Media
Top showbusiness entertainer Bruce Forsyth is to present a special Christmas Day programme for BBC Radio 2. Bruce will be playing his favourite music and talking about the artists he has met over his long and illustrious career.
The country’s most listened to radio station - BBC Radio 2 - is serving up a musical feast this Christmas with special programmes from the likes of Gabrielle, Johnny Cash, Kirsty MacColl, Suzi Quatro and Christmas Day specials with Radio 2 presenters Terry Wogan and Johnnie Walker. Yoko Ono also talks to the network for Lennon’s Legacy, a three part series in the run-up to Christmas that marks the 20th anniversary of John Lennon’s death. Celebrated record producer Phil Spector is the subject of a one-off special to celebrate his 60th birthday on Boxing Day. There’s also a traditional carol service on Christmas Eve when Radio 2 broadcasts Carols From York Minster. And to wind down to, there’s two hours of jazz on Christmas Day night in Brubeck’s Cool Jazz, presented by John Dankworth.
There are also comedy Christmas specials from The News Huddlines and Arthur Smith, and a Christmas special with Pam Ayres - Pam Ayres' Country Christmas Cracker.
Bruce Forsyth - My Favourite People can be heard on Christmas Day, Monday December 25 at 3.10-5.00pm. Bruce says: "As I won’t be on television over the Christmas period this year - by the way this will be the first time in over 40 years - at least I will be able to keep in contact via BBC Radio 2."
The music Bruce plays reflects his love of jazz piano with records by the likes of George Shearing, Dudley Moore, Erroll Garner and Bill Evans. He also plays numbers by his favourite vocalists including Nat ‘King’ Cole, Sammy Davis Junior, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Tom Jones and Julie Andrews. Comedy is featured with a skit by Bob Newhart plus one of the keystones of British entertainment, Frankie Howerd. Bruce’s stories range from the humourous to the poignant and include tales from Sunday Night At The London Palladium, such as the time when he accompanied the great Lena Horne and when Nat Cole played songs from a new album just for Bruce – during a break for the Palladium show – back in the early Sixties.
Singing star Gabrielle picks her favourite tracks and talks about her successful musical career in Gabrielle At Christmas, on Christmas Day, December 25 at 2.00-3.00pm.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the death of John Lennon on December 8, Radio 2 presents a new series - Lennon's Legacy starting on Saturday, December 9 at 8.00pm. The series celebrates Lennon's achievements as a member of the Beatles and as a solo artist. It also focuses on his political and personal activities, which came to exemplify a generation's quest for peace and spiritual happiness. The series is presented by actor Robert Lindsay - a huge Lennon fan who was thrilled to receive a letter from John congratulating him on his portrayal of Citizen Smith in the BBC TV comedy series. Lennon’s Legacy includes interviews with those who knew and worked with Lennon - including Yoko Ono Lennon, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and George Martin.
Kirsty MacColl presents an eight part series on Cuban music from Havana starting on December 20 (10.00-10.30pm). Kirsty MacColl’s Cuba features key figures from Cuban music such as Ry Cooder, Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, Nick Gold, David Byrne and Buena Vista musicians.
Pam Ayres invites listeners to spend Christmas Eve with her at her Gloucestershire farmhouse in Pam Ayres' Country Christmas Cracker on Christmas Eve, December 24 at 3.00-4.30pm. Amongst the special guests dropping into Pam’s kitchen for a chat are actor Martin Jarvis and novelist Joanna Trollope. Pam also gets some tips from the Changing Rooms team on what the best-dressed Christmas tree is wearing and some cooking tips from star chef Claire MacDonald. Later that evening Carols From York Minster can be heard at 11.00pm-12.00 midnight.
On Christmas morning between 10.00-11.30am Terry Wogan presents a 90 minute special featuring some of his favourite Christmas tunes. He also plays some of the tracks that he has featured on the breakfast show that are very popular with his audience. Some of these tracks are difficult - if not impossible - to buy.
Roy Hudd, June Whitfield and Chris Emmett follow Terry at 11.30am-12.30pm treating listeners to an hour of the best Huddlines sketches and some new ones for Christmas Day in The Huddlines Christmas Stocking. Roy, June and Chris take a look back at how some of the major news events of the past 25 years have been dealt with by The News Huddlines. The show, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, also features six of the best Huddlines songs.
Stuart Maconie marks Phil Spector’s 60th birthday with The Sound Of Spector broadcast on December 25 at 12.30-2.00pm. Spector, who celebrates his birthday on December 26, is one of the most influential record producers of all time. Stuart plays many of his classic records and hears other producers reflect on how Spector’s Wall of Sound - a distinctive style of record production - influenced their work.
HM The Queen’s Christmas Message can be heard at 3.00pm
Johnnie Walker presents two hours of music on Christmas Day, December 25 at 5.00-7.00pm.
John Dankworth chronicles Dave Brubeck’s contribution to jazz in Brubeck’s Cool Jazz, also on Christmas Day night at 7.00-9.00pm.
The legendary ‘Man in Black’, Johnny Cash, rejoins Radio 2 on December 26 at 12.30-2.00pm to play the seasonal spectrum of country music in A Country Roads Christmas Special With Johnny Cash. The youngest inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Johnny Cash was one of the most significant figures in post-World War II country music.
The country’s most listened to radio station - BBC Radio 2 - is serving up a musical feast this Christmas with special programmes from the likes of Gabrielle, Johnny Cash, Kirsty MacColl, Suzi Quatro and Christmas Day specials with Radio 2 presenters Terry Wogan and Johnnie Walker. Yoko Ono also talks to the network for Lennon’s Legacy, a three part series in the run-up to Christmas that marks the 20th anniversary of John Lennon’s death. Celebrated record producer Phil Spector is the subject of a one-off special to celebrate his 60th birthday on Boxing Day. There’s also a traditional carol service on Christmas Eve when Radio 2 broadcasts Carols From York Minster. And to wind down to, there’s two hours of jazz on Christmas Day night in Brubeck’s Cool Jazz, presented by John Dankworth.
There are also comedy Christmas specials from The News Huddlines and Arthur Smith, and a Christmas special with Pam Ayres - Pam Ayres' Country Christmas Cracker.
Bruce Forsyth - My Favourite People can be heard on Christmas Day, Monday December 25 at 3.10-5.00pm. Bruce says: "As I won’t be on television over the Christmas period this year - by the way this will be the first time in over 40 years - at least I will be able to keep in contact via BBC Radio 2."
The music Bruce plays reflects his love of jazz piano with records by the likes of George Shearing, Dudley Moore, Erroll Garner and Bill Evans. He also plays numbers by his favourite vocalists including Nat ‘King’ Cole, Sammy Davis Junior, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Tom Jones and Julie Andrews. Comedy is featured with a skit by Bob Newhart plus one of the keystones of British entertainment, Frankie Howerd. Bruce’s stories range from the humourous to the poignant and include tales from Sunday Night At The London Palladium, such as the time when he accompanied the great Lena Horne and when Nat Cole played songs from a new album just for Bruce – during a break for the Palladium show – back in the early Sixties.
Singing star Gabrielle picks her favourite tracks and talks about her successful musical career in Gabrielle At Christmas, on Christmas Day, December 25 at 2.00-3.00pm.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the death of John Lennon on December 8, Radio 2 presents a new series - Lennon's Legacy starting on Saturday, December 9 at 8.00pm. The series celebrates Lennon's achievements as a member of the Beatles and as a solo artist. It also focuses on his political and personal activities, which came to exemplify a generation's quest for peace and spiritual happiness. The series is presented by actor Robert Lindsay - a huge Lennon fan who was thrilled to receive a letter from John congratulating him on his portrayal of Citizen Smith in the BBC TV comedy series. Lennon’s Legacy includes interviews with those who knew and worked with Lennon - including Yoko Ono Lennon, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and George Martin.
Kirsty MacColl presents an eight part series on Cuban music from Havana starting on December 20 (10.00-10.30pm). Kirsty MacColl’s Cuba features key figures from Cuban music such as Ry Cooder, Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, Nick Gold, David Byrne and Buena Vista musicians.
Pam Ayres invites listeners to spend Christmas Eve with her at her Gloucestershire farmhouse in Pam Ayres' Country Christmas Cracker on Christmas Eve, December 24 at 3.00-4.30pm. Amongst the special guests dropping into Pam’s kitchen for a chat are actor Martin Jarvis and novelist Joanna Trollope. Pam also gets some tips from the Changing Rooms team on what the best-dressed Christmas tree is wearing and some cooking tips from star chef Claire MacDonald. Later that evening Carols From York Minster can be heard at 11.00pm-12.00 midnight.
On Christmas morning between 10.00-11.30am Terry Wogan presents a 90 minute special featuring some of his favourite Christmas tunes. He also plays some of the tracks that he has featured on the breakfast show that are very popular with his audience. Some of these tracks are difficult - if not impossible - to buy.
Roy Hudd, June Whitfield and Chris Emmett follow Terry at 11.30am-12.30pm treating listeners to an hour of the best Huddlines sketches and some new ones for Christmas Day in The Huddlines Christmas Stocking. Roy, June and Chris take a look back at how some of the major news events of the past 25 years have been dealt with by The News Huddlines. The show, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, also features six of the best Huddlines songs.
Stuart Maconie marks Phil Spector’s 60th birthday with The Sound Of Spector broadcast on December 25 at 12.30-2.00pm. Spector, who celebrates his birthday on December 26, is one of the most influential record producers of all time. Stuart plays many of his classic records and hears other producers reflect on how Spector’s Wall of Sound - a distinctive style of record production - influenced their work.
HM The Queen’s Christmas Message can be heard at 3.00pm
Johnnie Walker presents two hours of music on Christmas Day, December 25 at 5.00-7.00pm.
John Dankworth chronicles Dave Brubeck’s contribution to jazz in Brubeck’s Cool Jazz, also on Christmas Day night at 7.00-9.00pm.
The legendary ‘Man in Black’, Johnny Cash, rejoins Radio 2 on December 26 at 12.30-2.00pm to play the seasonal spectrum of country music in A Country Roads Christmas Special With Johnny Cash. The youngest inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Johnny Cash was one of the most significant figures in post-World War II country music.
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