New international series include the second seasaon of STATH LETS FLATS (November 5), the third season of the popular mystical drama BRITANNIA (November 19) and the critically acclaimed Israeli comedy ON THE SPECTRUM (November 26), a bittersweet comedy about three roommates diagnosed with autism. Also included is the South African drama REYKA (November 26) starring Iain Glen (Game of Thrones), which tells the story of a former kidnapee who uses her past trauma to help others as a detective, and the second season of the popular UK comedy series THIS TIME WITH ALAN PARTRIDGE (November 26).
Also coming to CBC Gem are two new docuseries: A LIFE IN TEN PICTURES (November 19) examines 10 photographs taken of some of the world’s most beloved icons. What do these images reveal? And what secrets do they hide? and WRITE AROUND THE WORLD (November 26) follows actor Richard E Grant (Withnail and I, Loki) as he journeys across southern France, southern Spain and southern Italy to study local art and culture.
CBC Music’s original series THE INTRO, a bi-weekly introduction to emerging Canadian musicians, returns for a second season on November 10 with new host Jess Huddleston
THE 2021 GOVERNOR GENERAL’S PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS (November 26) celebrates the extraordinary achievements of some of Canada’s greatest artists, featuring moving tributes, exciting performances and music by the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
To mark the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, the OUR CHANGING PLANET COLLECTION brings together top documentaries in a special collection that explores the far reaching effects of climate change and ways experts in Canada and around the world are tackling the shared crisis. From the landmark 60th season of CBC’s The Nature of Things, REBELLION takes viewers to the front lines of the climate revolt, and REEF RESCUE follows scientists using cutting-edge genetics to rescue and rebuild these vital underwater ecosystems. Also included in this collection is HUGH & ANITA’S WAR ON PLASTICS — a four-part series that focuses on the amount of plastic emptied into the world’s oceans daily.
The holiday season begins with It’s time to get into the Holiday spirit with a selection of festive programs including CALL THE MIDWIFE S2 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (November 12), the GREAT CHRISTMAS BAKING SHOW (November 26) and more.
New documentaries includes THE DISSIDENT (November 5), directed by Academy Award-Winning director Bryan Fogel (Icarus), which investigates the widely publicized murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and THE OXY KINGPINS (November 12) which covers the untold story of how a network of pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and retailers worked together to orchestrate and perpetuate the opioid crisis that has killed more than half a million people in America.
ACCLAIMED INTERNATIONAL SERIES
- STATH LETS FLATS Season 2 (6×30, Comedy, Roughcut Television, UK, 2018)
Begins streaming Friday, November 5
Stath (Jamie Demetriou, Fleabag) is an incompetent lettings agent, working in the family business, Michael & Eagle Lettings. Set in North London, series 2 of the BAFTA-nominated comedy STATH LETS FLATS finds Stath struggling with brash new boss Julian (Dustin Demri-Burns, Cardinal Burns) – his old enemy from rivals Smethwicks – and the smart new clients he attracts. Stath looks to move on from his dreams of being manager, find his own home and start a family; while his sister Sophie (Natasia Demetriou, Pls Like) struggles to move on from her crush on shy coworker Al (Al Roberts, Year Friends).</li
- SHERLOCK Season 2 (3×90, Drama, Hartswood Films, UK, 2010)
Begins streaming Friday, November 5
Nominated for four primetime Emmys, Sherlock returns with Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange) as Holmes and Martin Freeman (The Hobbit) as Watson in three more stories. In A Scandal in Belgravia, Sherlock gets embroiled in the complex plans of the dangerous and desirable Irene Adler (Lara Pulver, A Scandal In Belgravia), and finds himself employing every one of his remarkable skills to survive as the unlikely duo square off in a battle of wits…and perhaps emotions? The Hounds of Baskerville whisks the increasingly popular detective and Watson to the wilds of Dartmoor, and face to face with the supernatural lurking in the eerie landscape. Meanwhile, Moriarty (Andrew Scott, The Reichenbach Fall) is still out there in the shadows, and is determined to bring Sherlock down—at whatever the cost—in The Reichenbach Fall. With beguiling performances, witty scripts and some of the most intriguing characters ever created, it’s no wonder that Sherlock has proven to be a worldwide success.
- RIPPER STREET Season 3 (8×60, Drama, Tiger Aspect and Lookout Point, UK)
Begins streaming Friday, November 5
The third series of this riveting crime drama opens with a cataclysmic event which reverberates throughout the next eight episodes of the series. Fifty-five souls are lost to a terrible locomotive disaster, with the wreckage landing right in the lap of ‘H’ Division – on Leman Street itself. From the twisted debris of the crash emerge clues that uncover long hidden deceits. These crimes threaten not only to destroy Reid’s (Matthew Macfadyen, Pride & Prejudice) iron grip on ‘H’ Division, but to unravel his fragile psyche too. The personal damage to Reid is profound and there is no limit to what he will do to avenge his own, deep-seated grief.
- BRITANNIA Season 3 (8×60, Drama, Amazon Studios, UK)
Begins streaming Friday, November 19
The series continues to follow Cait (Eleanor Worthington-Cox, Maleficent) and her search for the true purpose in her life, after a traumatic ending to her relationship at the end of Series 2. Despite a difficult encounter with Veran (Mackenzie Crook, Pirates of the Caribbean), Cait chooses to return to the Druids to face up to her actions. With encouragement from Veran, Cait takes up a perilous path, but struggles with her newly given responsibility.
- CALL THE MIDWIFE Season 9 (8×50, Drama, Neal Street Productions, USA)
Begins streaming Friday, November 19
The medics and midwives of Nonnatus House are entering a bold and innovative era. They face unexpected challenges as the population shifts, rules change, and old diseases come back to haunt them. Meanwhile, their own experiences are fueled by love, loss, and doubt. And the very future of Nonnatus House comes under threat.
- REYKA (8×60, Drama, Quizzical Pictures, South Africa)
Begins streaming Friday, November 26
The daughter of a multiracial couple is kidnapped in South Africa in 1994. She escapes and as an adult becomes a detective. Continuing to deal with her past trauma, Reyka Gama (Kim Engelbrecht, Dominion) uses her skills to raise her child and solve mysteries that have challenged others.
- THIS TIME WITH ALAN PARTRIDGE Season 2 (6×30, Comedy, Baby Cow, UK)
Begins streaming Friday, November 26
In a spoof of current affairs programmes, actor Steve Coogan (The Trip) reprises the character first introduced to BBC audiences 25 years ago. Due to the sudden illness of its regular host, “The Show” welcomes Alan Partridge as its guest presenter. Spreading his usual mix of banality and wincingly tasteless comments, Alan tries to keep proceedings ticking along while everything around him crumbles.
- ON THE SPECTRUM (10×30, Drama, Sumayoko, Israel)
Begins streaming Friday, November 26
Three mid-late twenty-year-old roommates, all on the autism spectrum, share a sheltered apartment, learning to cope with the world around them. ON THE SPECTRUM allows glimpses into the intricate lives of young autistic adults and offers their unique view and interpretation of day-to-day life.
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CBC MUSIC
- THE INTRO season 2 (CBC Music)
Begins streaming Wednesday, November 10 with new episodes bi-weekly
Music talk show THE INTRO is bringing Canada’s best emerging artists to the forefront for season two — complete with a brand new in-studio look, host and batch of artists. Hosted by CBC Music’s Jess Huddleston, this series showcases talented artists across the country from all genres. Each episode highlights one band or artist and includes a live performance and enlightening conversation about the music.
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CBC ARTS
- THE 2021 GOVERNOR GENERAL’S PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS (1×60, CBC/Radio-Canada, National Arts Centre, Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation & Vérité Films)
Begins streaming on Friday, November 26 at 7 p.m. ET. *also streaming on ICI TOU.TV; and broadcast on CBC TV and ICI TÉLÉ
Celebrating the extraordinary achievements of some of Canada’s greatest artists, THE 2021 GOVERNOR GENERAL’S PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS will feature moving tributes, exciting performances and music by the National Arts Centre Orchestra. The special will celebrate the 2021 laureates of Canada’s highest honour in the performing arts. The laureates for Lifetime Achievement include Tantoo Cardinal, Alexina Louie, Zab Maboungou, Catherine O’Hara and Florent Vollant. The recipient of the National Arts Awards is the actor, producer, screenwriter, entrepreneur and activist Ryan Reynolds. The recipient of the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts is Lynda Hamilton.
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HOLIDAY
- CALL THE MIDWIFE Season 2 Christmas Special (2×45, Neal Street Productions, 2013)
Begins streaming Friday, November 12
Nonnatus House is alive with preparations for Christmas. Chummy (Miranda Hart, Spy) is arranging a nativity play with the Cub Scouts, Jenny (Jessica Raine, An Adventure in Space and Time) is faced with a difficult case, and a young girl’s predicament leads to a big decision.
- A CHRISTMAS WISH IN HUDSON (1×90, Sappy Films, USA, 2021)
Begins streaming Friday, November 26
Lori (Alex Rinehart, Seven Deadly Sins) really needs a break for Christmas. When she sees Patrick Jacobs (Rib Hillis, Sins and Seduction), a widowed firefighter from Hudson, Wisconsin on a reality cooking show, she feels a strong attraction and decides to take a shot at love, but she’s not the only one.
- MY BEST FRIEND’S CHRISTMAS (1×90, The Ninth House, USA, 2019)
Begins streaming Friday, November 26
Ashley (Breanne Parhiala, Rampage) is returning home for Christmas because her cousin Bella (Masiela Lusha, Forgotten Evil) has big news: she’s getting engaged to Grant (Tanner Novlan, Modern Family), Ashley’s high school sweetheart. Ashley, who still secretly loves Grant all these years later, is both happy for her cousin and quietly devastated to hear the news. Not wanting to come between Bella and Grant, she calls her best friend Liam to pretend to be her boyfriend in hopes of protecting everyone’s feelings and saving the wedding. Now, what started out as a ruse is suddenly becoming something much more, as Ashley discovers her best friend is the man she’s been in love with all along.
- THE GREAT CHRISTMAS BAKING SHOW (1×60, Love Productions, UK, 2020)
Begins streaming Friday, November 26
Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith and Matt Lucas are joined by the Baking Show: The Professionals host Tom Allen as they celebrate Christmas in the famous white tent. Also invited to the celebrations are Jamie and Rosie from 2019, Ruby from 2018 and James from 2017, all back and ready to battle in the festive fight for the Christmas Star Baker title. They’ll round off Christmas with popstar Alexandra Burke as she performs her magical version of “Silent Night”.
- A VERY ROYAL CHRISTMAS: SECRETS OF SANDRINGHAM (1×60, Channel 4, UK, 2020)
Begins streaming Tuesday, November 30
A look at how the royal family celebrate Christmas Day at the Queen’s country estate in Norfolk, combining archive footage with interviews from royal insiders and former staff. They discuss the garish gifts, classy celebrations and historical traditions, as well as why Monopoly has been banned from royal Christmases for more than a decade.
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FEATURE FILMS
- BROTHERHOOD (1×90, Drama, directed by Richard Bell, Canada, 2019)
Begins streaming Friday, November 5
BROTHERHOOD is based on the true story of 11 teenagers who lost their lives in a sudden summer storm on Balsam Lake in July 1926. One summer, a band of teenage boys arrive at Long Point Camp on Balsam Lake for the adventure of their lives. In the afternoon of July 20, 13 of them and two directors (both First World War veterans) set out in a 30-foot war canoe to gather supplies in Coboconk. When their canoe capsizes in a freak summer storm, their holiday descends into a soul-shuddering fight for survival and tests their brotherhood.
- STEALING SCHOOL (1×90, Comedy/Drama, directed by Li Dong, Canada, 2019)
Begins streaming Friday, November 12
A week before her college graduation, April Chen (Celine Tsai, Ready or Not), a Chinese-Canadian tech prodigy, is accused of plagiarism by an unrelenting teaching assistant and must fight to prove her innocence in a secret trial held before an academic tribunal.
- PORCUPINE LAKE (1×84, Drama, directed by Ingrid Veninger, Canada, 2016)
Begins streaming Friday, November 19
PORCUPINE LAKE is a story of bravery and the secret life of girls set in Northern Ontario during a hot and hazy summertime when adulthood has not yet arrived, but childhood is quickly vanishing.
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CANADIAN DRAMA
- GLORY ENOUGH FOR ALL (2×100, Drama, Gemstone Productions, Canada, 1988)
Begins streaming Friday, November 5
GLORY ENOUGH FOR ALL is a remarkable Canadian success story. In the era before miracle drugs, a young doctor wanted to defeat the death sentence that diabetes inflicted on children. But in 1921 the discovery of insulin was only a dream. Dr. Fred Banting and his small team then set out to find the world’s first miracle cure, and millions of lives were saved. This 1987 CBC mini-series has been added to CBC Gem in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin.
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DOCUMENTARY
- THE FENCE (1×90, directed by Viveka Melki, Canada, 2020)
Begins streaming Friday, November 5
Beginning in December 1941, 1,975 Canadians suffered one of the longest incarcerations in the Second World War, imprisoned for nearly four years within Japanese POW camps in Hong Kong and Japan. George Macdonell and George Peterson, two of the last surviving Canadian veterans of this war-time experience, witnessed the atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial Army inside the barbed wire enclosure. On the other side of the fence is 10-year-old Luba Estes, a WhiteRussian who lives stateless in Hong Kong. She walks the fence line to see her father, imprisoned inside Sham Shui Po alongside the Canadians. Reflecting on this history is Hong Kong Historian Dr. Chi Man Kwong. THE FENCE is about what remains in between remembered and witnessed.
- THE DISSIDENT (1×90, directed by Bryan Fogel, USA, 2020)
Begins streaming Friday, November 5
The Passionate Eye, Canadian premiere, exclusively on Gem
From Academy Award-Winning director Bryan Fogel (Icarus), THE DISSIDENT is a critically acclaimed edge-of-your-seat, adrenaline-filled thriller that plays out at the highest levels of power, exposing the labyrinth of deceit behind the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
- THE OXY KINGPINS (1×90, directed by Nick August-Perna, USA, 2021)
Begins streaming Friday, November 12
The Passionate Eye, Canadian premiere, exclusively on Gem
THE OXY KINGPINS covers the untold story of how a network of pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and retailers worked together to orchestrate and perpetuate the opioid crisis that has killed more than half a million people in America. America’s opioid epidemic has also resulted in jail time for thousands of drug dealers, hundreds of pharmacists, and yet not a single executive from the pharmaceutical corporations truly responsible. Brendan Fitzgerald’s (VICE) fast-moving documentary THE OXY KINGPINS argues that the crisis was less an unavoidable tragedy than a rigged game at the behest of the wealthy elite.
- A LIFE IN TEN PICTURES (6×60, produced by Matt Hill, UK, 2021)
Begins streaming Friday, November 19
Ten photographs are taken from the lives of the world’s most beloved icons. What do these images reveal? And what secrets do they hide? In self-contained episodes, the series gets under the skin of Freddie Mercury, Muhammad Ali, Amy Winehouse, Elizabeth Taylor, John Lennon and Tupac Shakur. These are stories of real people becoming themselves, full of messiness and contradiction – revealed through forensic storytelling and intimate interviews with the people who knew them, whether for life or just one intense afternoon.
- KOTO: THE LAST SERVICE (1×15, directed by Joella Cabalu, 2021)
Begins streaming Wednesday, November 24
After nearly 40 years, the family-run Koto Japanese Restaurant in Campbell River is closing down. Set during its final business days, Joella Cabalu’s (It Runs in the Family) film is a meditation on graceful goodbyes and the legacy of investing care and attention in relationships through sushi.
- STEPHEN LEWIS: THE MAN WHO COULDN’T SEE (1×60, CBC, Canada, 2006)
Begins streaming Friday, November 26
On December 31st, 2006, Stephen Lewis’s tenure as UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa came to an end. For five and a half years, he crisscrossed Africa and the world at breakneck speed. His crammed schedule has included endless speeches and high-level meetings with presidents, UN officials and anyone who will listen to his impassioned pleas for Africa. He’s made countless visits to grassroots projects: they give him hope but also disturb him most deeply because the spectre of death is still everywhere.
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LIFESTYLE
- WRITE AROUND THE WORLD (3×60, Storyvault Films, UK)
Begins streaming Friday, November 26
Actor and book and travel lover Richard E Grant (Withnail and I, Loki) takes three journeys across southern France, southern Spain and southern Italy, following in the footsteps of great authors whose work was inspired by the culture and history of the places he visits.
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SPORTS
- OLYMPIC CHANNEL: ROAD TO BEIJING
Streaming throughout November
In anticipation of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, The OLYMPIC CHANNEL will be showcasing Team Canada’s most memorable moments from past Games including Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, and PyeongChang 2018 as well as original winter athlete and sport features. Viewers can relive Canada’s men’s and women’s most memorable hockey moments including Sidney Crosby’s ‘Golden Goal’ in Vancouver, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir’s electric figure skating routines, Alex Bilodeau’s dominant downhill ski performance in Sochi, and more.
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THE BEST OF CBC
- Past and current seasons of CBC series including BURDEN OF TRUTH, THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW, FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES, HEARTLAND, MURDOCH MYSTERIES, STILL STANDING, TALLBOYZ, KIM’S CONVENIENCE, BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOW, and SCHITT’S CREEK; and classic CBC hits like BEING ERICA.
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COMING IN DECEMBER
- Escape to the Chateau DIY S4
- The Chef