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Mary Berry, Josh Widdicombe, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe

Chris gets the festive spirit with Mary Berry and Josh Widdicombe. Plus Michael Ball and Alfie Boe sing live in the studio and are joined by the Gospel Oak school choir.

Chris gets the Christmas countdown underway with festive special guests! Mary Berry's on standby to answer your cooking queries and tell us about her TV shows on the box over the holidays. Comedian Josh Widdicombe spills the beans on The Last Leg and the latest series of his hit iPlayer series Josh. Plus Michael Ball and Alfie Boe bring the festive cheer by performing live in the studio and are joined by the Gospel Oak school choir. Father Brian D'Arcy has the Pause For Thought.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Mon 19 Dec 2016 06:30
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Clips

See all clips from Mary Berry, Josh Widdicombe, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe (6)

Music Played

  • Slade

    Merry Xmas Everybody

    • (CD Single).
    • EMI.

  • Adele

    Water Under The Bridge

    • 25.
    • XL.
    • 6.

  • T. Rex

    Children of the Revolution

    • Tanx + Zinc Alloy.
    • Edsel.
    • 006.

  • The Supermen Lovers

    Starlight (feat. Mani Hoffman)

    • Now 50 (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • Brenda Lee

    Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

    • Brenda Lee - The EP Collection.
    • See For Miles.

  • Laura Mvula

    Ready Or Not

    • The Dreaming Room.
    • RCA.
    • 001.

  • Pet Shop Boys

    Always On My Mind

    • Pet Shop Boys - Discography.
    • Parlophone.

  • Scouting for Girls

    Christmas In The Air (Tonight)

    • (CD Single).
    • Warner Music.

  • Alma Cogan

    Never Do A Tango With An Eskimo

    • Christmas Memories Are Made Of This.
    • Virgin.

  • Tom Odell

    Silhouette

    • (CD Single).
    • Columbia.

  • The Jacksons

    Blame It On The Boogie

    • Disco Fever (Various Artists).
    • Global Television.

  • Coldplay

    Christmas Lights

    • (CD Single).
    • Parlophone.
    • 1.

  • Harry Belafonte

    Jump In The Line

    • The Best Of.
    • Camden.
    • 16.

  • Kylie Minogue

    At Christmas

    • Kylie At Christmas (Snow Queen Edition).
    • Parlophone.

  • Fleet Foxes

    White Winter Hymnal

    • Fleet Foxes.
    • Bella Union.
    • 1.

  • The Weeknd

    I Feel It Coming (feat. Daft Punk)

    • (CD Single).
    • Universal Republic Records.

  • Band Aid

    Do They Know It's Christmas?

    • That's Christmas (Various Artists).
    • EMI.

  • Emeli SandΓ©

    Breathing Underwater

    • Long Live The Angels.
    • Virgin.

  • Alfie Boe & Michael Ball

    Wonderful World / Over The Rainbow

  • Alfie Boe & Michael Ball

    I'll Be ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ For Christmas

  • Alfie Boe & Michael Ball

    Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought

From Father Brian D’Arcy, a Catholic Passionist priest:

The light in a child’s eye is all it takes to make Christmas magical which is why Christmas is synonymous with happiness and light. Fittingly, perhaps, the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, takes place this week in the run up to Christmas - the season of light.

Light dispelling darkness, hope overcoming despair, that’s Christmas joy. β€œThe Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5). It’s a quest which is part of the human story for thousands of years, even before Christ.

New Grange, in the Midlands of Ireland, is an amazing 5000 year old burial chamber. The ancient farming community who constructed New Grange did so with such accuracy that on the morning of the winter solstice, incredibly the ancient roof box is perfectly aligned to catch the rising sun. It sends a shaft of light into the bowels of the tomb and illuminates a 20 yard corridor and chamber where their ancient dead were laid to rest. The dead were not abandoned to darkness even then.

5000 years later, hundreds still gather on these solstice days before Christmas celebrating that those who walk in darkness will see a great light.

Christmas is Hope made human.

Whatever about ancient tombs, nothing compares to the goodness of ordinary people like us. We can make Christmas special for ourselves and for our loved ones by celebrating as a family, by granting forgiveness to an enemy, tolerance to an opponent and to you, respect. Show a child good example, be generous with your friendship and give your love freely. Love can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.

And if you’re feeling lonely and broken Christmas can be a trying time. Β I hope you’ll find the inner strength you need. May a kind friend enlighten you with the peace Christmas promises. There is no place too dark for the light of Christ to reach.

Happy Christmas.

Broadcast

  • Mon 19 Dec 2016 06:30
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