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A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Bishop Sarah Mullally Show more

Emma Campbell visits a farm in Worcestershire, as its owner prepares to take his latest crop to market - mistletoe. She finds out about the customs surrounding this festive plant. Show more

Alison Steadman provides a seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period. Show more

A special concert of readings and music from Neil Gaiman, Amanda Palmer and the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mihhail Gerts. Show more

Fi Glover presents the Christmas Special on the theme triumph in the face of adversity - with the writer and podcaster Elizabeth Day. Show more

Clare Balding shares her life told through books she loves with her readers Hugh Bonneville and Alice Arnold, and songs from the musicals sung by West End star Kerry Ellis. Show more

A Nativity service from the Wintershall Estate near Guildford. Show more

A tennis player falls on hard times and an athlete’s story. Greg Wise and Emma Thompson curate Christmas reflections. From 2019. Show more

Why do we get so attached to traditions and how can we break them? Show more

The daily life of a Victorian country curate. Christmas Day, 1870. Kilvert has to break the ice on his bath, while the poorest in the parish can't even afford a blanket. Show more

Mother tells teenage daughter the story of how she came to be joyfully adopted. Fi Glover presents. Show more

4 Extra Debut. The 'Coventry Carol' tells the story of the Slaughter of the Innocents - and survived a fire in 1879. With Tori Amos. From 2019. Show more

4 Extra Debut. Arthur launches Malcolm's singing career with Christmas carolling but a bigger stage awaits. Stars Steve Delaney. From 2019. Show more

Whilst in hiding from the CCD, Lyra tries a new method of reading the alethiometer and Pantalaimon seeks out an old acquaintance. A Book at Bedtime read by Simon Russell Beale. Show more

A selection of highlights from the past year on BBC radio Show more

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Reverends Richard Coles, Kate Bottley and Giles Fraser are back for a Christmas Day special, swapping shop talk about one of the busiest times of the clerical year. Show more

Andrea Sella, Professor of Chemistry at UCL, celebrates five elements that enhance our lives. Today he explores why we've always put a high value on gold. Show more

Tom gets suspicious and Joy makes a guest appearance.

Dramatist Lucy Gannon invites us into her retelling of the enchanted Christmas tale, starring Nikesh Patel and Karl Johnson. Show more

The Queen's Christmas message to the Commonwealth and the nation, followed by the national anthem.

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Greg Wise recounts some unhappy Christmas memories – a perspective Emma Thompson has tirelessly tried to change. From 2019. Show more

What letters to Father Christmas tell us about the history of play; why play is important; negotiating the balance between playing outside and video games. Show more

Mrs Whitaker discovers the Holy Grail. Glenda Jackson stars in Neil Gaiman’s delightfully quirky and sweet Christmas story. Show more

A programme about home, memory and ritual. Edinburgh Comedy Award winner John Kearns pulls up his sleigh to share genuine recordings of family Christmas dinners gone by. Show more

Clive Anderson with a choice selection of music performed live in the Loose Ends studio this year. Show more

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Thierry Mabonga reads a new Christmas story from Alexander McCall Smith. Show more

Hancock is looking forward to Christmas, but then his call-up papers arrive. And as if that wasn't bad enough, his commanding officer turns out to be one Sidney James. Show more

It’s Christmas day at Bridge Farm and Tom puts his foot in it.

The Holland brothers, Eddie and Brian, remember the creation of some of their classic Motown hits including Where Did Our Love Go?, Baby Love and Reach Out (I'll Be There) Show more

The daily life of a Victorian country curate. Christmas Day, 1870. Kilvert has to break the ice on his bath, while the poorest in the parish can't even afford a blanket. Show more

John Lloyd and his curator Bridget Christie are joined by music producer Glyn Johns, comedian Shazia Mirza and novelist JK Rowling. Show more

Monisha Rajesh says the romance of train travel is not dead, just reincarnated. Show more

Did Isaac Newton really come up with the theory of gravity after seeing an apple fall from a tree in his mother's garden? Philip Ball explores this famous story of a eureka moment Show more

4 Extra Debut. The 'Coventry Carol' tells the story of the Slaughter of the Innocents - and survived a fire in 1879. With Tori Amos. From 2019. Show more

Clare Balding shares her life told through books she loves with her readers Hugh Bonneville and Alice Arnold, and songs from the musicals sung by West End star Kerry Ellis. Show more

Whilst in hiding from the CCD, Lyra tries a new method of reading the alethiometer and Pantalaimon seeks out an old acquaintance. A Book at Bedtime read by Simon Russell Beale. Show more

Patrick Marber and Peter Curran talk in-depth nonsense late at night in a bunk bed.

Will a married ‘for ever’ couple’s wish for a perfect Christmas ‘a deux’ come true? Stars Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam. From 2021. Show more

National and international news from BBC Radio 4

A reflection on the meaning of Christmas with actor and comedian Sally Phillips. Show more

A tennis player falls on hard times and an athlete’s story. Greg Wise and Emma Thompson curate Christmas reflections. From 2019. Show more

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