BBC Radio has today announced its on-air highlights for the festive period.
Bob Shennan, BBC Director of Radio & Music said: “This Christmas BBC Radio will offer an unrivalled collection of programmes featuring the finest DJs, musicians and actors. Across our stations teams have curated brilliant schedules with world-class talent– all of which are available on BBC Sounds.”
Popular Music Radio
· Take That share memories of 30 years in the band and the music that has accompanied them on their journey on Radio 2
· BBC Radio 6 Music welcomes three Wise Women to the airwaves this Christmas: Diane Morgan, Courtney Barnett and Zawe Ashton
· Scott Mills reveals the Official Christmas Number 1 on The Official Chart on Radio 1
· Radio 2’s Jo Whiley chats to three very special guests: Margot Robbie, Jodie Whittaker and Noel Fielding
· DJ Target hosts a New Year’s Eve House Party to ring in 2019 on 1Xtra
· Annie Mac presents the long list for BBC Music’s Sound of 2019 on Radio 1
· Comedian Matt Lucas hosts a live Christmas Day celebration, joined by celebrity friends, listeners and his mum on Radio 2
· Iggy Pop, Cillian Murphy and Nadine Shah present Christmas shows on 6Music
BBC Radio 3 & BBC Orchestras and Choirs
· Into the Forest season on Radio 3, featuring the next Slow Radio walk with Horatio Clare
· Sean Rafferty is At Home with Bryn Terfel and Renée Fleming on Radio 3
· Stephen Dillane stars in Sea Longing, a drama with music composed by Radiohead drummer Philip Selway
· Throughout Christmas week, Radio 3’s Late Junction is guest presented by comedian Stewart Lee
· Christmas offerings from the BBC Orchestras & Choirs including Sofi Jeannin conducting the BBC Singers and the Academy of Ancient Music in J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and BBC National Orchestra of Wales performing Handel’s Messiah
· The world premiere of Craig Charles’ Scary Fairy Saves Christmas with the BBC Philharmonic and conductor Clark Rundell, recorded for Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night
BBC Radio 4, 4 Extra and 5 Live
· Diana Rigg, Derek Jacobi and Natalie Dormer star in an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology on Radio 4. Gaiman also appears on With Great Pleasure at Christmas this December
· Today Programme Guest Editors, which includes Angelina Jolie, David Dimbleby and Outer Space, explore a range of subjects as they take the helm throughout the festive period.
· The Archers performs Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales on Radio 4, directed by Ambridge’s own Lynda Snell
· Michael Palin, Jim Moir, Toby Jones, Gina McKee and Monica Dolan star in Ian Martin’s comedy-drama The Hartlepool Spy on Radio 4
· A radical new imagining of Charles’ Dickens classic Little Dorrit with Graeae Theatre Company for Radio 4
· Peter Crouch presents a Christmas special of the Peter Crouch Podcast on 5 Live and Greg James, James Anderson and Felix White present Tailenders Live
· Laura Whitmore explores faith and religion in What to Believe on 5 Live
· Comedian Russell Kane hosts a fun packed Christmas morning on 5 Live
