Ludwig is getting a one-hour Christmas special on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this December. The producer, Big Talk Studios, announced it on September 2, 2026. Sir David Suchet, television’s long-running Hercule Poirot, guest-stars as one of the suspects.
For U.S. viewers: no American date has been announced yet. BritBox is a co-producer of the series, and Ludwig’s U.S. home is BritBox, so that’s where the special is most likely to appear. Until BritBox confirms it, that’s an expectation, not a listing.
The story
The special is set in Yorkshire. John “Ludwig” Taylor, his sister-in-law Lucy and her son Henry check into a remote, Christmas-themed hotel for a break. A blackout turns the stay into a locked-room murder mystery. Then a blizzard cuts the hotel off, so the guests are stuck overnight with a killer among them. The killer has to be found before Christmas.
Cast
Returning from the series:
- David Mitchell as John “Ludwig” Taylor
- Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor
- Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor
- Dipo Ola as DCI Russell Carter
Guest cast: Sir David Suchet, Jason Flemyng, Joe Wilkinson, Cathy Tyson, Alexandra Roach, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Rebekah Staton, Claire Price, Ariella Glaser and George Rainsford.
Mark Brotherhood wrote the special and Chris Foggin directed it. Big Talk Studios and That Mitchell and Webb Company made it, with BritBox and ZDF as co-producers.
When does it air?
- U.K.: Christmas 2026 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The BBC hasn’t announced the exact date and time yet.
- U.S.: Not announced. We’ll add the BritBox date to the Ludwig page when it’s confirmed.
Catch up first: season 2 on BritBox
Season 2 starts on BritBox in the U.S. on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Its six episodes are released weekly. If BritBox keeps to one a week, the finale arrives on November 17. That date is our projection, not a published listing. Season 1 is already on BritBox. Our Ludwig hub has the full schedule.
Season 2 is the most recent run before the special.
Is there a season 3?
Yes. Big Talk Studios says series 3 is in production. There’s no U.K. or U.S. date yet.
Quick answers
Is the Ludwig Christmas special on PBS? No PBS broadcast has been announced. Ludwig streams on BritBox in the U.S.
How long is the special? One hour (a single 60-minute episode).
Who does David Suchet play? The announcement says only that he plays a murder suspect. His character’s name hasn’t been released.
Sources
Found an error? Report a correction. We update dates as broadcasters change them.
