Greg Wise and Emma Thompson curate this collection of personal reflections on the meaning of Christmas.

The writings draw on the themes of kindness, acceptance and tolerance, taking us from Queensland to Pennsylvania to the Black Country and beyond.

More sobering memories come from a small village in Rwanda and London's inhospitable streets.

Greg and Emma introduce stand up comedian and screenwriter, Deborah Frances White.

Deborah writes about being adopted, and re-discovering Christmas in her 20s.

Her essay is paired with Steve Ali's, a Syrian refugee who was taken in by Deborah and her husband when he arrived in England, after fleeing Syria and the Jungle refugee camp in Calais.

Abridged in five parts by Richard Hamilton

Producer: Elizabeth Allard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2019. Show less