ABC2's blog

8:30pm – Thursday, January 3 on ABC2

A new comedy series with a modern British take on boy meets girl…

Meet Jamie Prince, 16 (Sean Michael Verey – Skins, Casualty, The Bill), and Laura Derbyshire, 18 (Scarlett Alice Johnson – EastEnders, Adulthood).

Jamie has just finished his exams and his carefree summer is off to a great start. With his best friend, Virgin Mike (Dylan Edwards – Misfits, Peep Show), Jamie crashes a sixth form party and hooks up with an older woman, Laura, who is also looking for some uncomplicated fun.

Laura only got to the party on a whim after a vino and an argument with her mother (Anna Chancellor – St Trinians, Four Weddings and a Funeral) and father (Angus Deayton – One Foot in the Grave, Nighty Night).

Thanks to a combination of post-exam euphoria, too many drinks and an available bedroom, Jamie and Laura soon find they have one big complication on their hands. And it’s only going to get bigger…

9:30pm – Wednesday, January 2 on ABC2

This is the amazing story of a remarkable couple whose love is tested to the very edge of life. Kirstie is 21 years old, born with cystic fibrosis and has always known that her life would be short. In March 2011 she was put onto the transplant waiting list, having been told that she had endstage lung disease and could be dead within six months.

This film follows Kirstie’s extraordinary experience of living on the transplant list, the fear and uncertainty, the realities of having constant pain, taking endless medications, relying on oxygen machines 24 hours a day to breathe – and doing all of this while planning for her wedding.

It follows Kirstie being rushed to hospital three days before the wedding, and then bravely making it down the aisle through sheer willpower and determination. As her condition becomes more critical and the chance of a lifesaving lung transplant seems more remote, we follow Kirstie’s husband Stuart facing the very real possibility of his new wife dying – after being married for just three weeks.

8:30pm – Wednesday, January 2 on ABC2

Seven Dwarves returns to our screens one year on. The housemates are back together for Max and Karen’s wedding and we find out what they’ve been doing since they lived together.

We learn about Jamie John’s drag act and Craig’s Hollywood movie, while Ryan and Laura have some good news of their own. Meanwhile, wedding plans are not running smoothly. Max is feeling the fear of both the lifetime commitment he’s making and the impending stag day parachute jump he’s planned, leaving Karen struggling with the ceremony arrangements and her specially-made dress.

The film charts the ups and downs of their stormy relationship in intimate detail as the wedding day approaches, with Max losing sleep and Karen turning into Bridezilla as the pressure mounts.

The cameras capture the emotions and excitement on the day itself; can Max and Karen pull off the wedding of the year? With their tempestuous relationship pushed to the limit will they even make it down the aisle?

8:40pm – Tuesday, January 1 on ABC2

How long could you survive alone in the wilderness? Some well-known faces from sport and TV find out, doing battle with the elements – and their fears…

This nail-biting series sees eight personalities surviving in some of the planet’s most perilous and remote locations. Each is left completely alone, with only a handheld camera to film their struggle. They must find water, food and shelter, and battle against the elements and local wildlife. Forced to confront their innermost fears, will they survive being Alone in the Wild.

In the first episode, the ultimate team player goes it alone… England’s cricket hero, Freddie Flintoff, is dropped in Botswana’s Okavango Delta to survive for seven nights, surrounded by dangerous wild animals. As night falls on the first day he is struggling; he can’t seem to get a fire going. But he keeps trying and eventually the flames and his spirits rise. After a close encounter with elephants, Freddie moves camp and starts feeling comfortable – until a terrifying nocturnal visit…

7:30pm – Tuesday, January 1 on ABC2

Video Killed the Radio Star presents Rock and Metal Alchemy featuring rock and metal’s solid gold and bringing you the stories behind the sexiest, outrageous and most gratuitous music videos as told by the artists and directors who created them.

Legendary directors Dave Mallett and Wayne Isham discuss films they produced for AC/DC, Queen, Guns N’ Roses’ and Black Sabbath. Artists including Guns N’ Roses’ Matt Sorum, Motley Crue’s Rick Savage, Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach and members of Judas Priest discuss their inspiration, including budgets and on-set experiences.

7:30pm – Sunday, December 30 on ABC2

Video Killed the Radio Star meets the divas and directors who together produced some of the most iconic music videos ever made. This episode reveals the untold stories of what really went on behind the scenes.

Artists including Mick Fleetwood, Kim Wilde and Bonny Tyler look back at the iconic videos of music’s greatest divas, including those of Tina Turner and Diana Ross.

6:00am – Sunday, December 23 on ABC2

ABC4Kids is the channel to watch this Christmas as preschoolers will enjoy a special holiday-themed line up of their favourite programs from Sunday, December 23.

The Play School Concert: Big Ted Prince of Bears (Sunday, December 23 at 9.30am) kicks off the Christmas period and is followed by the Giggle and Hoot Christmas Special (Sunday, December 23 at 10.15am) where preschoolers will enjoy watching Jimmy and Hoot getting ready two days out from Christmas.

The Gruffalo (Sunday, December 23 at 5.30pm) and The Gruffalo’s Child (Monday, December 24 at 5.30pm) return to ABC4Kids as well as The Octonauts Christmas Special (Monday, December 24 at 10am).

Additional Christmas-themed programs which preschoolers will love include Yo Gabba Gabba!, Mister Maker, Mike the Knight, Bananas in Pyjamas, Octonauts, Peppa Pig, Timmy Time, Thomas and Friends, Fireman Sam and much more.

And ABC4Kids also has a special gift for preschoolers – the Australian premiere of Peter Rabbit’s Christmas Special on Monday, December 24 at 3.45pm. Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail have been charming the children of the world for 110 years and star in this new half-hour Christmas Special.

For those families who are out and about on Christmas Day but still need to entertain the kids, key ABC4Kids Christmas-themed programs are available online from the ABC4Kids home page http://www.abc.net.au/abcforkids/video/ and on mobile devices and other ABC online services whenever and wherever you are.

8:30pm – Tuesday, December 25 on ABC2

Louis spends a strange Christmas with some of the more outrageous stars of his Weird Weekends series in Louis Theroux’s Weird Christmas.

Christian fundamentalist Randy James attempts to get to grips with porno star JJ Michaels’ daily routine. A man who lives in a hole, bearded Mike Oehler, tries to make it big as a folk singer, and Reverend Robert Short sticks to what he does best – contacting aliens and offering his body for them to communicate through…

8:30pm – Friday, December 28 on ABC2

Louis Theroux spends a week with 1980s showbiz couple and once the indisputable king and queen of British light entertainment – TV magician, Paul Daniels and wife, Debbie McGee.

Paul Daniels’ Magic Show enjoyed a 14-year run on British television from 1979 to 1993. Its star, Paul Daniels, combined magical expertise with well-timed quips. His assistant (and wife), Debbie McGee, was everything he was not – blonde, attractive and exceedingly glamorous. Together they made a seemingly perfect celebrity couple: in love, in the limelight and in demand.

But now the magic has faded. Paul has packed up his box of tricks and stepped out of the spotlight; and after 14 years in the shadows, it is Debbie’s turn for stardom, on her own terms. Debbie has decided she wants to fulfil her long-cherished ambition of creating her own ballet company, for which she will also be costume designer, dance choreographer, and instructor. Paul’s role is to pay for it!

9:35pm – Sunday, December 23 on ABC2

The critically acclaimed original comedy series Louie is filtered through the observational humour of Emmy Award-winning comedian Louis C.K.

From the inventive imagination of Louis C.K., Louie puts a spotlight on C.K.’s everyday ordeals, his quest to find love and his pursuit of humour.

Each episode features a scripted story and a mix of his stand-up comedy, which is original material for the series. The single-camera comedy is shot in New York.

The series debuted in June 2010 and was widely hailed by critics as one of the best new shows of the year.

Episode 6 Sunday December 23, 9:35pm Louie has two memorable experiences.

Episode 7 Monday December 24, 9:30pm Louie takes his daughters to visit his great aunt in the country. CAST: Louis C.K.

Episode 8 Tuesday December 25, 9:30pm Louie rides the subway, and hangs out with his friend Pamela. CAST: Louis C.K.

Episode 9 Wednesday December 26, 9:30pm Louie recalls his past career failures, and tries to get concert tickets for his daughter.

Episode 10 Thursday December 27, 9:30pm Louie reunites with an old friend.

Episode 11 Friday December 28, 9:30pm Louie’s niece visits. Louis C.K.

Episode 12 Friday December 28, 9:50pm Louie has an adventure in Afghanistan. (Part 1) Episode 13 Saturday December 29, 9:30pm Louie has an adventure in Afghanistan. (Part 2) Episode 14 Saturday December 29, 9:50pm Louie has an all-around bad time.