BBC America January Highlights: Jamie's American Road Trip, Absolutely Fab

BBC AMERICA JANUARY HIGHLIGHTS

JAMIE'S AMERICAN ROAD TRIP - US PREMIERE

America is a diverse country. In the nation's many contrasts, Jamie Oliver found an opportunity for the ultimate food trip - a chance to explore places, ingredients, food culture and traditions. With the intent of unearthing the heart of great American food, getting past the junk and super-sized portions, he set out on what he knew would be an inspiring trip. Jamie's instincts were right on... from New York to New Orleans, the dynamism of Los Angeles to the big skies of Wyoming, he found what he was looking for - some of the most diverse and delicious recipes he has ever come across. Jamie's American Road Trip premieres on Tuesday, January 3, 10:00pm ET/PT.

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS 20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL - US PREMIERE

Twenty years ago the world was introduced to Edina, Patsy, Saffron, Bubble and Mother. Since then, it has never been quite the same. As outrageous, scandalous, raucous and fashion-addicted as always, the ladies are back and it's going to be fabulous darling. In the first of three new episodes written by and starring Jennifer Saunders, with Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, Jane Horrocks and June Whitfield, there's an awful lot of catching up to do. First of all there's a homecoming for one of them who's been 'away' for quite some time. She arrives at the Monsoon household with a new - slightly scary - best friend. Her presence could be either a blessing or a disaster, raising questions of identity that could even involve a certain person owning up to her real age ... if she can remember it. Warning: A Royal Wedding is re-enacted by Bubble. The Absolutely Fabulous 20th Anniversary Special premieres Sunday, January 8, 10:00pm ET/PT.

THE FADES - US PREMIERE

The Fades, a smart new coming of age fantasy drama from writer Jack Thorne (This is England '86, Skins, Shameless), earned critical acclaim in the UK and is now set to premiere in the US on Supernatural Saturday. Seventeen-year old geek Paul (Iain De Caestecker, Young Herriot) is haunted by apocalyptic dreams that his therapist can't explain. Neither can best friend and fellow social outcast, Mac (Daniel Kaluuya, Johnny English Reborn, Psychoville, Skins), or unsympathetic and much cooler twin sister, Anna (Lily Loveless, Skins). To make matters worse, Paul has started seeing the spirits of the dead (known as Fades) all around him. Now an embittered and vengeful Fade has found a way to break the barrier between the dead and the living, and Paul, Mac and their loved ones are all in the eye of the storm. Soon the fate of humanity rests in the hands of the two teenage friends, who already have enough trouble getting through the day in one piece, let alone saving the world. Natalie Dormer (The Tudors, Captain America: The First Avenger), Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones, Skins), Tom Ellis (Miranda, Merlin), Sophie Wu (Kick-Ass) and Johnny Harris (This is England '86, Spartacus) also star in the series. The Fades premieres on Saturday, January 14, 9:00pm ET/PT as part of BBC AMERICA's Supernatural Saturday.

THE NERDIST - WORLD PREMIERE

In the second of five on-air specials, Chris Hardwick and his crack team of nerd experts are back to review all things nerd, with a special emphasis on horror, to coincide with BBC AMERICA's new coming of age fantasy drama The Fades. The special will feature interviews with The Fades cast member Lily Loveless (Skins), as well as English Musician/Composer Thomas Dolby in London, and special in-house appearances from Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) and Alison Brie (Community, Mad Men). The Nerdist premieres Saturday, January 14, 10:00pm ET/PT, following the series premiere of The Fades.

MADONNA ON THE Graham Norton SHOW - US PREMIERE

Graham Norton's dream guest Madonna will make a rare talk show appearance and her first on The Graham Norton Show. Madonna will join her two lead actors Andrea Riseborough and James D'Arcy to chat to Graham about W.E., the romantic drama that she's directed focusing on the affair between King Edward VIII and American divorc?e Wallis Simpson. Madonna makes her first appearance on The Graham Norton Show on Saturday, January 14, 10:30pm ET/PT as part of the Ministry of Laughs comedy block.

DRAMAVILLE

MISTRESSES - SEASON 3 - US PREMIERE

Shelley Conn (Terra Nova), Orla Brady (Fringe), Sharon Small (About a Boy) and Sarah Parish (The Pillars of the Earth) return in the third and final season of the sexy and sophisticated drama Mistresses. It's been a while since viewers last saw the girls and a lot has changed. The critically acclaimed drama opens as Katie calls the girls together having not seen each other for five months, before slipping back into the past to reveal what happened. When one of the girls reveals a secret, will they realize they're better off with than without each other? Ahead of the Season 3 premiere, BBC AMERICA will run a fan catch-up Mistresses Marathon of Seasons 1 and 2 on Sunday, January 15 from 9:00am-8:00pm ET/PT. Mistresses Season 3 premieres Wednesday, January 18, 10:00pm ET/PT as part of BBC AMERICA's Dramaville.

STUNTS

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS HANGOVER HELPER

Nurse that New Year hangover with Britain's most fabulous authorities on drinking in this all-day marathon of Absolutely Fabulous. The marathon features every episode, every hilarious moment and everything fabulous. Absolutely Fabulous airs Sunday, January 1, 7:20am to Monday, January 2, 6:00am ET/PT.

BBC AMERICA NEW YEAR MARATHONS

Ring in the New Year with these marathons - a look back on some old favorites and a chance to get up-to-speed before the return of Mistresses and season 4 of The Tudors. Spend a Sunday with the girls from Mistresses and relive all of the scandals and secrets of Seasons 1 & 2 before the highly anticipated premiere of Season 3. Catch up on The Tudors before the premiere of Season 4 - the final chapter in this epic series. Plus...Gordon's greatest/most-furious moments and the most controversial season of Battlestar Galactica from the beginning. BBC AMERICA's 2012 marathons begin on Monday, January 2, 8:00am ET/PT and continue through Sunday, January 22.

Monday, January 2: Top Gear (8:00am-5:00am)

Tuesday, January 3: Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (8:00am-10:00pm)

Saturday, January 7: Top Gear (6:00am-3:00pm)

Sunday, January 8: The Tudors (2:00pm-10:00pm)

Wednesday, January 11: The Tudors (1:00pm-9:00pm)

Saturday, January 14: Battlestar Galactica (5:00am-9:00pm)

Sunday, January 15: Mistresses (9:00am-8:00pm)

Monday, January 16: Top Gear (8:00am-5:00am)

Sunday, January 22: Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (11:00am-6:00am)

ONGOING PREMIERES

Other series that will continue to premiere new episodes during January include:

Wednesdays: The Tudors, State of Play

Saturdays: Battlestar Galactica, The Graham Norton Show, Would You Rather...? with Graham Norton

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