long wave only
Presenter Brian Redhead and Libby Purves
6.45* Prayer for the Day With the Rev. Adam Ford
7.0, 8.0 Today's News
Read by Christopher Slade
7.30, 8.30 News headlines
7.45* Thought for the Day
Part 3
(Part 4: Monday 8.45 am) (WynfordVaughan Thomas is the guest in Woman s Hour at 2.2 pm)
Ned Sherrin and his guests provide an antidote to Christmas and give a timely reminder about the things that can go wrong over the festive season with their glasses firmly charged and their tongues firmly in their cheeks. Including This Christmas So Far from Russell Davies.
NEM, p 17: Hark the glad sound (BBC HB 490); Psalm 33, vv 13-21; Isaiah 61, vv 1-11 (AV); Hark what a sound (BBC HB 32) long wave only
by Miles Franklin adapted in eight parts by Penelope Farmer
Read by Angela Pleasence
The Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman, reflects on some of the best-loved Christmas carols, as poetry, as part of our folk-lore, and as vehicles of Christian devotion.
Jenni Mills and Bill Breckon go back to 1880 to see what was happening to consumers before You and Yours was there to help them.
12.55Weather; programme news
Presenter Robin Day
1.55 Shipping forecast long wave only
Guest of the Week: Wynford Vaughan Thomas. writer, broadcaster and story-teller.
Oh No He Isn't ... Oh, Yes He Is ...: TONY BARNFIELD looks at pantomime and other shows for children this Christmas.
New York Report: from HELEN HANFF.
Shepherd's Pipe to Donkey- BOB PRIZEMAN investigates the popularity of John Rutter 's carols. Albert and the Liner A short story by KEITH WATERHOUSE abridged by PAT MCTOUGHLIN Read by George Layton
on Christmas Eve in King's College Chapel, Cambridge
Processional Hymn: Once in royal David's city (H.J. Gauntlett). Bidding Prayer Carols: Up! Good Christen folk, and listen (Piae Cantiones, 1582, arr G.R. Woodward); Resonet in laudibus (adapted from Jacob Handl by Ledger) First Lesson: Genesis 3, vv 8-15, 17-19: A CHORISTER Adam lay ybounden (Ledger); Sans day carol
(trad Cornish, arr Rutter) Second Lesson: Genesis 22, vv 15-18: A CHORAL SCHOLAR
I wonder as I wander (Appalachian folk-carol, arr- Andrew Carter); Sussex carol (trad English, arr Ledger)
Third Lesson: Isaiah 9, vv 2 6, 7: A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CAMBRIDGE CHURCHES
The RCholly and the ivy (trad English, arr Walford Davies)
Congregational Carol. God rest you merry, gentlemen (trad English, arr Willcocks)
Fourth Lesson: Isaiah 11, VV 1-4, 6-9: A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY
Ding dong! Merrily on high (16th-century French, arr Wood); A maiden most gentle (arr Carter) Fifth Lesson: St Luke 1, VV 26-35, 38: THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Gabriel's message (Old Basque, arr Pettman)
Sixth Lesson: St Luke 2. VV 1, 3-7: A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SISTER COLLEGE
ATETON Stille Nacht ! (Gruber, arr Ledger)
Seventh Lesson: St Luke 2, vv 8-16: A FELLOW
I sing of a maiden (Patrick Hadley)
Hymn: While shepherds watched (Este's Psalter, 1592); In dulci jubilo (16th-century German, arr Pearsall)
Eighth Lesson: St Matthew 2, vv 1-11: THE VICE-PROVOST
Unto us is born a son (Piae Cantiones, 1582, arr, Willcocks); In the bleak mid-winter (Harold E. Darke)
Ninth Lesson: St John 1, VV 1-14: THE PROVOST
Hymn: Adeste fideles (J. F. Wade)
Collect and Blessing
Hymn: Hark! The herald angels sing (Mendelssohn-Bartholdy)
Director of Music PHILIP LEDGER
Organ Scholar JOHN BUTT
Have you ever wondered whether the Star of Bethlehem ever really existed?
Many scientists have taken the story seriously enough to suggest different astronomical explanations.
Alan Pickup, of the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, investigates these theories, with their proponents, to see if astronomy can indeed help sift out fact from legend.
(First broadcast on Radio Scotland)
Presenters
Susannah Simons and Robert Williams
5.50 Shipping forecast long wave only
5.55 Weather; programme news
including Financial Report
Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by P. G WODEHOUSE adapted in six episodes by RICHARD USBORNE starring and 4: In Which Spode is Unsuccessful and Gussie Unrepentant
Producer DAVID HATCH
by KEN WHITMORE , music composed by PAUL TODD
The scenes pictured inside Carol Kringle 's Advent Calendar, a creation of her father the wood-carver, look so real that you can almost imagine stepping inside them, especially if you are a highly imaginative girl in the grip of Christmas fever.
Music played by PAUL TODD and IAIN HAWKINS
Directed by ALFRED BRADLEY BBC Manchester
A traditional antidote to panel games with all the Christmas trimmings. Tim Brooke-Taylor Willie Rushton
Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden play games in and around the traditional Christmas turkey with Humphrey Lyttelton cold for Boxing Day accompanied by Colin Sell Producer GEOFFREY PERKINS
or The Man Who Bowled the Maiden Over
Fred Trueman introduces an operetta for cricketers by Donald Hughes and P.M. Heywood
A salute to cricket commentators everywhere but especially dedicated to one in particular.
BBC Birmingham
(Recorded before an invited audience in the Civic Theatre, Leeds and broadcast by permission of Rydal School)
9.59 Weather
Douglas Stuart reporting with voices and opinions from around the world, including
The Financial World Tonight
Frank Muir and Alfred Marks conduct a seasonal investigation of the subject's humour, with the help of jokes, press clippings, anecdotes. with the voices of ALAN BENNETT , BILL COSBY , TOM LEHRER , JOYCE GRENFELL , INSTANT SUNSHINE and BOB NLWHART
Written by FRANK MUIR and SIMON BRETT
Producer SIMON BRETT
Laurie Lee offers a poet's celebration of Christmas. And the fir tree warms to a a bloom of candles, The child lights his lantern, stares at his tinselled toy;
Our hearts and hearths smoulder with live ashes.
Producer JOCK GALLAGHER BBC Birmingham
of Christmas from the Church of St Thomas More,
Manor House,
North London
Principal concelebrant FR MICHAEL SHAW Preacher
CANON HAROLD WINSTONE
Cantor and Music Animator PAUL INWOOD
Organist ROSEMARY BISHOP Scripture Readings: Isaiah 9, vv 1-2, 5-7; Luke 2, vv 1-14
Carols: On Christmas night all Christians sing; Jesus Christ was born; Born in the night; Hark! The herald angels sing
Eucharistic Liturgy: set-tines by PAUL INWOOD
