The Hills Are Alive with the Kanneh-Masons
Carols from King’s
5.40pm
BBC2 It’s easy to imagine the high-fives after the meeting that came up with this idea: take Britain’s most musical family — the seven lavishly gifted Kanneh-Mason siblings plus their parents. Fly them to Salzburg in Austria, once home of the Von Trapp family. There, get the Von Trapps’ spiritual successors to explore the real story behind The Sound of Music (a film the Kanneh-Masons love, apparently), while breezing through their own arrangements of songs from the soundtrack, including Climb Ev’ry Mountain, My Favourite Things and Do-Re-Mi. What’s not to like?
No preview was available, but given that their last documentary won an RTS Award, this should be a treat. DAVID BUTCHER
Catch up via iPlayer 6.40pm
BBC2 O Come, All Ye Faithful because it’s time to celebrate the Christmas story, starting with Aled Jones, who hosts a rousing Songs of Praise carol service from Sheffield City Hall (1.15pm BBC1) — guests include Michael Ball. At 11.40pm there’s a midnight mass live from Portsmouth Cathedral (BBC1 Scotland has a service from Glasgow).
As always there’s also the hugely popular service from the candlelit Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, which begins with a chorister’s exquisite solo performance of Once in Royal David’s City. It’s the chance for a moment of peaceful reflection — possibly with a mince pie and a glass of Christmas cheer — after the distressing news and turmoil of the past year. JANE RACKHAM See feature: page 63