With Archbishop Cormac Murphy O'Connor.
With Anna Hill.
Mark Lawson provides a festive start to the day with a rich and spicy mixture of music, poetry and stories. Readers Fiona Shaw and Simon Russell
Beale. Producer Amanda Hancox. Shortened repeat at 10pm
A celebration of the country Christmas, presented by Richard Uridge. Producer AiasdairCross
With Emily Buchanan. Reports from BBC foreign correspondents around the world present a seasonal snapshot of countries which have featured prominently in the news over the past year. Producer Claire Campbell Smith
The Gift. A festive celebration from St Martin in the Fields, London. Led by the Rev Nicholas Holtham who visits the Social Care Unit and discusses two paintings of the Adoration of the Christ Child with Neil MacGregor , director of the National Gallery. Carols are sung by the St Martin's Choir, directed by Paul Stubbings. There is also a performance of Michael Mouse- a drama for Christmas. Producer Stephen Shipley
Resplendent in his big reds, John Peel presents the shepherd who ditched his flock one night and the mother who moved into herpigsty. With Ned Sherrin. Producer Jacqueline Smith
WEBSITE: www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hometruths Repeated at 9pm
The fork is an odd instrument - four curved prongs emanating from a fat ridge, joined to a handle. Where did it come from and how should it be used? Joe Farrell investigates with a little help from collectors, manufacturers and fans. Producer Miles Warde
By Penelope Lively , adapted in five parts by Ellen Dryden. 1: James Harrison loves the new cottage his family has moved to. But why does his dog keep barking? Why is James's bedroom so cold? And who wrote "alchemie" on the blackboard?
Director Don Taylor
From Our Own Food Correspondents
To celebrate Christmas Day, the programme calls on its correspondents, from the South Pole to Barcelona via Manhattan, to give us their best food stories.
Producer Sheila Dillon
Humphrey Lyttelton introduces highlights of the antidote to panel games, featuring regular team members Tim Brooke-Taylor , Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden, together with notable contributions from Jeremy Hardy , Sandi Toksvig , Stephen Fry , Neil Mullarkey and Tony Hawks. Producer Jon Naismith.
Repeated New Year's Eve 12.04pm
BBC Radio Collection: A range of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue audio cassettes are auailabte from all good retail outlets or www.bbcshop.com.
Extended repeat from yesterday 5pm
Repeated from yesterday 7pm
A Cheshire Mystery Cycle. By Alan Garner. Pagan folklore, local mythology and Christian tradition intertwine in a potent re-telling of the story of Christ's birth and death, transported to Cheshire.
Music composed and performed by Oily Fox. Director Wils Wilson
Her Majesty 's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth.
The best of the year's broadcasting on BBC radio, with Eddie Mair in the first part of his pick of picks. Producer Neil George. PHONE: [number removed]
By Moss Hart and George S Kaufman , adapted by Marcy Kahan. Simon Callow stars as Sheridan Whiteside , the great Broadway creation, in this classic comedy of the thirties. A broken leg turns a visiting celebrity into a tyrannical house guest mercilessly abusing the hospitality of the Stanley family. An entomologist, Hollywood and West End friends converge on Ohio, bringing stardom, chaos and cockroaches to small-town America.
Other parts played by members of the cast. Director Ned Chaillet
Stephen Fry searches for the endangered mountain gorilla in Uganda.
Producers Dymphna Flynn and Cathie Mahoney (R)
Shortened repeat from yesterday 10.10pm
Etta Halliday talks to Donald Jackson, the Queen's scriptologist, about the task he has been preparing for all his life -a handwritten Bible for the 21st Century.
Producer Evelyn Ellison. Rptd Saturday 30 Dec 12.15am
Hostilities are suspended. Repeated tomorrow 2pm
A true story for Christmas as Zulu Natal meets
Pennine west Yorkshire. Music, laughter and line dancing from three sisters and a team of Zulus as they come together to revive lost family carols. Producer Lindsay Leonard
In 1995 the late Sir John Geilgud spoke to
John Theocharis about his childhood, his acting family circle, his successes and failures, his friendships and his inescapable death. His comments are interwoven with illustrations from some of his historic performances. Producer John Theocharis (R) BBC Radio Collection: John Geilgud at the BBC is available on audio cassette from all good retail outlets or www.bbcshop.com.
Rptd from 10am
Shortened repeat from 6am
Juliet Stevenson reads Thomas Hardy's classic tale of thwarted love and ambition. Abridged in ten parts by Doreen Estall.
The newlyweds return to Little Hintock, but not to wedded bliss.
A festive comedy by Nev Fountain. Santa's son returns to the North Pole, having qualified as a management consultant. He aims to restructure, redefine and expand the business of Christmas.
Producer Maria Esposito (R)
Lionel Kelleway presents the quiz which goes in search of Britain's most knowledgeable naturalist. This week the programme comes from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust headquarters at , Slimbridge in Gloucestershire.
Producer Brett Westwood. E-MAIL: nature@bbc.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.bbc.co.uk/nature
Fay Weldon considers the meaning of gift-giving, the problem of belief and the bringing of heaven to earth on this special day in the year. Producer Ben weston
In 1998 Tony Hawks decided to see if he could beat the entire Moldovan national football team at his chosen game of tennis. Written and read by Tony Hawks in five parts. Part 1. Producer Chris Neill (R)
