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Strictly's Alexandra Burke and Gorka Marquez

Alexandra and Gorka swing into the studio to discuss the Strictly Come Dancing Grand Final and Chris and Noel Edmonds pay tribute to the late Keith Chegwin.

Alexandra and Gorka swing into the studio to discuss their Strictly Come Dancing journey so far ahead of this Saturday's Grand Final. Chris and Noel Edmonds pay tribute to the late Keith Chegwin, reminiscing about their time working together. We also hear your memories and connections to Keith through a special Swap Shop Top Tenuous.

Chris also speaks to brussels sprouts farmer Ian MacLachlan about what goes into growing these special Christmas greens. Plus we get your reports of freezing temperatures across the UK, Frankie Dettori is in the sports locker with Vassos and we Pause For Thought with Nick Baines, the Bishop of Leeds.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Tue 12 Dec 2017 06:30
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Clips

See all clips from Strictly's Alexandra Burke and Gorka Marquez (3)

Music Played

  • Wham!

    Last Christmas

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

  • U2

    Get Out Of Your Own Way

    • Songs Of Experience.
    • Island.

  • Joan Jett and the Blackhearts & The Blackhearts

    Little Drummer Boy

    • I Love Rock N' Roll.
    • Blackheart Records β€Ž.
    • 10.

  • Dave Edmunds

    Queen Of Hearts

    • The Best Of Dave Edmunds.
    • Swansong.

  • The Cardigans

    Lovefool

    • The All Time Greatest Movie Songs.
    • Columbia/Sony Tv.

  • The Banana Splits

    The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)

    • Television's Greatest Hits Vol. 5: In Living Color (Various Artists).
    • TVT Records.

  • Annie Lennox & Al Green

    Put a Little Love in Your Heart

    • Scrooged O.S.T. (Various Artists).
    • A&M.

  • Gwen Stefani

    You Make It Feel Like Christmas (feat. Blake Shelton)

    • You Make It Feel Like Christmas.
    • Interscope.
    • 001.

  • Johnny Mathis

    When A Child Is Born

    • 70's Number Ones Vol 3.
    • Old Gold.

  • Justin Bieber

    Sorry

    • Purpose.
    • Def Jam Recordings.
    • 4.

  • Jim Reeves

    Silver Bells

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

  • Taylor Swift

    Gorgeous

    • reputation.
    • Big Machine.

  • Daryl Hall & John Oates

    Rich Girl

    • Looking Back - The Best Of Hall & Oat.
    • BMG.

  • Brown Sauce

    I Wanna Be A Winner

    • (Single).
    • ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ.

  • Judy Garland

    Get Happy

    • Musical Wonderland (Various Artists).
    • Warner Strategic Marketi.

  • Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott

    He Wants To

    • (CD Single).
    • EMI.

  • Clean Bandit

    Symphony (feat. Zara Larsson)

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.

  • Prefab Sprout

    The King of Rock 'N' Roll

    • Hits Album 8, Part 2 (Various Artist.
    • Hits Album.

  • Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

    Blinded By The Light

    • Drivetime 3 (Various Artists).
    • Dino.

  • Paul McCartney

    Wonderful Christmastime

    • The 7" Singles Box.
    • MPL.
    • 7.

  • ΅ώ±π²β΄Η²Τ³¦Γ©

    Love On Top

    • 4.
    • RCA.
    • 1.

  • Elbow

    Golden Slumbers

    • (CD Single).
    • Polydor.

  • Elvis Presley

    Santa Claus Is Back in Town

    • If Every Day Was Like Christmas.
    • RCA.

  • Bon Jovi

    Please Come ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ For Christmas

    • A Very Special Christmas 2 (Various).
    • A&M.

  • Tom Chaplin

    2000 Miles

    • Twelve Tales Of Christmas.
    • Island.

  • Jess Glynne

    Don't Be So Hard On Yourself

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.
    • 001.

  • Jools Holland & JosΓ© Feliciano

    Let's Find Each Other Tonight

    • (CD Single).
    • East West Records.

Pause for Thought

Pause for Thought

From Nick Baines, the Bishop of Leeds:

A few years ago I found myself in the Foreign Ministry of a Middle Eastern country having what we would probably call a robust conversation with the deputy foreign minister of that state. At one point he stood up, banged the table and said: β€œSometimes it seems there is no light at the end of the tunnel. But, it is not because the light is not there - it is because the tunnel is not straight.”

I have never forgotten that. I admit that when I mentioned this recently someone responded by saying that the light in the tunnel might actually be the oncoming train. But, taking a more positive view, I think it is helpful to recognise that sometimes life is pretty complicated and messy, and that the present darkness isn’t the end of the story.

This month of all months this should be clear. Our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate Hanukkah, and they do so with candles and lights. Christians are living through Advent - which, even in the word itself, is about waiting and not running out of the darkness in order merely to escape it.

There’s a great Bruce Cockburn song called β€˜Closer to the light’ which actually focuses on the dark stuff. In a different song he says: β€œSometimes the best map will not guide you; sometimes the darkness is your friend.” I think as I get older I understand this more and more. Rather than look for instant escapes from difficulty or challenge, I try to stay with the reality, trusting that even though the tunnel is not straight, ... the light will come and, in the words of John’s gospel that will be read at Christmas, β€œthe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”

A different way of putting this was told to me by a guy who said: β€œWhen you’re in the desert, look for the flowers that grow only in the desert.” What he meant was: if you spend your time in the desert looking for daffodils, not only will you be disappointed, but, you will also miss out on what could be experienced or learned only in the desert.

This isn’t easy or romantic. But, I think it’s powerful.

Broadcast

  • Tue 12 Dec 2017 06:30
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