Christmas is coming to BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds with a jam packed schedule of fun-filled programmes for everyone.
The station has just unveiled its festive line-up and from Neil Hannon’s yuletide Europop on Christmas Day and Paula McIntyre sharing a Hamely Christmas supper with friends, to singer Brooke Scullion and Downpatrick’s finest, Ash, celebrating 30 years in the business, there is a bumper Christmas hamper of shows.
In Brooke’s Christmas Craic’rs on Sunday 18 December at 4pm, Eurovision Song Contest star Brooke Scullion from Bellaghy invites listeners into a winter wonderland with plenty of fun and feel-good tunes.
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Later that same day, Paula McIntyre hosts a seasonal get-together in her garden BBQ shack with guests Lolly Spence, Liam Beckett and Carolyn Dobbin. On the menu is some traditional Ulster-Scots fare and plenty of fun too. Paula’s Hamely Christmas Supper is on at 6pm.
Listeners can continue celebrating the festive season on Friday 23 December in the company of Vinny Hurrell for The Annual Radio Ulster Christmas Quiz at 4pm.
Find out who will have the final ‘sleigh’ as BBC Northern Ireland presenters battle it out to see who will ‘reign-deer’ supreme. Hugo Duncan, Declan Harvey, Lynette Fay, Gemma Bradley, Nicola Weir and Cecilia Daly test their knowledge. ‘Yule’ be sorry if you miss it.
On Christmas Eve, Kerry and Ralph McLean are at home from 8pm-12.05am, with an evening of music and chat, including a programme presented by Brooke Scullion from 10-11pm.
The evening will also feature a special recording of Ash performing from the Ulster Hall from 9-10pm. In this concert, recorded on December 16, the chart-topping Co Down trio play some of their best known hits to mark their 30th anniversary.
Following this is another festive treat featuring a new piece of music written by Belfast-based composer Paul Campbell to accompany WR Rodgers’ poem about the Magi.
Composed as a special commission to mark the BBC’s centenary, his work blends words and music in fresh combination and reflects the inventiveness of the poem’s original broadcast.
His score was written over several months in mid-2022 and was performed for this recording by the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast. The Journey of the Magi is on Christmas Eve at 11pm, narrated by Michelle Fairley and Stuart Graham, with an introduction by the award-winning poet, Michael Longley. It will be available on BBC Sounds from mid-December.
On to Christmas morning and between 8am and 9am, John Bennett brings messages and good wishes from loved ones across the world in Calling Home.
This is followed at 9am by Neil Hannon for a one-hour Christmas Europop Christmas special. Neil broadcasts from his living room for a seasonal edition of his show – Europop - themed especially for Christmas Day!
There will be a selection of wonderful music from all around the continent, some of which listeners may well know, others which listeners likely will not! All of which will be introduced by Neil is his own unique manner.
Among the European acts on the playlist are James Last, Marlene Dietrich, ABBA, Demis Roussos, and Sergei Prokofiev. It is a Sketchy Production for BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds.
Between Christmas and New Year, wake up to a mix of music and dedications with Anne-Marie Wallace from December 26-30 from 7-9am on December 26 and 7-8am from December 27-30.
Also from December 27-30 and on January 2, William Crawley will be having in-depth conversations with a number of guests as part of BBC Talkback’s annual Christmas Specials. These include Irish singer-songwriter Paul Brady, Michelin-star chef Clare Smyth, and composer and musician Neil Martin.
Paddy Raff is back with his alter-ego Nigel in his not-so-humble BT9 abode, as he celebrates New Year’s Eve from 7pm-8pm playing a selection of his favourite party starters. Nigel plans to enjoy a tipple, put on the tunes, reflect on the past year that was and indeed what might be in store for 2023.
Later that night listeners can join Siobhan Brown for her soul show from 8-10pm, produced by McLean Media. Followed by Kwame Daniels for Inna Rhythm NYE Party Live from 10pm to midnight.
Live from BBC Radio Foyle DJ Kwame Daniels brings in the New Year spinning tunes from his vinyl collection. Listeners can expect everything from Disco to Boogie, Electronica to Afro Beat, Jazz to Funk.
All programmes will be available on BBC Sounds.
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