TODAY’S RADIO

THE REUNION

9AM, RADIO 4 HHHH

An all-star cast reunites to relive the early days of Strictly Come Dancing. Many people had reservations about bringing ballroom dancing back to our TV screens in 2004. They included the show’s dance consultant John Byrnes, who reveals how he had to convince the other professional dancers that the programme would be a winner, even though he wasn’t sure himself!

A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS

3PM, RADIO 4 HHHHH

It’s a true Christmas miracle, aided by much hard work and goodwill, that this service comes live to you from the candlelit Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge. There will be no congregation, and the choir will be carefully distanced – but a solo choirboy will begin the service, as ever, with the first verse of Once In Royal David’s City. After that, the familiar carols, plus some new ones, will ring out and put heart in us all. This is always one of the great moments of Christmas, but this year, it’s more welcome than ever.

CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

8PM, RADIO 2 HHHHH

The US country star Tim Mcgraw sings It Wasn’t His Child, about Joseph the Carpenter, Little Big Town sing Christmas Time Is Here, while the duo Florida Georgia Line give us Lit This Year in this show from the Country Music Association in Nashville, Tennessee. Thomas Rhett, who also performs, hosts the show with his wife, Lauren Akins.

MIDNIGHT MASS

11.30PM, RADIO 4 HHHH Rogers Govender, the Dean of Manchester Cathedral, is the celebrant for this Nativity Mass. The music includes Mozart’s

Missa Brevis, which will be sung by the choristers, and the carols and anthems include the classic In The Bleak Midwinter. SJ

Tim Mcgraw (8pm, Radio 2)