A personal summary of some radio and tv programmes scheduled over the Christmas season.
| Date | Provider | Title | Description |
| Christmas Eve 15:00hrs | BBC Radio 4 | Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols | A service of carols, hymns, and readings live from the candlelit Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge. Available after broadcast at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g9pf |
| Christmas Eve 18:55 | BBC Two TV | Carols from Kings | Carols from King’s is set in the stunning, vaulted, gothic chapel of King’s College Cambridge. The candle-lit service celebrates the Christmas story in music, readings and prayers with an invited congregation of college members and guests. |
| Christmas Eve 21:30 | RTE One TV | Christmas at the Castle | An annual celebration of much-loved Christmas songs recorded for TV in the beautiful surrounds of Dublin Castle. Repeated 7:30am Christmas Day |
| Christmas Eve 23:03 | BBC Radio Ulster | The Journey of the Magi | The Nativity story of the Wise Men and their star-guided journey, based on a poem by WR Rodgers. Music by Paul Campbell. Narration by Michelle Fairley and Stuart Graham. Repeat Broadcast 18:30 Christmas Day Available online at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ghlt |
| Christmas Day 7:00am | BBC Radio 4 | Christmas Service Hope for the nations | Christmas morning service from Bath Abbey, a house of prayer for all nations, visited by people from around the world. God makes known his love in Christ, to and for all people. Available after broadcast at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ghvh |
| Christmas Day 10:00am | BBC Radio Ulster | Morning Service | A celebration of Christmas Day with music from the New Irish Choir and Orchestra, directed by Jonathan Rea. Led by the Bishop of Connor, the Right Rev George Davison. Available after broadcast at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ghsg |
| Christmas Day 10:00am | BBC One TV | Christmas Eucharist | A specially composed fanfare will introduce a lively Christmas Morning family Eucharist from Blackburn Cathedral. The wonder of the Nativity; the Journey of Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds will be captured in a liturgy of music, readings and story. The Eucharist, presided over by the Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Revd Philip North, will feature the uplifting and joyous setting of Bob Chilcott’s ‘A Little Jazz Mass’. Broadcast live with a congregation who’ll be taking part in the readings and prayers, the story of Christmas will be shared by the Dean of Blackburn, the Most Revd Peter Howell-Jones. |
| Christmas Day 11:00am | RTE One TV | Christmas Day Service | A Presbyterian service for Christmas Day with the orchestra and choir of New Irish Arts, led by Jonathan Rea |
| Christmas Day 11:00am | BBC One TV | Songs of Praise | Christmas Carols from Cardiff – Aled Jones presents the Christmas Day edition of Songs of Praise from Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, packed with favourite carols and seasonal music. Llandaff Cathedral Choir perform In The Bleak Mid-Winter, reigning Songs of Praise Gospel Singer Of The Year Patrice Campbell sings the modern classic Mary, Did You Know and Aled and Russell Watson have the perfect song for Christmas Day- Mistletoe and Wine. |
| Christmas Day 12:10 | RTE One TV | Archbishop’s Message | The Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland Primates of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop John McDowell, offer their traditional message of peace, faith and love |
| Christmas Day 13:00 | RTE Radio One | Archbishop’s Message | Radio Broadcast of the Archbishop’s message. (Broadcast on TV earlier at 12:10) |
| Christmas Day 17:03 | BBC Radio Ulster | Sounds Sacred | Richard Yarr introduces seasonal sacred music performed by local and internationally acclaimed performers. He also brings good cheer with listeners’ requests. Available after broadcast at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ghtb |
| Christmas Day 23:15 | BBC One TV | On Christmas Night | Winding down Christmas Day to a gentle close, Ballroom Dancer and TV panellist Oti Mabuse reads the story of the first Christmas from the Gospel according to St Luke. Oti lends her own voice to the familiar Bible story of the angels appearing to shepherds with the news of the birth of a baby – born in a stable in Bethlehem. Accompanying Oti’s reading is a special recording of “Love Came Down at Christmas” from Bristol’s Exultate Singers, conducted by their founder, David Ogden. |
| 26th Dec 00:15am | BBC Radio 4 | Christmas Meditation | Christmas Meditation with actor director Adjoa Andoh reflecting on childhood Christmases past, and Christmases present as children grow and the world shifts. Available after broadcast at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ghx2 |