麻豆约拍

Every year since 2013, the poet, broadcaster and author Lemn Sissay has arranged a Christmas dinner for people aged 18-25 who have left the care system and have no one with whom to have Christmas dinner. No one to give presents or receive them. No-one on the other end of the cracker.

This is not a charity. It isn't even an organisation. It's a project Lemn undertook because he understands how it feels - at 18 he was released from a children's home and given an empty flat in Wigan, with no-one in the world who had known him for longer than a year.

Lemn's series considers what these dinners have taught him about charity, social enterprise, and people, through stand-up, interview and poetry.

This time, Lemn explores the idea of presents - with the help of Nick Cole, the UK project director for Operation Christmas Child, and comedian Jason Cook.

Written and performed by Lemn Sissay

Producer: Ed Morrish

A Somethin' Else production for 麻豆约拍 Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2019.