By Andrew David
Christmas is seen as the season for giving and even though latest census figures show a decline in those claiming to be Christian, British TV and radio networks have some interesting gifts among the seasonal and faith-related fare.
So let’s start with what it’s all about — a family. Royal Carols: Together at Christmas is ITV’s centrepiece, a royal family carol service at Westminster Abbey hosted by Catherine, Princess of Wales. She is joined by King Charles and Queen Camilla, her husband William, Prince of Wales, and other members of the royal family, paying tribute to the life of Queen Elizabeth. The service, broadcast at 7pm on Christmas Eve, is part of a special programme reflecting service to the community by individuals, organisations and families across the UK. Other “Together at Christmas” community carol services will be taking place in tandem around the UK.
At midnight on Christmas Eve, presenter and singer Jane McDonald hosts Christmas Carols on ITV broadcast from St Elisabeth’s Church in Greater Manchester, featuring Brit and Mobo award winner Lemar, classical violinist Esther Abrami , the voice of Strictly, Tommy Blaize, and soprano Carly Paoli. Saturday 24 December, 11.40pm
So what can we expect from the bulging sack of Christmas delights from the BBC?
During Advent, Sally Phillips meets three household favourites, the Rev Richard Coles, Lemn Sissay and Shirley Ballas. You’ll hear about their lives, careers and faith as they reflect on how they’ve changed over the years. That’s My Life at Christmas, broadcast at different times on BBC1 in the next few weeks.
Helping to prepare the nation, from a worship perspective, BBC1 has a traditional celebration of The First Mass and Blessing of the Crib live from Blackburn Cathedral on Christmas Eve. Saturday 24 December, 11.45pm
And no Christmas would be complete without the perennial favourite, or quintessentially perfect Carols from King’s College, Cambridge directed by the director of music at King’s, Daniel Hyde, on BBC2 on Christmas Eve. Saturday 24 December, 6.45pm
To Christmas Day itself and Blackburn Cathedral features for a second time with a Christmas Morning Family Eucharist on BBC1 at 10am; and Aled Jones is on home territory with a Songs of Praise Christmas Day Special from Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, BBC1, 11am
The schedules have already had one member of the Strictly team on air this season and another brings Christmas Day to a close as Oti Mabuse reads the Story of the First Christmas according to the Gospel of St Luke. BBC1, 11.45pm
If a good singalong is what gets your season going, then Sky Arts offers in December The Nation’s Favourite Carols. The programme features English National Opera North’s choir and orchestra weaving their way through the carols voted by you, the public. You’re advised to look out for some famous faces who will be reflecting on their favourites.
And in a one-hour Sky Arts documentary, art critic Waldemar Januszczak decodes artists’ impressions of the nativity story in The Mystery of the Nativity, delving into their extraordinary visions with extraordinary meanings. Sky Arts, Tuesday 20 December, 8pm
So that’s television taken care of. Let’s move on to the senior service (after all, radio is celebrating its 100th birthday this year) and the Rev Kate Bottley is on BBC Radio 2 live on Christmas morning, from 7am, with suitably festive greetings and music; and later in the day, at 7pm, the irrepressible Mica Paris shares a Christmas inspired by gospel music, with an excellent playlist of carols and standards. BBC Radio 2, 7am
In the statelier surroundings of BBC Radio 3, the corporation’s centenary is celebrated with a specially commissioned work by the composer Paul Campbell based on the story of The Journey of the Magi. This is in collaboration with BBC Radio Ulster and Foyle. Radios Ulster Foyle and Radio 3, Christmas Eve, 23.03pm
And, of course, complementing the BBC TV offering, BBC Radio 4 has its own, and much longer-running Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (first broadcast in 1928) in the candlelit splendour of King’s College, Chapel, Cambridge. Christmas Eve, BBC Radio 4, 3pm
And on Christmas Day, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Michael Beasley, leads the Christmas service from Bath Abbey, on BBC Radio 4 at 7am
And, of course, there is much more programming across the BBC regions and BBC local radio, keen as always to knit communities together.
Throughout the festive period, BBC local radio will be celebrating the people who have won a BBC “Make a Difference” award for their efforts to help others in their communities. The initiative created a virtual notice board on air, for people offering and needing support. Their stories will be broadcast from 26 to 30 December between 9-10am and repeated in the evenings between 9-10pm
On Friday, 23 December, 10-11pm, Here Our Communities Sing is presented by BBC Radio Leeds presenter Sanchez Payne with carol singing from across all radio stations.
On Christmas Eve, Saturday 24 December, at midnight, Keeping Faith at Christmas, presented by Louise Hulland of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, will feature stories of people helped and recovering from difficult circumstances.
The Christmas Day service airs at 7am across all 39 local BBC radio stations and will be led by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell. It will feature readings and prayers from people around England and bring news of the Warm Churches Schemes.
Have a happy media Christmas.
