Greetings across land and sea with Edward Cole
6.50* Nativity Reading
Robert Eddison reads the birth narrative from the Gospel according to St Luke
6.55, 7.55 Weather; programme news
7.0. 8.0 News. preceded by 0 come, all ye faithful
7.50* Nativity Reading
Judl Dench reads the birth narrative from the Gospel according to St Luke.
Producer FRANK WINTLE
with a personal selection of music for Christmas morning. Producer RAY ABBOTT : records
8.55 Weather; programme news
9.0 News, preceded by 0 come, all ye faithful
Robert Hudson introduces the bells of: St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh; St Nicholas, East Dereham, Norfolk; St Giles, Bradford-on-Tome, Somerset; St Woolos Cathedral. Newport, Gwent; St Mary's Butts, Reading; St Donard's, Belfast; St Andrew 's. Penrith; and Westminster Abbey
Producer JOHN HASLAM
The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth
(Repeated: 1.0 pm)
On the Feast of the Nativity, Holy Communion
(Series 3) from the Cathedral Church of St Saviour and St Mary, Southwark
Celebrant, The Provost of Southwark, THE VERY REV H. E. FRANKHAM
Preacher THE RIGHT REV DR MERVYN STOCKWOOD, Bishop of Southwark
Old Testament Lesson. Isaiah 9, vv 6-7 (RSV)
Epistle: 1 John 4, vv 7-11 (NEB); Gospel: John 1, vv 1-14 (RSV)
Hymns (English Hymnal): Of the Father's heart begotten (613); In the bleak mid-winter (25); Hark! The herald angels (24)
Carols: Unto us is born a son (trad, arr Martin Shaw ); Love came down at Christmas (Pettman); I sing of a maiden (Lennox Berkeley)
Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei (Missa Brevis in D: Mozart)
Acclamations (Bramma)
Gospel Voluntary: Lobt Gott , ihr Christen, allzugleich (Bach)
At the Communion: Noel (Daquin: No 9. in D)
Director of Music and Organist HARRY BRAMMA Assistant Organist
JOHN SCOTT. Captain of the Tower MICHAEL UPHILL
Richard Briers unwraps a parcel of facts and fantasies, music and comedy, for Christmas morning.
(Richard Briers is in "Middle Age Spread" at the Lyric Theatre, London)
Jesus often used the animals and plants around him to illustrate his teaching, but how did his living world differ from ours? Introduced by Peter France. Producer
MOIRA MANN. BBC Bristol
Roy Plomley recalls what a few of his more recent castaways had to say, including Mirella Freni, The Rt Hon Margaret Thatcher, MP, Robert Powell, Franco Zefirelli, P.L. Travers, Rod Hull, Luciano Pavarotti, The Amadeus Quartet, Sir Ralph Richardson and Mel Brooks.
12.55 Weather; programme news
Archurbanite Kenneth Williams ' discovers ' - whether he likes it or not - some of the wonders of rural life under the guidance of Johnny Morris and Percy Edwards.
Producer JOCK GALLAGHER BBC Birmingham
(Kenneth Williams is in ' The Undertaking ' at the Fortune Theatre, London)
1.55 Shipping forecast long wave only
Pam Ayres shares her personal selection of favourite readings with Martin Jarvis.
Producer BRIAN PATTEN
. BBC Bristol
from the novel by FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT adapted for radio by JOHN RICHMOND with and Mary Lennox is a selfish, spoilt child who always has her own way with her Ayah and the other Indian servants. But cholera strikes. It is then that she is sent to Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire - a house of dark stairs and secrets.'
Directed by TREVOR HILL
BBC Manchester
(Details: Fri 10.30 pm)
Thoughts on Christmas from BBC Sound Archives
wave only
5.55 Weather; programme news
Richard Baker makes the annual appeal for the Wireless for the Blind Fund. A wireless set costs about £30 and up to 10,000 sets are needed annually. Donations to: Richard Baker , [address removed] (no postage necessary)
ChairmanNicholasParsons with Kenneth Williams
Peter Jones , Derek Nimmo and Lance Percival
Devised by IAN MESSITER Producer DAVID HATCH
(Kenneth Williams is in ' The Undertaking' at the Fortune Theatre, London)
(Rptd: Boxing Day 1.40)
6.55 Holiday programme news
Born and brought up in Barry, South Wales, ROBERT TEAR is regarded as one of the country's most versatile tenors. Tonight he recalls influences on his career and talks about his life as an international singer. Producer TELERI BEVAN. BBC Wales
by T. w. ROBERTSON , adapted for radio and directed by NORMAN WRIGHT
' A thousand sepoys slain in battle cannot redeem the honour of a man who has betrayed the confidence of a trusting woman ' - but the Marquise de Saint Maur's advice to her son George is too late.
Narrator William Sleigh ANNA BERENSKA (piano)
(First broadcast in 1972)
'A A Handful of Sons '
' Jazz and cha-cha-chas, Calypsos and street vendor cries,
Strains of old refrains,
Sleeptime baby Lullabys '
Tommy Steele , the first
British rock 'n' roll star, survived his precarious position to become film star, actor, cabaret artist, star of musicals and theatre director. He talks to Sheridan Morley about the early days of rock, the state of the British musical, his attitude to Hollywood. and recalls famous people he has met. Producer JOHN BOUNDY
(Tommy Steele is at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London)
considers, more or less seriously, the concept of Humour as Witch Medicine. Producer BRIAN PATTEN BBC Bristol
by c. s. FORESTER, adapted for radio by VAL GIELGUD starring Nigel Anthony with Terence Skelton Book 2:
Lieutenant Hornblower
Part 5: Home and Beauty
Technical presentation DAVID FLEMING-WILLIAMS assisted by ROGER LUCAS and MARK SEYLER
Directed by TREVOR HILL BBC Manchester
(The next ' Hornblower' series begins 29 January)
Ian Wallace introduces A Victorian Christmas Party from the Players' Theatre, underneath the arches at Charing Cross. followed by a seasonal extravaganza
The Babes in the Wood
A mid-19th-century pantomime inextricably involved with Shakespeare's ' Macbeth and Verdi's opera of the same name featuring and and and
Musical director GEOFFREY BRAWN
Adapted from the Players' Theatre stage version and produced with DENIS MARTIN by TRAFFORD WHITELOCK
on Christmas Night
A sequence of words and music, with THE CUMBERLAND CONSORT directed by GEOFFREY TIMS Readers Hazel Andrea and Stephen Thorne. Producer HUBERT HOSKINS
Weather report; forecast followed by an interlude
