BBC Radio Christmas 2016

Bob Shennan says: “During this festive period BBC Radio will remain a crucial and continuous soundtrack to the lives of our listeners. From Radio 1 to Radio 5 live and our digital stations, our teams have created Christmas schedules which will surprise, move and entertain them, with content expertly curated and carefully tailored to their tastes."

Popular Music Radio

• Three weeks of Christmas mixes from party tunes to festive songs on Radio 1
• Olly Murs special appearance in Radio 1’s Live Lounge to get young audiences in the festive spirit
• Radio 1Xtra’s Hot For 2017 list and BBC Music Sound Of 2017 to predict acts geared for success next year
• Paul Gambaccini tells the story of Kenny Everett’s friendship with The Beatles uncovering colourful stories on Radio 2 - including how Kenny inspired lyrics to one of the group’s most memorable hits - and an interview with Dave Cash
• Nadiya Hussain invites listeners for a festive family feast on Radio 2
• The nation's favourite choirmaster, Gareth Malone, presents his favourite choral music on Radio 2 and also appears as a festive castaway on Radio 4
• Shaun Keaveny will co-host his BBC Radio 6 Music Breakfast show on Boxing Day with two superlative Brians - Eno and Cox - two of the most intelligent and most respected minds in UK whom 6 Music brings together to celebrate music, science, discovery and inquisitive minds
• Natasha Khan, aka Bat For Lashes, Laura Marling and Annie Nightingale confirmed as BBC Radio 6 Music’s Wise Women this Christmas

BBC Radio 3 and BBC Orchestras and Choir

• Sir David Attenborough reveals a side to himself that few know, he tells Radio 3 stories behind music he recorded from his travels around the world
• Archbishop John Sentamu and Royal Ballet Principal Edward Watson reveal their Private Passions on Radio 3
• A rare production of Shostakovich's early surreal opera, The Nose, starring Martin Winkler and John Tomlinson both from the Royal Opera House
• In a first for Composer of the Week in its over 70 years history, Donald Macleod luxuriates in the theatrical and charismatic world of Ivor Novello featuring special new recordings of works not heard for 100 years
• A special binaural recording of The Shepherd, an innovative adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s haunting classic Christmas tale, read by Luke Thompson for Between the Ears
• BBC Symphony Orchestra joins comedian David Sedaris as he reads his original tales about Christmas in this performance mixing wit, words and music
• BBC National Chorus of Wales and the orchestra of Welsh National Opera come together for the first time to perform Handel’s Messiah
• BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra joins BBC Radio Scotland’s Jamie MacDougall as they present some of the most famous festive tunes written for the silver screen

Radio 4, Radio 4 Extra, 5 live and Asian Network

• Bruce Springsteen confirmed as one of Radio 4’s festive castaways
• Tori Amos and Neil Gaiman cameos revealed in spellbinding tale Stardust on Radio 4
• Just A Minute does Panto whilst Gardeners’ Question Time heads to Number 10 Downing Street on Radio 4
• Special festive short stories by best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith broadcast on Radio 4 in the lead up to Christmas
• Carey Mulligan, Helen Morrissey and Dame Sally Davies to guest edit Radio 4’s Today
• Ed Reardon with his feline friend Elgar consider the role of cats in the radio archives in The Meow Show on Radio 4 Extra
• Comedian Russell Howard makes his 5 live debut with a show of fun and laughter in the company of friends and family
• Number 1 - the Andy Murray Story on 5 live looks back at Murray’s extraordinary year
• On 5 live, John Pienaar shares his razor sharp political observations of a tumultuous year in politics and gazes into the crystal ball to predict what 2017 may bring
• Asian Network brings The Official Asian Music Chart Of The Year to listeners with Suzi Mann

Hear the Year 2016

This December, BBC Radio travels the soundscape of the year in a unique way - through moods. The Hear the Year website arranges memorable moments from across BBC Radio under six different moods, from hilarity to glory and revelation. The compelling collection will launch on the BBC Radio website and BBC iPlayer Radio app on 10 December, bringing listeners some of the best audio moments of the year, whatever they are in the mood for this festive season.