BBC Lifestyle Is Your Festive Co-Host This Season
The festive season is officially upon us. It’s the time for food, family, exploring new ideas, and making memories with the people we love. And this year, BBC Studios is stepping into the role of your festive co-host, bringing you a lineup of inspiring new shows to spark creativity in your kitchen, your gatherings, and even your travel dreams.
From discovering new spices and recipes to planning your next coastal move, BBC Lifestyle’s festive line-up is designed to help you host, dream, explore, and unwind.
Here are the new shows on this month that you need to watch!
If you’ve been daydreaming about a fresh start, a slower life by the sea, or just interesting in peaking into a multi-million Rand home, Listing Coastal (Mondays at 20:00) is the perfect festive escape. Follow families and property seekers as they explore South Africa’s most breathtaking coastal towns from serene retreats to luxury oceanfront homes. Whether you’re actively house-hunting or simply dreaming, this show gives you permission to imagine your next chapter. Watch the trailer here.
Popular names in the music scene and cousins, Big Zuu and AJ Tracey hit the road in Big Zuu & AJ Tracey: Rich Flavours (Tuesdays at 20:00) a bold, global food adventure as they taste some of the world’s most extravagant and expensive dishes across East Asia, North America, and Europe. From bizarre delicacies to luxury meals, the cousins bring humour, heart, and a love of discovery to every stop.
Whether you are in need for a new experience or fancy hosting a “travel-through-taste” night with your friends – pick a country, choose a dish, and recreate the adventure at home. Watch the trailer here.
Joanna Lumley takes viewers along one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating trade routes in Joanna Lumley’s Spice Trail Adventure (Thursdays at 20:00). From Indonesia to Zanzibar, India to Madagascar, she uncovers the rich history behind the spices we use every day. This series is a treat for cooks, travellers, and anyone curious about the stories behind the flavours that make festive meals special. This show will give you great spice restock ideas to help your spice cabinet make a new recipe using turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon or chilli — the staples of Lumley’s trail. Watch the trailer here.
The iconic cooking competition MasterChef Season 21 (Weekdays from 17 November at 19:00) returns with a new group of amateur chefs ready to impress. From mystery boxes to pressure tests, MasterChef brings drama, creativity, and major culinary inspiration perfect for anyone hosting this season. This festive period, try a “mini MasterChef challenge” at home with your family or friends.
The iconic home-building series Grand Designs Season 23 (Fridays from 21 November at 20:00) returns with extraordinary new builds, ambitious homeowners, and the unforgettable drama of turning impossible dream homes into reality. Whether you’re renovating, building, or simply fantasizing about your future space, Grand Designs offers endless creative inspiration. This show is perfect for viewers currently building or renovating binge an episode, sip something festive, and take notes for your next big home project.
Jamie Oliver returns with Jamie Oliver: Seasons (Autumn & Winter Specials) (Autumn: Tuesday, 9 December at 20:00 and Winter: Tuesday, 16 December at 20:00) – these two beautiful seasonal episodes celebrating fresh, comforting, festive food. From warm autumn pastas to hearty winter roasts and desserts, Jamie’s easy approach to seasonal cooking makes him the perfect co-host in your kitchen. Build your own “seasonal spread” for Friendsmas using Jamie’s ingredients comforting, colourful, and surprisingly simple.
This festive season, BBC is your festive co-host for food and family entertainment. Whether you’re hosting a lively dinner or settling in for a cosy night in, BBC Lifestyle (DStv Channel 174) has shows designed to inspire every moment.
For more information, visit the BBC Studios Africa website or follow on the social media pages:
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