BBC AMERICA - DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

IT'S A HAPPY HOLIDAY FOR DOCTOR WHO FANS WITH THE U.S. PREMIERE OF THE FINAL SPECIALS STARRING DAVID TENNANT

DOCTOR WHO: THE WATERS OF MARS � U.S. PREMIERE

Television's longest running science fiction series, shot in HD, has just three episodes to go before a new Doctor arrives on screen next year. The next special, Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars stars Tennant and British stage and screen actress Lindsay Duncan (Rome, Langford) as Adelaide, his cleverest and most strong-minded companion.

"Mars, 2059. Bowie Base one. Last recorded message: don�t drink the water. Don�t even touch it. Not one drop." All will be revealed as the Doctor and Adelaide face terror on the Red Planet in one of the scariest adventures yet. Peter O'Brien (Casualty, Neighbours) guest stars as Ed, Adelaide's second-in-command at the base.

Tune-in an hour before the premiere of The Waters of Mars for an exclusive one-hour special chronicling David Tennant's time in the TARDIS, exclusive interview footage and clips and get a sneak peek at what the final series of specials holds in store for David as the tenth Doctor. And after the premiere of The Waters of Mars catch a special episode of The Graham Norton Show featuring clips of David Tennant on Graham's infamous couch.

The remaining episodes, starring Tennant, will air over the holiday season as a two-part special. Airdates will be announced in early December.

Doctor Who Special premieres Saturday, December 19, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars premieres Saturday, December 19, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

The Graham Norton Show Doctor Who Special premieres Saturday, December 19, 10:30 p.m. ET/PT

BRITAIN'S MISSING TOP MODEL � U.S. PREMIERE

Eight beautiful models, seven challenges, one incredible prize. However, this is not the average model show. These models are disabled � one lost her right arm in a bus accident, another is paralyzed from the chest down confined to a wheelchair and another is an all-American girl who suffered severe fractures and a traumatic brain injury from a car accident. Is the modeling world ready to open its books to one of them? These beautiful women defy all odds as they plan to break down barriers and open closed doors in the exclusive fashion industry. The aspiring models live in a penthouse together and face challenges in this ultimate model competition until one by one they're eliminated and the winner is featured in Marie Claire. The challenges include modeling lingerie in the window of a busy high street store, walking the catwalk, shooting a commercial and a photo shoot which pushes the models to their limits physically and emotionally.

Britain's Missing Top Model premieres Tuesday, December 1, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

RAMSAY'S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES SEASON 5 � U.S. PREMIERE

BAFTA and International Emmy award-winning Gordon Ramsay is back with a new season taking on two struggling ventures, both on the brink of collapse. With soaring food prices, thrifty clientele and unrelenting competition, he's determined to galvanize the owners, the staff and the local community to ensure their survival and keep customers coming back for more. But this time it's the diners he's reaching out to, encouraging the man on the street to put his money where his hungry mouth is. He also passes on tips to restaurant owners on how best to cope with the credit crunch.

Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares premieres Wednesday, December 2, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

RAMSAY'S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES USA SEASON 2 � CABLE PREMIERE

In Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares U.S.A., Ramsay once again exposes the harsh reality of running a restaurant but on this side of the pond. With his trademark mix of abrasive tell-it-like-it-is straight talking and inspirational leadership, he helps revamp restaurants in the Midwest, New York and California. Expect to see some familiar faces as Ramsay checks in with some of his past restaurateurs.

Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA premieres Wednesday, December 16, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

BBC AMERICA Reveals has all-new U.S. premiere documentaries every Thursday in December:

THE TRUTH ABOUT BINGE DRINKING � U.S. PREMIERE

British pop star Michelle Heaton takes an investigative look into the room-spinning, perception-altering world of binge drinking, which affects everyone from college to underage kids from desperate housewives to young professionals. Michelle is the guinea pig as she sets out to expose the dangers of binge drinking, the damage it does to mental and physical health and where the line is from having just a few drinks to binge drinking. She uncovers the truth behind binge statistics, meets people who are victims of this cultural phenomenon, talks to other role models who have fallen on and off the wagon and sees how her own life is effected during a 30 day experiment where she consumes a minimum of 60 drinks per week.

The Truth About Binge Drinking premieres Thursday, December 3, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

PEDIGREE DOGS EXPOSED � U.S. PREMIERE

In a controversial UK documentary that divided the British dog world, the practices and methods for breeding pedigree dogs are exposed with heartbreaking stories. A pug gasps for breath because his face is too flat, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel writhes in agony because of a brain condition and a distraught owner holds his beloved boxer who is fitting uncontrollably. The fallout from this documentary led to the BBC dropping its coverage of Crufts, the UK's equivalent of the Westminster Show. This documentary examines how many breeds have been so exaggerated they're unrecognizable from the fit and functional animals of a century ago. With international perspectives and testimony from top experts including The British Kennel Club, Pedigree Dogs Exposed unravels the historical, social and cultural reasons why purebred dogs today are in so much trouble.

Pedigree Dogs Exposed premieres Thursday, December 10, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

THE TRUTH ABOUT ONLINE ANOREXIA � U.S. PREMIERE

British TV and radio personality, Fearne Cotton, examines the ongoing trend for super-slim women and immerses herself in the worrying world of 'pro-ana' websites that encourage anorexia and starvation as a life choice. As Fearne explores the diet and exercise regime of a 'pro-ana', she tests some of the extreme regimes they endorse and meets other girls who've embraced the same lifestyle. She explores the seductive nature of these 'support' groups, examines the world of competitive dieting and looks at relationships ordinary women have with each other when it comes to diet and body image.

The Truth About Online Anorexia premieres Thursday, December 17, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

TOP GEAR POLAR SPECIAL � U.S. PREMIERE

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are back with a special episode just in time for winter. It's the ultimate test of man against machine � or should that be dog against machine � as the boys set out on their most ambitious and arduous challenge to date. It's an epic land race starting in the town of Resolute, Northern Canada finishing 450 miles later at the magnetic North Pole as the team race their vehicles of choice across the tough terrain. Jeremy and James drive a specially converted car made by an Icelandic engineering team whose achievements include the first crossing of the Greenland Ice Cap by car and Richard travels by a sled pulled by a team of 10 Canadian Inuit dogs with his companion Matty McNair, an experienced explorer with telepathic understanding of her dogs. Pitting dog power against horse power and the nature of the terrain, there's no telling who will make it to the pole first.

Top Gear Polar Special premieres Monday, December 21, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW NEW YEAR'S EVE SPECIAL � U.S. PREMIERE

The countdown to the New Year starts on BBC AMERICA with an all-new The Graham Norton Show New Year's Eve Special. Graham is ringing in the New Year with some of Hollywood's and Britain's hottest A-list celebrities, with his one-of-a-kind style and outrageous antics.

The Graham Norton Show New Year's Eve Special premieres December 31, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

MOVIES

THE GREAT ESCAPE � BBC AMERICA PREMIERE

This classic '60's film starring Steve McQueen, James Garner and Richard Attenborough is the story of the escape of Allied POW's from a German POW camp during World War II. The film was based on the novel and true story of a mass escape from a POW camp during WW II.

The Great Escape premieres Sunday, December 27, 7:00 p.m. ET/PT

STUNTS

REVEALING SUNDAY

Take a look back at past BBC AMERICA Reveals from women addicted to cosmetic surgery to others consumed by binge drinking to the highs and lows of smoking marijuana.

Revealing Sunday airs Sunday, December 6, starting at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT

DOCTOR WHO SUNDAY

It's a Who-marathon of some of the best Doctor Who episodes, including all of the most recent specials, Doctor Who: The Next Doctor and Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead leading up to the U.S. premiere of Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars.

Doctor Who Sunday airs Sunday, December 13, starting at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT

ABFAB EARLY NEW YEAR'S EVE

Eddie and Patsy are starting the New Year's Eve celebration early by popping open a bottle or two of champagne and getting a head start on the festivities with a six episode marathon featuring the wildest most hilarious Ab Fab moments.

AbFab Early New Year's Eve airs Sunday December 27, starting at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT

BBC WORLD NEWS AMERICA HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Please note that BBC World News America will not air from Thursday, December 24 through Friday, January 1. At 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, BBC AMERICA will carry a half-hour BBC World News program, followed by various programming at 7:30 .pm. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT

ONGOING PREMIERES

Other series that continue to premiere new episodes in December include:

Wednesdays: Mary Queen of Shops

Fridays: Friday Night with Jonathan Ross

Saturdays: Robin Hood, The Graham Norton Show

BBC AMERICA brings audiences a new generation of award-winning television featuring news with a uniquely global perspective, provocative dramas, razor-sharp comedies, life-changing makeovers and a whole new world of nonfiction. BBC AMERICA pushes the boundaries to deliver high quality, highly addictive and eminently watchable programming to viewers who demand more. BBC AMERICA is distributed by Discovery Networks. It is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 65 million homes.