BBC Radio Christmas Launch 2015 - Radio 6 Music

On this most festive of days, Lauren Laverne is joined by Tom and Ed AKA The Chemical Brothers for a three-hour special. The electronic duo will be picking some of their favourite tracks, discussing the changing face of dance music, telling some choice tales of their two decades together and why 2015 was the year they decided to pursue solo projects.

From their early days at university to playing Heavenly Social, their   Radio 1 Evening Session mix and their relationship with Glastonbury, from wanting to work with Bob Dylan, searching for absconding rappers, and catching the attention of mullet-based rock demi-gods... they've done it all. And as a gift to listeners, Tom and Ed have made an exclusive and unique mix for the show - The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

Christmas Day, 10am-1pm
6 Music’s Chemical Christmas is a BBC Radio 6 Music Production

The Don Letts Culture Clash Christmas Cracker

In his Culture Clash Christmas Cracker, Don Letts presents his personal selection of festive sounds from around the world - spanning decades and styles. This three-hour Yuletide special includes the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Toots And The Maytals, Cocteau Twins, Stevie Wonder and even Bing Crosby. And listeners can bet Santa's boots there's bound to be a fair bit of bass!

Christmas Day, 4pm-7pm
The Don Letts Culture Clash Christmas Cracker is a BBC Radio 6 Music Production

Wise Women

BBC Radio 6 Music welcomes three Wise Women who will be taking to the airwaves bearing their gifts of music, insight and originality. Across Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Sunday 27th December, Laurie Anderson, Roisin Murphy and Peaches will each be presenting their own two-hour show featuring the music that has inspired them, and looking back across the past year and ahead to 2016. For the rest of the evening and overnight, each will select some of their favourite 6 Music programming from 2015.

Laurie Anderson is an American experimental musician, composer, performance artist, film-maker and inventor, who was married to Lou Reed. She is well-known for her innovative use of technology and was NASA’s first artist-in-residence. Her two-hour show features music by artists including Nina Simone, Tom Waits, Amy Winehouse, Dinah Washington, Jimmy Cliff, Beck and Lou Reed. Her curated programme choices are Lou Reed’s New York Shuffle, which runs the gamut from jazz to contemporary indie to vintage rock. Originally broadcast from Lou’s home, the world-renowned, avant-garde innovator co-hosted the show with music producer Hal Willner, who collaborated with Lou on the film Berlin. Laurie also picks Bob Dylan’s Big Freeze, presented by Bob Harris it tells the story of Dylan’s first visit to the UK during the freezing winter of 1962 – 1963; she follows this with archive music sessions from Tracy Chapman, Lou Reed and Amy Winehouse.

Laurie Anderson said: “It’s wonderful to be a Wise Woman of 6 Music this Christmas. I’m going to share with my listeners some of my all-time favourite songs from some of the queens of music including Nina Simone and Anne Peebles. The songs I’ll be playing are about people who are looking for things, and also about their fears. Some of the songs are about consolation, and some are about freedom and a lot of them are about problems and what to do about them.”

Róisín Murphy is a Dublin-born singer, best known for her unique, experimental style in both music and fashion. Her two-hour show includes music by Astrid Gilberto, Sonic Youth, Cameo, and Kris Kristofferson. Following this, Róisín’s curated selections from across the year include guest presenter Kim Gordon’s show where the Sonic Youth bassist, guitarist and singer plays the songs that have defined her life; two documentaries which look at the towns which shaped her musical upbringing – Sound Of A City: Manchester where radio host and DJ Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy lifts the lid on New Order's Power, Corruption And Lies and its relationship to Manchester, and Sound Of A City: Sheffield where Colleen looks deep into The Human's League's Travelogue album and the city from which it was built. This will be followed by archive sessions from James Blake, Joni Mitchell, John Cale and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

Roisin Murphy said: “For this coming festive season I have been appointed one of BBC Radio 6 Music's Wise Women, surely a mistake as I'm daft as a brush! It does however offer me a chance to programme a night’s entertainment for you that will include my own show packed with loads a lovely music, some nifty documentaries from the BBC archive and a selection of live sessions from artists I love.”

Peaches – AKA Merrill Beth Nisker - is a Canadian-born electronic performance artist and provocateur whose 25-year career has influenced mainstream pop culture from the fringes - musically, visually, and politically. Her debut album was released in 1995. Since then her varied career has included six albums, a series of outrageous live shows, DJ sets and collaborations with artists as diverse as Iggy Pop, Kim Gordon, Feist, Pink, and Christina Aguilera. Her music has also featured in a number of well-known TV and film productions including Mean Girls, Lost Girl, Ugly Betty and South Park. This year Peaches released Rub, her first album in six years and her own photography book, What Else Is In the Teaches Of Peaches.

Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Sunday 27th December, 7pm-9pm
Wise Women are BBC Radio 6 Music Productions

Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service

Jarvis Cocker looks back over his Sunday Service highlights of 2015, including interviews with the artist Christian Marclay, author Stephen Witt, neuroscientist David Eagleman, journalist Paul Morley and snooker sensation Steve Davis.

Sunday 27th December, 4pm-7pm
Jarvis Cocker’s Sunday Service is a BBC Radio 6 Music Production

New Year’s Eve On 6 Music

New Year’s Eve is set to go out with a bang as Craig Charles gets the party started from 7pm-10pm with the best in funk and soul, then from 10pm-1am Nemone will bring in the New Year with a massive, music-filled celebration.

New Year’s Eve, Craig Charles 7pm-10pm, and Nemone, 10pm-1am
Nemone is a BBC Radio 6 Music Production
The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show is a TBI Media Production

Steve Lamacq

Noel Gallagher joins Steve with a sack full of tunes to DJ an imaginary Christmas Party… and there's not a sleigh bell in sight. Expect sounds from The Velvet Underground and The Animals, served up alongside some crackers listeners might not have heard before from The Kitkats, Gino With Johnny The Greek and Kid Koala.

Steve will chat to Noel about his latest projects as well as a look back at the past year. Expect to hear tales of Oasis, house parties and his reaction to his second solo album, Chasing Yesterday, going to number one. Plus, Steve will be asking him about what he thought of the response to his appearance on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. And Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the annual Gallagher festive rant...

Friday 18th December, 4pm-7pm
Steve Lamacq is a BBC Radio 6 Music Production

England’s Lionesses

Former England keeper Rachel Brown-Finnis and the current England women's football team reflect on winning bronze at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada this year.

New Year’s Day, 1.30-2.30pm
Producer: Caroline Barker for Jibber Jabber Productions

Al Murray’s 7 Day Christmas

Al Murray and guests pull apart and take a lighter look at some of the big Christmas moments of 2015.

Christmas Day, 10-11am
Producer: Avalon

Kermode And Mayo Film Review: Films Of The Year

Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo present some of the best bits from their film review programme in 2015, and compare their own top 10 films of the year to decide the “official” Wittertainment top 10 movies of 2015.

Christmas Day, 1-3pm
Producer: Robin Bulloch for Somethin’ Else Productions

The Day I Met The Queen

In the year when she became Britain's longest-serving monarch, 5 live presents another chance to hear people recall what it's like to meet Her Majesty The Queen.

Everyone from young children to the Prime Minister reflect on what meeting her means to them. There are recollections of famous meetings and sad encounters, as well as memories of meetings during periods of controversy for the monarchy and the country.

In some instances, people talk about how meeting The Queen changed their lives while a hardened republican even admits to being impressed by Her Majesty's sense of duty.

Each era of her reign is represented with contributions from 1966 World Cup goal-scorer Sir Geoff Hurst, 1977 Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade, Falklands War veteran Simon Weston and relatives of the victims of the 9/11 atrocity.

Christmas Day, 3.30-4.30pm
Producer: Ashley Byrne for Made in Manchester

Best Of Danny Baker-The Guests

Danny Baker and Lynsey Hipgrave present highlights from some of their biggest and most entertaining guest interviews from 2015, including Chrissie Hynde, Paddy McGuiness, Lulu and Alan Davies.

Christmas Day, 4.30-6.30pm
Producer: Patrick Campbell for Campbell/Davison Productions

Fighting Talk

Josh Widdicombe hosts a special all-festive edition of Fighting Talk. Guests aim to gain points whilst discussing sporting stories from the past, present and future. Points are awarded for informed comment and wit but taken away for drivel and silly outbursts.

Christmas Day, 8-9pm
Producer: World’s End Productions

I Was There

Peter Allen looks back at moments where history was made, as he talks to the people who were there at the time.

Christmas Day, 10pm-midnight
Producer: Tim Levell for BBC

5 live Sport

5 live Sport will broadcast back-to-back commentary from four Premier League fixtures including Stoke v Manchester United and Newcastle v Everton.

Boxing Day, 11.30am-10pm
Producer: various

Related BBC Links

• BBC 6 Music