Published December 16, 2024 — Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer, says: “BBC Radio and BBC Sounds is the perfect companion this Christmas with a whole host of exciting programmes ready to get you into the festive spirit and entertain you through to the New Year. With special guest appearances from iconic musicians, popular podcast specials, hilarious comedy and theatrical audio drama delights, there truly is something for everyone. Our stations will be the perfect soundtrack to your Christmas with music mixes to get you into a party mood or offer some calming reflection and respite from the busy season, and there is always a chance to delve into the archives for some absolute gems.”

This Christmas, the BBC presents festive offerings with three music icons: Christmas Queen Mariah Carey makes her world exclusive radio presenting debut with an hour-long festive show to mark the 30th anniversary of the most-streamed Christmas song of all-time, All I Want For Christmas Is You (BBC Radio 2, 25 December). Legendary singer and actress Cher shares the soundtrack of her life as she is cast away on Desert Island Discs (BBC Radio 4, 15 December). In celebration of her 70th birthday, Annie Lennox talks about her key songs and hugely successful music career through her many BBC interviews and appearances (BBC Radio 2, 22 December).

BBC Radio celebrates some of the best BBC Christmas comedy highlights. In anticipation of the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special on BBC One, podcasters Natalie Cassidy and ‘Stacey’ herself, actress Joanna Page, host two Off The Telly: Gavin and Stacey Specials (BBC Sounds, 18 December, 5 Live 25 December and second ep early January). With the upcoming Christmas TV special of much-loved BBC One comedy Outnumbered, Romesh Ranganathan interviews the actors of the Brockman family (BBC Radio 2, 21 December). Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Jane Horrocks, Julia Sawalha and producer Jon Plowman chat about their groundbreaking 1990s sitcom in The Reunion: Absolutely Fabulous, with Kirsty Wark (BBC Radio 4, 25 December).

In news and current affairs, the Today programme will continue the tradition of Christmas Guest Editors, this year with Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Dwayne Fields, Sir Sajid Javid, Professor Irene Tracey, Baroness Floella Benjamin and Dame Laura Kenny (BBC Radio 4, from 24 December).

In music, Jack Saunders announces The Official Christmas Number 1 (BBC Radio 1, 20 December). Presenters Greg James, Jamie Laing, Dean McCullough, Vick Hope, Katie Thistleton, Sam and Danni, and Nat and Vicky host special festive shows. Musician and actor Self Esteem and comedian and writer Jack Rooke come together to present a Loud and Proud New Year’s Eve party (6 Music, 31 December). Actor Bill Nighy sits in for Iggy Pop twice this December to serve up his own cocktail of music (6Music, 15 and 22 December). Delving into the music of the season, Zoe Ball presents a documentary on the story of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?, the world’s most successful charity record (BBC Radio 2, 23 December). After New Year’s Day, to mark what would have been Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday on 8 January 2025, Your Ultimate Elvis Song – hosted by superfan Vernon Kay – features the Top 40 countdown as voted for by Radio 2 listeners, plus there are more Elvis delights from Cerys Matthews and Owain Wyn Evans to honour his incredible career.

On BBC Sounds, there will be hours of uninterrupted curated mixes and festive specials from Fearne Cotton, Charlotte Ritchie, Greg James, Sophie Ellis Bextor and more with Christmas Music and New Year Sounds collections. There will be Christmas podcast specials from Off The Telly, Sidetracked with Annie and Nick, Uncanny, Pop Top 10, Make Me A Mixtape, Miss Me? and Young Again. Highlights from Radio 2’s Piano Rooms, Radio 2 in the Park, and the BBC Proms will be broadcast over the festive period and there will be plenty of bingeable boxsets from some of the top podcasts of the year in the Best of 2024 collection on BBC Sounds, including World of Secrets, Gangster, Intrigue, Elis James and John Robins, Joanne McNally Investigates, Brown Girls Do It Too and Miss Me?

In classical, choral music is presented in abundance: BBC Radio 3 broadcasts live from locations across the UK for a day of programming highlighting local choirs (BBC Radio 3, 1 December). Every day in the run-up to Christmas Day, Essential Carols will feature a range of musicians, actors and writers including Bryn Terfel, Errollyn Wallen, Charlotte Ritchie, Reverend Richard Coles, Elim Chan, and Dr Sian Williams, who will introduce their favourite carol and share personal anecdotes. On BBC Radio 2, Aled Jones and Reverend Kate Bottley host the BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2024 final (25 December). Radio 3 broadcasts some of the best classical music from across Europe throughout December, including an exciting recording of Christmas music live from Ronnie Scott’s (BBC Radio 3, 23 December). And from the Royal Opera House in London, Georgia Mann presents the annual BBC World Service New Year’s Concert featuring members of the BBC New Generation Artists scheme (World Service, 28 December). The BBC’s Orchestras and Choirs will fill concert halls across the UK with the glorious sounds of the season with traditional carol concerts and fun festive events to bring people together in person and on the airwaves.

In comedy and entertainment, on BBC Radio 4 Nicola Coughlan will shine a light on extraordinary young people from across history throughout December in History’s Youngest Heroes and on Christmas Day Jo Brand will share her favourite poems, stories and jokes, joined by special guest readers in With Great Pleasure at Christmas whilst Kirsty Young will ask Nigel Slater and Pete Doherty what advice they’d give their younger selves in Young Again. Listeners can test their knowledge on the big events of the year with the Newshour Christmas Quiz on World Service (World Service, 25 December), and for those in need of comic relief to ring in the new year, The Arts Hour’s Comedy Special 2024 is turning up the festive fun, featuring a selection of the finest comedians from around the globe (World Service, 28 December).

In the Studio invites us behind the scenes at Selfridges as the teams prepare to reveal their Christmas windows to the public for the first time (World Service, 24 December). World Service’s Witness History celebrates Christmas week with a range of foody treats – when did pot noodles come to India? How did MasterChef come to being? And how did the black-and-white British comedy sketch Dinner for One become a German Christmas tradition? (World Service, 24 December).

Radio 4 will ring in the new year with a full day dedicated to The Shipping Forecast, with special programming to mark the centenary year of its first broadcast on the BBC (1 January).

In audio drama, on BBC Radio 4 audiences can look forward to tales from Nancy Mitford and Shirley Jackson family favourites such as The Wombles to the Rescue (BBC Radio 4, 23 December), and a six-part time-travelling drama written by Oscar-nominated Iris Yamashita and narrated by BAFTA-winning actor Will Sharpe (BBC World Service English, from 9 December). There will be a celebration of Noël Coward’s 125th birthday with a series of ten of his plays featuring a star studded line-up of actors including Miriam Margolyes (BBC Radio 4 Extra). Additionally, there will be adaptations of Alexey Navalny’s biography Patriot narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, South Sea Tales by Somerset Maugham and Dead of Winter by Sarah Clegg.

BBC Sounds

Listeners can enjoy bonus festive episodes of some of their favourite podcasts this Christmas, including Miss Me?, Sidetracked with Annie and Nick, Make Me A Mixtape, Murder They Wrote, and Off The Telly; all available to enjoy on BBC Sounds over the Yuletide period. There will also be a range of audiobooks and adaptations to enjoy, such as The Wombles, Alexey Navalny’s biography Patriot (narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch), South Sea Tales by Somerset Maugham, and Dead of Winter by Sarah Clegg.

Bingeable boxsets from some of the most popular podcasts of the year will be available, including Young Again and Uncanny. The Best of 2024 collection on BBC Sounds will showcase the hugely popular boxsets from World of Secrets, Gangster, Intrigue, Elis James and John Robins, Joanne McNally Investigates, Brown Girls Do It Too, and Miss Me?

For music fans there will be an extensive mix of seasonal music for all festive occasions with expertly curated music mixes and celebratory specials from Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco: Ultimate Christmas Hits, Greg James’s Christmas Anthems, and Fearne Cotton’s Sounds of the 90s: Festive Mixtape.

For those looking for something a bit more laidback, Mindful Mix will be releasing three Christmas focused music mixes: Mindful Mix: A Winter Walk, Mindful Mix: A Choral Christmas and Mindful Mix: Christmas Carols, plus The Morning After Mix: Christmas.

Festive Podcasts

Off The Telly: Gavin and Stacey Specials

The first of these specials will be available on 18 December with the second following in early January.

In these special episodes of Off The Telly, Nat and Jo chat all things Gavin and Stacey ahead of the Christmas special. Jo can’t believe it’s the last ever episode and Nat is desperate to find out what happens – does Smithy say yes to Nessa?

Nat and Jo celebrate the story so far then react to the final ever episode (we’re not crying, you are) with voicenotes from listeners on why they love it, plus backstage goss with some special guests from the world of Gavin and Stacey.

Young Again: Nigel Slater at Christmas

25 December

The new series resumes on Christmas day with a special festive episode, and listeners can look back on episodes past, with previous boxsets available to catch up on.

Nigel Slater began his career working in kitchens across the UK before becoming a food writer, initially for Marie Claire magazine. He has written a regular food column for The Observer newspaper for over three decades in which time he has also written numerous cookbooks. His 2003 autobiography, Toast: The Story of a Boy’s Hunger, detailed a difficult childhood in the West Midlands during the 1960s and was later adapted into a film. He shares memories of Christmases past and tips on the making perfect Christmas dinner in a special festive edition of Young Again.

Miss Me? Listen Bitch: Christmas Special

23 December

Settle in for a special yuletide edition of Listen Bitch, as Lily and Miquita take festive questions from their friends and family.

Miss Me? Meaty Drop: New Year’s Special

2 January

As the holiday season draws to a close, Lily and Miquita sit down to share their hopes and ambitions for the new year ahead. With live shows on the horizon for 2025, the duo pull back the curtain on the inner workings of live events…and what can go wrong!

Uncanny: Return to Luibeilt and Uncanny Live with Reece Shearsmith

20 December

The Uncanny boxset will be available for listeners to enjoy in full.

Christmas Music

From festive specials for some of our most popular music shows to bespoke mixes curated by our experts, music fans can soundtrack their Christmas for any occasion on BBC Sounds this year. Listeners can search Christmas Music or head to the music tab in Sounds to enjoy.

Christmas Chill: enjoy a calming Christmas escape with laid-back festive gems

Mindful Mix

For those looking for more chilled Christmas music on-demand, Mindful Mix will be releasing three Christmas focused music mixes: Mindful Mix: A Winter Walk, featuring a selection of warming jazz tunes and wintry sounds to soothe your soul this festive season. With music by Vince Guaraldi Trio, Gri Allen and Katy Healy. Plus Mindful Mix: A Choral Christmas featuring serene and uplifting seasonal favourites: music to rejuvenate the body and soul with a selection of warm and reflective choral music to bring in light and cast out the stresses of the everyday. And for the biggest and best-known classic Christmas Carols, Mindful Mix: Christmas Carols, will get listeners into the Christmas spirit.

Morning After Mix

For an easy listen during Twixmas It’s a Merry Morning After Mix Christmas, Baby!, and the Morning After NYE Mix, offer listeners an uninterrupted, mood-led mix, for those who love hearing thoughtfully curated playlists – especially when feeling fragile or delicate!

Festive editions of popular mixes including Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco: Ultimate Christmas Hits! And Sounds of the 90s: Festive Mixtape, Radio 1’s Happy Christmas Anthems with Maia Beth and Zoe Ball’s Christmas Crooners.

Ultimate Christmas Movie Mixtape sees Radio 1’s film expert Ali Plumb pick out some of the most-loved songs from festive film faves.

Greg James presents Radio 1’s Christmas Anthems. It’s his absolute favourite time of the year. Radio 1’s Mr Christmas, Greg James, brings 2 hours of the best Christmas Anthems wrapped up with festive cheer. He reveals his Top 3 Christmas songs of all time, but will you agree? Merry Christmas!

New Year Sounds

With seasonal music to take listeners right through from Christmas to New Year, Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s second festive offering is out on 26 December. The pop queen serves up her favourite feel good songs and personal popstar tales from her kitchen to see in the New Year in Sophie Ellie Bextor’s Kitchen Disco: Ultimate Disco Party Playlist New Year’s Eve special.