Christmas
6 Podcasts & Plays To Listen To While Cooking For Christmas
Nothing will complement your Christmas preparation like some judiciously picked audio.
Whether it’s the classic Carols From King’s, something to keep you gripped, make you laugh or simply to get you in merry spirits, we’ve selected the best things to listen to while you finalise your festive flourishes.
In this show, which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 at 9pm on Christmas Eve, BBC arts journalist Georgia Mann will be at Ronnie Scott’s in London for an evening of Christmas jazz. Expect new arrangements of well-loved festive tunes, from Ella Fitzgerald’s Ive Got My Love to Keep Me Warm to Barbra Streisand’s Snowbound as well as a whistle-stop tour of the legendary venue’s Christmas gigs of the past.
BBC Radio 4’s 10-part series, presented by Mel Giedroyc, takes a deep and fascinating look at the man behind the world’s favourite cartoons. Disney was a genius, a depressive, a giant of the entertainment industry who was terrified on his deathbed that he’d be forgotten. There is much to learn here about the man, his movies and the mythology that surrounds both.
Join Nigel Slater on a mid-winter walk as he reads – in his ultra-comforting tones – extracts, recipes, notes and stories from his book, The Christmas Chronicles. His love of the cold months and Christmas itself is inspiring. Take this passage in praise of Christmas Eve: ‘Carols are playing, the table is dusted with flour and the pastry cutters are having their annual outing. This is the day I relish almost more than any other – and in part because it’s the day I get to make mince pies.’ Trust us – this is the most soothing and festive recording imaginable.
The wonderful Beth Kempton is an author, yoga teacher and very calm human being. She says: ‘In this podcast I share soothing wintery words from my favourite poets and writers, tips for a stress-free holiday season and advice for taking care of ourselves at this time of year. Join me at my kitchen table deep in the English countryside to explore ideas for a natural and sustainable Christmas.’
Carols From Kings, BBC
Few moments are more spine-tingling each year than when the sweet chorister sings the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City in the candlelit chapel of King’s College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve. The rest of the carols and readings aren’t bad either! Tune in on BBC Radio 4 at 3pm.
Robert Bathurst and Hugh Skinner shine brightly in this energetic reworking of Oliver Goldsmith’s beloved play. She Stoops to Conquer, which was first performed in 1773, skewers a timeless obsession with class and gender inequality. Now, the writer Barunka O’Shaughnessy has brought the Regency jokes up to date and artfully created a contemporary way into this 250-year-old drama.
By Becky Ladenburg
December 2023
Christmas At Ronnie’s, BBC Sounds
In this show, which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 at 9pm on Christmas Eve, BBC arts journalist Georgia Mann will be at Ronnie Scott’s in London for an evening of Christmas jazz. Expect new arrangements of well-loved festive tunes, from Ella Fitzgerald’s Ive Got My Love to Keep Me Warm to Barbra Streisand’s Snowbound as well as a whistle-stop tour of the legendary venue’s Christmas gigs of the past.
Walt Disney: A Life In Films, BBC Sounds
BBC Radio 4’s 10-part series, presented by Mel Giedroyc, takes a deep and fascinating look at the man behind the world’s favourite cartoons. Disney was a genius, a depressive, a giant of the entertainment industry who was terrified on his deathbed that he’d be forgotten. There is much to learn here about the man, his movies and the mythology that surrounds both.
The Christmas Chronicles: A Podcast
Join Nigel Slater on a mid-winter walk as he reads – in his ultra-comforting tones – extracts, recipes, notes and stories from his book, The Christmas Chronicles. His love of the cold months and Christmas itself is inspiring. Take this passage in praise of Christmas Eve: ‘Carols are playing, the table is dusted with flour and the pastry cutters are having their annual outing. This is the day I relish almost more than any other – and in part because it’s the day I get to make mince pies.’ Trust us – this is the most soothing and festive recording imaginable.
The Calm Christmas Podcast: Season Three
The wonderful Beth Kempton is an author, yoga teacher and very calm human being. She says: ‘In this podcast I share soothing wintery words from my favourite poets and writers, tips for a stress-free holiday season and advice for taking care of ourselves at this time of year. Join me at my kitchen table deep in the English countryside to explore ideas for a natural and sustainable Christmas.’
Carols From Kings, BBC
Few moments are more spine-tingling each year than when the sweet chorister sings the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City in the candlelit chapel of King’s College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve. The rest of the carols and readings aren’t bad either! Tune in on BBC Radio 4 at 3pm.
She Stoops To Conquer, BBC Sounds
Robert Bathurst and Hugh Skinner shine brightly in this energetic reworking of Oliver Goldsmith’s beloved play. She Stoops to Conquer, which was first performed in 1773, skewers a timeless obsession with class and gender inequality. Now, the writer Barunka O’Shaughnessy has brought the Regency jokes up to date and artfully created a contemporary way into this 250-year-old drama.
By Becky Ladenburg
December 2023
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Becky Ladenburg
Features Editor
As The Guide's features editor, Becky has her discerning finger on the cultural pulse. She's also our go-to expert on the property market.
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