Veiled Muslim for Alternative Christmas Message

Channel 4 has revealed that a veiled Muslim woman will read its Alternative Christmas Message on Christmas Day.

Zimbabwe-born Khadija, a freelance teacher and lecturer in Islamic studies and the Koran, will reflect on the year. A British citizen, she has been wearing the niqab for 10 years.

The channel says its choice of speaker has come "in a year in which issues of religious and racial identity, freedom of expression and social cohesion have dominated the news agenda....a debate in which British Muslims have played a key role."

Channel 4 has been broadcasting an alternative to the The Queen's Christmas Day Speech since 1993. Previous speakers have included Quentin Crisp, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Doreen and Neville Lawrence, Ali G, Sharon Osbourne and The Simpsons.