Dear bloggers.

I'm imagining a few sore heads this morning. That blog party was a little wild wasn't it? I've never seen such a range of out of date booze. And what was going on in the shower? All sorts of teenage behaviour reported, you should all be very proud of yourselves. And the clearing up has already been done thank you, you know who you are. That might have to do as far the booze in concerned, for the rest of you.

Some of us are working of course and 2 shows will mark the end of working for 2011 for me. The 5 Live show comes live from a theatre in Leicester Square (can't remember which one but I've got it written down somewhere) with Michael Sheen as our star guest. Then, while the assembled movie faithful get shown the festive favourite that is Die Hard (well it does take place at Christmas) I'll sprint youthfully through London's shopper-thronged streets to the good ship Radio 2 for an All Request Christmas - ARF/ARC in full effect. Get your ARC openers in (if you can still type straight) and let's get this Christmas started.

And today's show marks the leaving of producer Andy who has navigated from the bridge with dedication, wisdom and skill. He's been with the show since we started 2 years ago and it has gone in a flash. Thanks Andy, I'm sure the breakfast show will be a breeze. Chris's gain I feel!

So this is the last blog from me this year and what a year it's been. Drivetime ends up with record figures and a Sony for best music show - it doesn't really get much better than that. Thanks to all of you for being there every day and blogging with gusto and panache and enthusiasm and wild abandon. All that and more. I wish you a very lovely and peaceful Christmas and hope it is everything you want it to be. Keep the blog rolling! 401 comments it is!

Morning festive bloggers! Like the names! I was enjoying the confusion of yesterday's show. Nice peace on earth tunes by the way. I have always enjoyed Christmas radio shows; great atmosphere, great tunes (mostly) and knowing what most listeners are doing makes it all very special. I remember driving home on Christmas Eve from Nottingham to Worthing one year ('82/'83 probably) and listening to Steve Wright on Radio One. Although it was a nightmare journey, Steve made it a blast and I loved every minute of it. It was the feeling of Chris Rea's 'Driving Home For Christmas' but for the whole of the A52, M1 and A24. Hopefully we'll get a bit of that going today and tomorrow as we do our final shows of the year.

Loved Ralph yesterday. He is always so modest and unassuming but when he picks up his guitar, it all sounds great to me. His voice is so warm and weary, he gives everything he sings a presence and character. Loved his version of In The Bleak Midwinter.

Today we bring you the Christmas meal on a budget. Nigel says it is possible! Listen well, there may be a few savings to be made. He's not going to scrimp on flavour or quality, just not bust the bank in the process. Go Nige!

And songs (before you rest up) for SANTA CLAUS, ST NICHOLAS and FATHER CHRISTMAS as he gets ready for his big day. Quite a few to choose from I believe, so let's go and make a Christmas classic.

Have a merry and distinguished Thursday, see you after 5.

Thanks for all your best wishes aimed at my old boiler. The man came and, well, did what boiler men do (some mystical chanting of old spells and the sprinkling of desiccated thermostat parts over a low light apparently) and before you could say 'vaporised fluid exit' all was well. Warmth seeped through the house just as the temperature nudged up anyway, but the grandmas can descend to us with confidence. And after last weeks ARF call from Olivia, I'm still tempted to rename them Nanny 1 and Nanny 2 but maybe its too late for that. Granny and Grandma will have to do. Olivia's mum sent us a lovely email yesterday-her daughter's quite a star!

I realise we will lose bloggers gradually as you peel off for your Christmas break, but here's hoping there's loads still making it through till Friday. Then we are off till Jan 3rd with lovely Paddy Kielty sitting in. My entry for the 'number of blog entries over Christmas' competition would be 401. Thanks.

More Christmas music today, and we welcome back Ralph McTell. When he sang 'Streets of London' a few months back, we were inundated with best wishes and fond reminiscences of Ralph songs and gigs across the years. Today he's back with some festive stuff and we can't wait.

And oldies today please for PEACE ON EARTH with a good dose of GOOD WILL TO ALL MANKIND thrown in for good measure. We need all we can get, so come on and let's get this party started.

Here's to a warm and cuddly Wednesday, see you after 5.

Boiler failed again. House cold again. DIY skills failed (turning on and off failed). Might we need to cancel Christmas? Can we invite grandmothers when we all know the house is freezing? Might I regret playing 'Gypsies Tramps and Thieves' for the relatives yesterday? If we go knocking at their door, will there be room at the inn?

Do any bloggers do boiler maintenance?

Maybe we could just move in to Radio 2's studios and curl up in the corner. I'm sure the assorted children would behave and run errands for Alan Dedicoat if he needed a bag of sugar. We'd be a sort of Occupy! movement but without tents or sanitation requirements. Or placards and beards. Or maybe the boiler man/woman could just visit and sort it all out. World peace would be great for Christmas of course but right now I'd settle for a warm radiator.

Today we have a little festive loveliness with some live songs from Carole King. She has a new Christmas album out and you may have heard her on Ken Bruce recently. Well, we'll get in the mood for log fires and tinsel with one of the finest American voices of the last 50 years. I think anyone who grew up in the 70s harbours warm thoughts to Carole and James Taylor as purveyors of great songs and classic albums. Their voices are warm and reassuring and that'll do it for me. CK sings Christmas ( or 'Holiday' in its American version) from 6.

And songs today for WISEMEN please and WISDOM in all it's forms. In fact songs with wisdom in will do.

And we are nearly there. So have a comforting and joyful Tuesday, see you after 5.

Good grief it's cold. I know, winter and all that but there's a certain chill you wake to that lets you know the boiler is in trouble. Every radiator cold, every room icy. Bother and darn that thing (or words to that effect). So before Chris had played his 'big screen belter' (6.45 for you late risers) I'd been on all fours under the boiler trying to remember what the guy said to do last time this happened. Something about switching it on and then off again. Or was that the computer? Turned out the broadband had died as well anyway so I switched everything I could find off and then back on again. And slowly-and in the case of child 1's radiator, imperceptibly- everything sprung to life. I know the grateful family with show their appreciation in the traditional manner.

I spent most of Saturday in the car picking up child 1 from university, which meant a 5 hour trip there through snow, blizzard and hail. Then a 3 and a half hour return through sun rain and rainbows. And the journey back eased by "Pick of the Pops" and marvelling at how 1988 sounded older than 1968. Yesterday was carol service time and we dinged and donged quite merrily thank you very much. The mince pie quota is already exceeded however and re-balancing measures must be taken. Soup only.

We have some live festive tunes this week and first up is Smith and Burrows who have the best new Christmas album of the year in "Funny Looking Angels". This is Tom Smith from Editors and Andy Burrows who was with Razorlight and I Am Arrows who played on the show last year. I saw them play last week and it's a great show, I hope you like them-on after 6 of course.

We have Christmas confessions all this week and oldies today please inspired by THE RELATIVES. Yes the extended family in all it's glory/gruesomeness. You'll be visiting them or they'll be visiting you very soon. Bless them all. Songs for the family then and all will be well.

Have a well-wrapped and vitamin-filled Monday, see you after 5.

Wild and stormy around the estate. Leaf duties will need to be attended to. But won't be.

Morning to all. Fine Indian food consumed last night by the Drivetime collective, the highlight being a rowdy table of ne'er-do-wells getting a mouthful from the Mother Superior. They didn't realise who they were taking on; it wasn't a fair fight. By the time she had finished with them, the 'silly little boys' wished they had gone for a kebab. But the only thing that was skewered was their egos. You don't need security if Sall's around.

Fun and games with the Wombles rumbles on with the papers reporting, apparently, that many people saw Mike Batt remove his Womble head at the end of the routine. Here's what happened! After our furry friends had performed the 'Overground, underground, Wombling free' tune, I thanked the guys and Orinoco/Mike said "Are we off air?" I said yes as we had already started playing Amy Winehouse. That didn't mean the cameras had stopped rolling and that is where the unfortunate confusion arose. As the old saying has it, if in doubt, always keep your furry head on. Wise words.

So here we go with a frantic Friday. Movie chat at 2pm on 5 Live with Daniel Craig talking about 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' and the boss of the BBFC, David Cooke. Thence to a Christmasy Radio 2 for a swift ARF. Your inspirational opening song is more than welcome. Festive tunes now accepted (though far from compulsory).

Have a sure-footed and well-balanced Friday, see you after 2&5.

Wild and stormy around the estate. Leaf duties will need to be attended to. But won't be.

Morning to all. Fine Indian food consumed last night by the Drivetime collective, the highlight being a rowdy table of ne'er-do-wells getting a mouthful from the Mother Superior. They didn't realise who they were taking on; it wasn't a fair fight. By the time she had finished with them, the 'silly little boys' wished they had gone for a kebab. But the only thing that was skewered was their egos. You don't need security if Sall's around.

Fun and games with the Wombles rumbles on with the papers reporting, apparently, that many people saw Mike Batt remove his Womble head at the end of the routine. Here's what happened! After our furry friends had performed the 'Overground, underground, Wombling free' tune, I thanked the guys and Orinoco/Mike said "Are we off air?" I said yes as we had already started playing Amy Winehouse. That didn't mean the cameras had stopped rolling and that is where the unfortunate confusion arose. As the old saying has it, if in doubt, always keep your furry head on. Wise words.

So here we go with a frantic Friday. Movie chat at 2pm on 5 Live with Daniel Craig talking about 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' and the boss of the BBFC, David Cooke. Thence to a Christmasy Radio 2 for a swift ARF. Your inspirational opening song is more than welcome. Festive tunes now accepted (though far from compulsory).

Have a sure-footed and well-balanced Friday, see you after 2&5.

A thing I'm pondering. At what stage do you start to get emotional at Christmas? Chris this morning played the military wives song sung by children and clearly many listeners were very moved. An emotive song of course but that's only part of the reason I think. There are many carols that get me choked and the Smith and Burrows finale chorus of 'When The Thames Froze' is a throat-thickener as far as I'm concerned. But I wasn't always like this. When did it start? Not sure but presumably it is a sense of times and innocence lost. And people we have lost. Is it this that sparks the emotion? I'd be interested to know what bloggers think and which music(+ alcohol maybe?) that usually triggers it all. Or maybe it is me and I need to get a grip.

So on with the show. And today It's Nigel's turn, both to cook and to confess. It's an Italian Christmas today to follow on from the veggie feast last week and the Trad. dish to come next Thursday. We could spend all year cooking Christmas dishes and trimmings but 3 weeks is probably enough. I'm off later to look for Christmas ales, always spectacular if you find one. Even if you have to limit yourself due to the unbelievably high alcohol content. You have been warned!

So SPARKLY oldies today please for the DECORATIONS and TINSEL now appearing everywhere. Dragging out the decoration box and the usual cries of 'who broke this one?' and 'help me untangle these lights will you!' rent the air. WREATHS, LIGHTS and GLITTERY BALLS agogo.

Have a really rather surprising and smile-filled Thursday. See you after 5

Second blog of the day, in a manner of speaking. Those Womble videos now there for posterity. I was amazed at the response-we had so many texts and emails from listeners who felt 8 years old again. Folk who knew all the words. Fans who had the singing mugs and pyjamas. Those Wombles made quite an impression. I think Orinoco was feeling his age a bit but I hope you enjoyed a little festive cheer.

Clearly I escaped Didcot in one piece- I was entertained by the good people at the Rutherford Appleton Lab who tolerated my daft questions with grace and tolerance. I now want my own synchrotron and proton beam accelerator for Christmas. This might be tricky without a generous government loan, so a book token is more likely (I am terrible to buy for as books and cds are in plentiful supply at work, no one is quite sure where to start).

It was the Drivetime Christmas meal last night, organised by Nigel B. Apologies were received from the Mother Superior and Sister Rebecca who had excuses of varying quality but with Dr Mosh and Dr Nosh (Nigel's new name for certain) at the helm, a successful year was toasted aplenty. Part time Pauline turned up too, full of fabulous stories from the financial unit. Those economic types are good company and tell you what's really going on out there-should you want to be really depressed at Christmas. Anyway, I think we should do OFFICE PARTIES for the oldie theme today (I did suggest the Higgs-Bosun oldies but was ruthlessly, if correctly, cut down). So the office do it is, even if you don't have one! I know many of you work at home so your office party consists of a glass of cider and a crisp at your computer-but you're included too.

Today we bring you Mother Superior's confession (where to begin?) and Dr Mosh's final mid-winter mosh (boom and then boom).

Have a healthy and germ-free Wednesday, see you at 5.

The Wombles Visit BBC Radio 2:

The Wombles - Wombling Merry Christmas

The Wombles - The Wombling Song

Greetings from the super luxury of the train to Didcot. Not a nook, not a cranny is available for your bags, sandwich or general peace of mind. Every seat is reserved, but not really. So it's grab what you can essentially. I am off for some all-important research into book 2 and I know what you're thinking; if it's climax is in Didcot it must be exciting. You have a point of course but you'll have to trust me on this. Working on book 2 when book 1 has yet to be published is a bizarre place to be, but it is supposed to be finished by March (which it won't be unless you're from the publishers, in which case I'm well on track).

So here we are then with the rock'n'roll moment that is the Wombles playing live. Yes really. Orinoco, Wellington, Tomsk, Bungo, Tobermory, Madame Cholet, and of course the venerable Great Uncle Bulgaria are still around and still having a wombling merry Christmas. Where have they been all these years? Does Wimbledon Common still need clearing up? Did they fake the scenes that were filmed in the burrow? All will be revealed today from 6.

Clearly we need to do TIDYING and CLEARING UP oldies in their honour. I could suggest rubbish but that might be too tempting for some of you.

It's Rebecca's confession time today. Our very own Lady Mary has much to confess, but whether she'll give us a monster or just another anecdote from the Wolverhampton local newspapers days, we will have to wait and see.

And while I explore the dark underbelly of Didcot, have a ravishing and sunlit Tuesday. See you after 5

Monday greetings to all bloggers and I trust your weekend was at least half decent. Chances are it won't have been exactly relaxing. Too much to do. If you read the paper or your book for more than 5 minutes, you might get afflicted by Christmas guilt or get some cards thrown at you. And it's non stop till the 26th basically. So welcome to the least relaxing fortnight of the year (and yes I know that women don't need to be told this).

Anyway, the tree is lit and decorated. A good tree this year, good shape and yer actual branches all the way to the top. It's always my job (for some reason) to huff and puff about the tree. I'm the one who fusses about getting the height and shape absolutely right, much to the bafflement of everyone else. But everything seems good. Whether it makes it to Jan 6th of course is another matter.

So here we go with our final book club of the year and we are providing you with a selection of gift book ideas today. Fiction and non-fiction, kids, young adult and grown ups all included. I'd be interested in bloggers books of the year in any or all categories-we'll try and include as many as we can.

This week is team confession week! I'm not sure who goes first- I think it's Matt or maybe Rebecca but any way it's a chance for the collective to unburden themselves for a change. We haven't done one of these for a while but its high time the Drivetime forgivers were judged themselves.mim hoping to escape this year as Nigel steps up on Thursday (plus a blameless life makes it tricky for me obviously).

And in the oldies let's mark the ROYAL MAIL'S BUSIEST DAY with songs of CARDS, STAMPS, PARCELS, PACKAGES, DELIVERIES and COLLECTIONS. And 'sorry we missed you' notes.

Have a sprightly and nimble Monday, see you after 5.

And good morning to you. Up early, too much to do. Seems calmer and colder around the estate, not that I've walked it for long. Inside, the Christmas tree is up and rather lovely, though unadorned. The delicate negotiations about decorations have begun; everyone has their own ideas. Some are flexible, others intransigent - it's much like the Eurozone discussion really and I'm Herman Van Rompuy (I think). Child 3 breaks up today which seems excessive but it does mean that Christmas is pretty much arrived around these parts.

I'm off to a screening of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" this morning (the new one with Daniel Craig) and appears to take up about 2 and a half hours, then to 5 Live for some movie chat. Antonio Banderas and Selma Heyak talk "Puss in Boots" and also an intriguing Frenchman called Michel Hazanavicius. The name is pronounced Michel Haz-ana-vi-shoos, and he is the director of "The Artist" a new, black and white and (nearly) silent movie. Unbelievably, bearing in mind how out of step it is with every other film around, there is Oscar talk and is in with a chance of being the first silent film to win Best Picture Oscar since Wings in 1928.

Then a merry jaunt on the Central Line to Radio 2 and your very own All Request Friday. I'm thinking already of a pulsating, head-turning slice of music to get things going and that is where you come in. Though talk of blog-parties and the Oxford comma deserve attention, so does the ARF crown. Over to you.

Have a tantalising and satisfying Friday, see you after 2&5.

And good morning to you too, wherever you maybe. Even if you are in Thailand and just want to tell us how warm it is. Thanks Glen. The pedant text at the end of the show should have pleased the bloggers who have enjoyed the 'Chrises' theme of recent days. If you missed it, it was the showstopper link and the fact that James Taylor had polled the least number of votes. And it should have been fewest. Of course. If my children had been listening they would have guffawed as this is precisely the kind of thing I keep banging on about. Much to their irritation. Yesterday I had a long meeting with my (book) editor and talked commas, hyphens and colons (I know I know). There appears to be much high level discussion about when to use and when to leave well alone. I thought never a comma before an 'and' or a 'but', however (which isn't the same as a but) that is not always the case apparently. And I have taken recently to too many semi colons; this must stop. An affectation. Must cut down a bit.

Anyway I said good bye to the manuscript after 18 months work and it is at the printers before Christmas. All I have to do is panic.

So food time and it is Nigel's veggie Christmas tonight. The meat is often the most expensive bit of the food, so maybe there'll be more takers for a meat -free dish. I love the trimmings as much as the meat if I'm honest so this is good one for me. The most important item is the bread sauce - king of all it surveys. Make it a good one Nige!

And let's get a festive line in the oldies. I reckon it's CHRISTMAS WISH LIST time. "I WANT ONE OF THOSE." It's stuff you want for Christmas, what ever that might be. If what you want is a stable Eurozone, we'll try to accommodate you but wouldn't you rather Peace On Earth? Or you're 2 front teeth etc Have a sure-footed and bracing Thursday. See you after 5.

What Ho bloggers! Top work yesterday on the plural issue which seems solved. Chrises it has to be. And the "Sing Something Simple" reminiscence was fun; I used to hate it! It spoilt the Sunday groove after the Top 40 and had to lunge for the off switch pdq. That whole FM switchover led to many confused listeners. Try explaining that Radio 1 shut down at 7pm and later at midnight and you'll be thought a knave and a fool.

Big Radio 2 gig last night as Coldplay went back to Dingwall's in Camden, London, the venue of their first gig. Holds about 200 comfortably but I swear there were 6000 last night. And most R2 presenters were scattered about. Jo Whiley (looking great in a red frock) Jeremy Vine, Johnnie Walker, Dermot O'Leary and (singing along with gusto) Steve Lamacq. It was filmed for red button digital tv viewers but on Radio 2 on the 15th December. It's a good show too.They took a while to adjust their stadium show to a small stage but then they found precisely the right gear, and they were off.

Before the show I recorded a chat and tunes with Carole King for Christmas week. As you may well have heard from Ken's show yesterday, she really is delightful. We spent a while talking about David Jacobs who she had just met. She was mightily impressed!

And songs today please on our FROZEN PLANET. It's the last of David Attenborough's fantastic programmes tonight and the one US TV has banned. What more do you need?

Have a padded and enrobed Wednesday. See you after 5.

Early school run completed, just the one child to drop. I relent to his insistence that we listen to Radio 1 as I remember my dad doing the same. His finger would hover over the '4' button as I jumped out onto Solihull's pristine pavements. I just HAD to listen to Tony/Noel otherwise the day was all wrong. He relented gracefully even though he was a good deal further removed from the top 40 than I am. So I have to swap Chriss (plural of Chris? Chris's is wrong and Chrises looks wrong) for a while. I get to do the 'tsk, call this music?' routine as tradition dictates.

Having been dropped off, I then would have to pass the prefects (or monitors as we called them) and would get reported for wearing blue socks. That's how much of a rebel I was!

Yesterday is spent recording video pieces for the novel which finally goes to the printers this week. Once I hand the final proofs over (just...one...more...slight...correction). The cover is going be 'augmented reality' which (as I'm sure you know) means it will come to life if viewed with the right app. Weird and exciting all at once.

Today we welcome Tim Vine to Drivetime. His non-stop gag routine is pretty rare these days and I'm glad he's there on the DVD shelves as he appears to be the only comedian out there happy to have a PG rating. Yes, the family can watch with you, imagine that! Let's do JOKES and JOKERS please on the tunes and see if we can match it all up in a seamless fashion.

Have a bracing and well padded Tuesday, see you after 5.

Be with you in a minute.

I'm just watching some footage of Bruuuuuuuce Springsteen playing with Bob Seger at Madison Square Gardens last week. Old Time Rock'n'Roll. It's really great stuff And only 5 minutes or so. It's putting me in a classic rock kind of mood. It doesn't take much to be honest but the sight of these two esteemed gentlemen of ROCK parading themselves to such acclaim must give us all some heart. Even though it is hard to advocate the use of a headband, at any age.

A few bloggers in place for last night's charity do in Stratford with Danny Boyle talking about Millions (which we showed) and all his other films. It really is something to sit next to a (oscar-winning) director as his film is playing. You really have to like it and laugh at all the right places. Fortunately, it is a terrific film and I laughed at the same time as Danny did anyway. I suggested he recreate the throwing-money-around scene in the Olympics opening ceremony, for which he has responsibility. He wasn't convinced. Which is good thing.

Child 3's birthday saw the 5 Mayos together and eating in his favourite Portuguese chicken-based restaurant, followed by "Hugo" in 3D which was, for the second time, magnificent. I knew I might be in trouble when the a well known retailers ad had me welling up. I hadn't seen it before but had heard of its reputation. But there are a few moments in Hugo which will slay even the hardest heart. And so it was with me, even on second showing. And the man who plays George Melies (can't get the accents on this keyboard but it's an acute then a grave on the 2 es) is Sir Ben Kingsley and our guest tonight from 6.

And songs please about BREAD and BAKING in general. This is because there is a show on tonight called "The Big Bread Experiment" which has at its heart, the idea that there is an almost mystical quality of the LOAF. It's disguised as a reality show but it's a love song to BREAD, so let us sing along.

Have a reassuring and cheery Monday, see you after 5

Today written from Chris's studio as he entertains the military wives. Big smiles from everyone! Vassos is invisible in a sea of swaying choir ladies! He's ok about it though. All the best to them for their song raising money for great causes, the British Legions and SSAFA. I'm hoping Chris clears up. That's one messy studio in there.

Today is one those 2 show days, starting with Movies with Mark at 5L. And get this-we have Martin Scorsese! Cinema royalty indeed. He's talking about his magnificent Hugo film and I, for one, cannot wait to see it again. Child 3 has a birthday this weekend (12? Really? How did that happen? He was tiny just yesterday) and I'm hoping to persuade him to chose Hugo over Arthur Christmas and Puss in Boots. His call but might offer him money if needed.

Then it'll be one of those fancy-dan All Request Friday with lots of lovely folk making your weekend seem somewhat humdrum. Set the pace now! Big brash and noisy tunes now welcome for our first song if something takes your fancy...

Have a joyful and harmonious Friday, see you after 2&5.

Pinch punch etc. Having just endured a school run where there was a quite unnecessary outbreak of 'pinch-punch, first day of the month' I can declare it a very silly custom. Particularly if followed by 'a flick and a kick for being so quick. And then a 'punch in the tummy for being so funny' and then we all get arrested. Or given detention or something. Anyway we mark the beginning of December with the most excited Chris at breakfast and great to hear him play the 'Caro Emerald in Dutch' clip again. Only our own Matt Williams matches Chris for Yuletide excitement and I fear for their sanity as we progress towards the 25th. And ours. Be interested to know when bloggers like to hear the Christmas tunes start. Given that shops have been playing them since August, we become inoculated against their tunes and merriment. But on the radio? Now? Wait till the 24th? What say you?

Anyway our tunes today should be WINTER which by any measurement (apart from temperatures) must have started. NO Christmas tunes just yet, plenty of time for that, just WINTRY, DECEMBER 1ST type tunes. No references to Santa, tinsel or Jesus. Those are the rules. Santa, tinsel and Jesus will have their turn very shortly.

I have my first Christmas party this afternoon which is a children's books authors do. I will attend but feel a fraud. This is because the novel isn't out till March and everyone else there will be multi-million selling writers of renown. I will sneak in, eat a pie and shuffle out. Then beetle to radio 2 for the feast that Nigel will have prepared. It is Pork Belly tonight and again, something I would never order. But Nige will sprinkle it with cabbage or something and all will be wonderful.

Off to choose a frock. Have a sure-footed and level headed Thursday. See you after 5.