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Amanda Abbington, Helen George, Jo Malone and the Military Wives Choir

Chris gets that festive feeling going with special guests Amanda Abbington, Helen George and perfumer Jo Malone. Plus the Military Wives Choir sing live in the studio!

Chris has the Christmas spirit in full flow with special festive guests. Helen George graces the grotto to tell us about the Call the Midwife Christmas special and Amanda Abbington shares the latest from series four of Sherlock. Plus perfumer Jo Malone sprays the studio with stories from her autobiography My Story. The magnificent Military Wives Choir sparkle by showcasing carols and songs from their album ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ For Christmas. Reverend Kate Bottley has the Pause for Thought.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Wed 21 Dec 2016 06:30
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Clips

See all clips from Amanda Abbington, Helen George, Jo Malone and the Military Wives Choir (4)

Music Played

  • Saint Etienne

    I Was Born On Christmas Day

    • (CD Single).
    • Heavenly.
    • 17.

  • Tom Odell

    Silhouette

    • (CD Single).
    • Columbia.

  • Έι³ά²Τ‐D.²Ρ.°δ.

    Christmas In Hollis

    • A Very Special Christmas (Various).
    • A&M.

  • Rick Astley

    Dance

    • (CD Single).
    • BMG.
    • 006.

  • Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews

    Baby It's Cold Outside

    • (CD Single).
    • Gut Records.

  • Fleetwood Mac

    Everywhere

    • 50 Years - Don't Stop.
    • Warner Bros.
    • 008.

  • Betsy

    Wanted More

    • (CD Single).
    • Warner Bros.

  • Mud

    Lonely This Christmas

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

  • Emeli SandΓ©

    Breathing Underwater

    • Long Live The Angels.
    • Virgin.

  • Macy Gray

    Winter Wonderland

    • A Very Ally Christmas (Various).
    • Epic.

  • Chic

    I'll Be There (feat. Nile Rodgers)

    • It's About Time.
    • Virgin EMI Records.

  • Chic

    Le Freak

    • The Very Best Of.
    • Rhino.

  • Chic

    Everybody Dance

    • The Last Days Of Disco (Film Soundtra.
    • Columbia.

  • Mariah Carey

    All I Want For Christmas Is You

    • Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas.
    • Columbia.

  • Jamie Cullum

    Show Me The Magic

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.
    • 1.

  • Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans

    Here Comes Santa Claus

    • A Christmas Gift For You (Phil Spect.
    • Phil Spector Int.

  • The Hues Corporation

    Rock The Boat

    • Million Sellers Vol.14 - The Seventie.
    • Disky.

  • Kylie Minogue

    At Christmas

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

  • Pretenders

    2000 Miles

    • The Best Christmas Album In The World.
    • Virgin.

  • Military Wives

    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ For Christmas

  • Military Wives

    Deck The Hall

  • Military Wives

    Jingle Bells

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought

From Kate Bottley, The Reverend Kate Bottley, a Church of England priest in North Nottinghamshire:

In order to allow myself extra pudding and stuffing allowance this coming Sunday I’ve been hitting my local swimming pool hard. Doing lengths before breakfast. It’s a dedicated crowd submerging themselves in tepid water at 7am and over the days I’ve got to know and recognise my fellow swimmers. One lady in particular though intrigued me. Every day before getting in the water she dons swimming cap and googles, showers carefully, does some pool side stretches and then gets in, where she stands in the shallow end chatting to everyone between their lengths, 20 minutes later and without swimming a single stroke, she gets out, gets changed and buys herself a chocolate bar from the vending machine, which she eats while walking across the car park.

I’ll admit at first she annoyed me then quickly I came to admire her. Because she seemed to get as much, if not more enjoyment out of being there than any of us, soaking up the atmosphere, making friends and watching the world go by.

For lots of us in the coming days the pace is going to be fast and I know I’ll be going to crazy lengths to make sure everything goes as it should. Eventually collapsing in a heap on Christmas day afternoon just in time for Call the midwife. Well, perhaps there’s a lesson to be learnt from the lady at the pool, to stop and watch a while, to stand in the cool shallow waters and just enjoy the moment, to just be as well as do.

This coming Saturday it’s not the birth of the king of chaos we remember but the birth of the prince of peace and I hope to enjoy a silent night as well as a noisy day illuminated by silent candle flame scented with hope, so whatever the next few days hold for you and whatever company you will keep, in the midst of the wrapping, prepping and stuffing, I hope you detect a moment of rest, a holy pause and much needed peace, And peace be with you and all those you love, this Christmas.

Broadcast

  • Wed 21 Dec 2016 06:30
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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