120)
Call The Midwife Xmas 2018 on BBC Brit (DStv channel 120) on Monday, 20 December at 20:00
Call The Midwife Xmas 2019 on BBC Brit (DStv channel 120) on Tuesday, 21 December at 20:00
Red carpet rollout
Royal Variety Performance 2021
This 2-hour special celebration marks the 100th anniversary of the Variety Show, first performed for King George V in 1921. Hosted by Alan Carr, with performances from the cast of the Moulin Rouge and Matilda stage shows, Ed Sheeran, James Blunt, Anne-Marie, Elvis Costello, Keala Settle, Bill Bailey and more.
Watch from Friday, 31 December on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 21:30
The public has voted for their favourite stars, including this year’s African Social Star nominees like Lasizwe Dambuza, Boity Thulo, Witney Ramabulana and Mihlali Ndamase. And now it’s time to hand out the glittering awards, with host Kenan Thompson. PS: Laverne Cox will be hosting the awards pre-show.
Watch on Tuesday, 7 December on E! Entertainment (DStv channel 124) at 02:00. Rebroadcast on Wednesday, 8 December at 20:00
Music special. Loukmaan and Emo Adams celebrate 10 years of their award-winning musical, Brother Love, and they do it in style with Early B, Alistair Izobell and Nur Abrahams. The show takes viewers on a walk down memory lane with the Adams brothers as they reveal what it was like growing up in Mitchell’s Plain.
Watch Brother Love 10de Herdenkingskonsert on Friday, 31 December on kykNET & Kie (DStv channel 145) at 20:00
Idols SA judge, Unathi Nkayi, and chef-restaurateur Alessandro Khojane host a dazzling dinner party for their friends, including Minnie Dlamini & Melanie Bala; supercouple Kuli Chana and Lamiez Holworthy, foodie friends Maps Maponyane and J. Something. And they’ll all talk about what a crazy year it’s been, while trying out menus that have a personal touch for everyone.
Watch from Wednesday, 1 December on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) at 21:30
Conductor and violinist André Rieu hosts a festive Christmas concert at his house, a medieval castle in Maastricht in the Netherlands. He’s joined by his Johann Strauss orchestra, soloists and choir as they perform 26 beautiful Christmas songs including Silent Night, Walking in the Air, Winter Wonderland and O Come All Ye Faithful.
Watch Andre Rieu: Home For Christmas on Sunday, 26 December on kykNET (DStv channel 144) at 20:00
Soprano Magdalene Minnaar and her pianist, Maryke Johnson, perform a programme of popular works from the Baroque to the classical musical era, starting with Bach and ending with excerpts from Evita, The Producers, and Les Misérables. Recorded at this year’s Vrystaat Klank en Klassik (VKK) arts festival.
Watch Vrystaat Klank En Klassik: Baroque To Broadway on Sunday, 19 December on kykNET (DStv channel 144) at 10:30
SAFTA-winner Jozua Malherbe teams up with Wonderlus producer Zandré Coetzer for an original holiday comedy that follows a group of outsiders as they travel to a Christmas party. Starring Natalie Robbie, Zandile Lujabe and Kiroshan Naidoo.
Watch on Saturday, 11 December on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 21:30 and on Saturday, 18 December on M-Net Movies 1 (DStv channel 104) at 13:55
2 lives change for the better after a homeless woman (Crystal Donna Roberts) saves the life of a rich CEO (Laudo Liebenberg) and, moved by the Christmas spirit, he invites her to recover in his penthouse. But he doesn’t know what to think when she claims to be from another world, and strange things start happening.
Watch on Saturday, 25 December on kykNET (DStv channel 144) at 20:00
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 on Saturday, 11 December on M-Net Movies 4 (DStv channel 108) at 16:00 and on Saturday, 18 December on Me (DStv channel 115) at 20:00
Young assistant pastor Olivia (Demetria McKinney) is assigned to be the head pastor of a church in a new town just a month before Christmas. She’ll need to whip the choir into shape and open the town’s annual Winter Jamboree while navigating local politics. With a special appearance and songs by Kirk Franklin.
Watch on Saturday, 25 December on Lifetime (DStv channel 131) at 19:20
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 on Saturday, 4 December on M-Net Movies 4 (DStv channel 108) at 17:00
Tiffany Haddish hosts this variety show that reveals how little kids think about the world – to comic effect. This season, Tiffany’s talking wig makes one of the kids feel special, and she takes her little players to meet Drew Carey on the set of his own show, The Price Is Right.
Watch Kids Say The Darndest Things Season 2 from Saturday, 11 December on ME (DStv channel 115) at 17:00
British comedy talkshow hosted by Johnny Vegas. Prepare for honest confessions and anecdotes as Johnny’s guests, including Anthea Turner, Vanessa Feltz, Carl Fogarty, Nina Wadia, James Argent, Jamie Laing and James & Ola Jordan from Strictly Come Dancing, talk about everything from growing up and dating to kids and the holidays.
Watch The Funny Thing About Season 1 weekdays from Monday, 6 December on Comedy Central (DStv channel 122) at 22:00
Host Cedric the Entertainer showcases viral home videos captured during social distancing and the COVID-19 lockdowns. This season, choreographer and singer Paula Abdul helps Cedric to surprise a family, Cedric has a zoom call with 2 military buddies whose reunion moved the country, and Cedric chats with his The Neighborhood co-star, Max Greenfield.
Watch The Greatest At Home Videos Season 2 weekdays from Friday, 17 December on Comedy Central (DStv channel 122) at 22:30
Riaan Manser has crossed Africa on bicycle and rowed from Africa to America. Now he takes people on 24 thrilling adventures with him. Riaan takes a midwife skydiving on the Garden Route, treks the Drakensberg at Tugela, goes snorkelling off Hout Bay with a magazine editor, and tries canyoning in the Storms River, and more.
Watch How To Adventure Season 1 from Saturday, 4 December on Curiosity Channel (DStv channel 185) at 23:00
Ex-British soldier and adventurer Jason Fox takes American comedian Rob Delaney and TV presenter Maya Jama through a series of physical challenges while chatting about heartfelt topics in this doccie-reality series aimed at pushing limits and boundaries, and building up resilience.
Watch from Sunday, 5 December on BBC Earth (DStv channel 184) at 19:00
Social worker Basani Chauke joins motivational speaker Siyabonga Mkhize on the Mina Nawe House team as they work together to try to save couples who’ve moved into a house together for 11 days to undergo a “relationship restart”, during which they’ll take part in exercises to see whether their marriages/relationships are even worth saving.
Watch Mina Nawe House Season 2 from Saturday, 4 December on Moja Love (DStv channel 157) at 21:00
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
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
Dingaan Khumalo plays negotiator to promote love, two-way respect and healthy communication between in-laws within families who’re going through difficult times or facing issues with money, children, and abuse. While each episode causes a flurry of excitement on Twitter, it’s also a powerful learning tool for building healthier relationships and expectations.
Watch Mamazala Season 10 from Saturday, 4 December on Moja Love (DStv channel 157) at 19:30
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
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
Mickey, Minnie and the gang wind up split all over the world after a series of mishaps, and they must all try to get back to Hot Dog Hills by Christmas Eve. Then a jolly stranger tells them about The Wishing Star, which could be the key to bringing everybody home in time to celebrate the holiday together.
Watch on Friday, 24 December on Disney Junior (DStv channel 309) at 09:30
20 December at 09:30: PJ Masks: The PJ Masks step up to help children when Luna Girl, Night Ninja, and the Wolfy Kids steal their Halloween treats in this Halloween special episode.
20 December at 10:00: Mickey Mouse Funhouse: Mickey, Minnie and their friends return a baby gorilla to the Enchanted Rainforest. Then Mickey and Goofy take Pluto and Teddy to Prehistoric Land.
24 December at 11:30: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey and his friends set aside their Christmas Eve celebrations to help Santa Claus when his sleigh breaks down.
24 December at 13:00: Doc McStuffins: Doc and the toys travel back in time to the North Pole to save Christmas.
24 December at 14:00 Elena Of Avalor: Elena wants to have a quiet Navidad at home, but a snowstorm strands her friends at the palace.
24 December at 14:30: Puppy Dog Pals: The pugs go on a mission to find Santa, and Bob asks Bingo and Rolly to protect a snowman he’s building.
Watch from Monday, 20 December to Thursday, 23 December on Disney Junior (DStv channel 309) at 09:30
10 December at 12:25: My World Kitchen: Dougie is from Essex, a county in the South-East of England and he is making a Christmas yule log.
10 December at 18:40: Bluey: The Heelers celebrate Christmas together. Bluey finds out that Santa only visits children who’re well behaved, but struggles to be good when Socks bites her during a game of Veranda Santa.
24 December at 06:25: Topsy & Tim: Five-year-old twins Topsy and Tim decorate the tree on Christmas Eve with mom, dad and granny, and the even see Father Christmas on his sleigh.
31 December at 09:15: Go Jetters: Big Ben is missing when the Go Jetters visit London for New Year’s Eve. Can they solve the mystery and save the day in time for the big bong?
Watch from Friday, 10 December on CBeebies (DStv channel 306) at 12:25
The Treehouse Stories: The Christmas Feast. A wolf, a fox and a weasel have a Christmas feast with a turkey.
Darwin & Newts: It’s Snowing in Kiwifruit Valley. Darwin and Newts discover that every snowflake has six sides.
Darwin & Newts: Kiwifruit Valley Christmas. Our friends work together to create a Christmas celebration full of aroha after a Christmas Eve storm wrecks the festive preparations.
Do You Know? At Christmas. Maddie meets Santa’s favourite helper, the reindeer, and discovers how Christmas decorations are made!
Odd Squad: Reindeer Games. Olive and Otto help Santa to find his missing reindeer, and Oscar helps Ms O to escape Santa’s naughty list.
Horrible Histories Specials: Xmas. Smelly Saxon gifts, terrible Tudor pudding and crazy Victorian cards. And find out about WW1’s 1914 Christmas Day Truce.
Did You Know? Making Christmas Special. Tips on decorating, and spotting fake money and gifts.
Watch on Friday, 24 December from 15:05-17:20 and Saturday, 25 December from 09:30-11:45 on Da Vinci (DStv channel 318)
Get the DStv app (Apple, Android or Huawei) and download episodes to watch on your phone or tablet – just remember to connect to the Wi-Fi first so there are no surprise data costs.
