Sir Terry Wogan and Aled Jones' recording of the Bing Crosby and David Bowie classic, Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth, is set to be released as a single to help raise money for BBC Children in Need.
The track was originally recorded for Bandaged: With A Little Help From My Friends, an album of family favourites featuring the vocal talents of radio personalities including Ken Bruce, Mark Radcliffe and Eamonn Holmes, which was released online earlier this month to raise funds for Children in Need.
The enthusiastic support of BBC Radio 2's Drivetime host, Chris Evans, who believes the "magnificent" song is destined for chart greatness, helped lead to several offers from record companies and the track will now be released as a single on Monday 8 December 2008.
And this is not the first time the two Radio 2 presenters have enjoyed chart success.
Terry's Floral Dance reached number 21 in 1978, with a bouquet-wielding performance on Top Of The Pops that could have inspired Morrissey, whilst Aled Jones enjoyed a number three hit in 1985 with Walking In The Air.
As well as Little Drummer Boy, the single will feature three bonus tracks: Clare Teal's Swing On A Star; Puff The Magic Dragon by Sally "Traffic" Boazman and The Storys; and Mark Radcliffe's version of Right Said Fred.
Every single copy sold will help BBC Children in Need's total continue to rise above the record-breaking £20,991,216 reached at the end of the BBC One appeal show, with a minimum of £1 from the sale of each CD single benefiting the charity, as well as a minimum of 20p per download and 60p per bundled download.
Aled Jones says: "It was a fantastically surreal experience recording at Abbey Road Studios with Sir Terry Wogan and, with tremendous support from the Chris Evans Show, the song is gaining momentum daily.
"I don't know if this wave of support will take us all the way to Top Of The Pops but we're having a lot of fun helping raise money for Children in Need."
Terry Wogan says: "Aled Jones sings like the canary that he is but listeners may also detect my croaking in the background and wonder if it's a rumbling of the stomach!"
BBC Press Releases
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Monday, 24 November 2008
BBC Christmas specials 2008
The BBC promises the very best in entertainment for all the family this Christmas with a fabulous collection of seasonal specials from viewers' favourite programmes.
Christmas specials for Gavin And Stacey, The Royle Family, Strictly Come Dancing, Shooting Stars, My Family, Rab C Nesbitt, Peter Serafinowicz and Lead Balloon all feature in a talent-packed Christmas schedule, which also includes Top Of The Pops one-offs on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, and a Top Gear special from Vietnam.
Blackadder also returns for a one-off documentary – Blackadder Rides Again.
Mesmerising music and performance feature on BBC Two and BBC Four with sumptuous fairytale opera Hansel And Gretel; the New Year's Day Concert, live from Vienna; composer Howard Goodall exploring The Truth About Carols and acclaimed actor Simon Russell Beale telling the story of one of the most popular pieces of sacred music ever written in Sacred Music: The Story Of Allegri's Misere.
Thrilling drama comes courtesy of The 39 Steps starring Rupert Penry Jones; a very special edition of Doctor Who; spine-tingling ghost story Crooked House; as well as an explosive Christmas cracker for the Mitchells in EastEnders.
Wallace And Gromit return to the small screen with a special new adventure for BBC One, A Matter Of Loaf and Death.
Lark Rise To Candleford is also back with a captivating seasonal tale and Alan Davies reprises his role as Jonathan Creek with an exciting new mystery to solve.
There's a spectacular selection of films, including the television premieres of Shark Tale, Wallace And Gromit In The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, Superman Returns, The Chronicles Of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, Pirates Of The Caribbean – Dead Man's Chest, Madagascar and Starter For Ten.
Jana Bennett, Director of BBC Vision, says: "We've really pulled out all the stops this year to ensure a truly wonderful holiday schedule featuring the very best of British talent in a great line-up of exciting seasonal specials, from The Royle Family and Gavin And Stacey to Shooting Stars and Strictly Come Dancing.
"With exciting drama including The 39 Steps and Wallace and Gromit's A Matter Of Loaf And Death as well as stunning performance from Hansel And Gretel to Sacred Music there really is something for everyone.
"The whole family will be able to sit back, relax and let the BBC entertain them.
"And, of course, viewers can always catch up on BBC iPlayer if they miss out – while many programmes will be shown on BBC HD."
Songs Of Praise on BBC One prepares for the season with four special advent programmes including a packed concert at the Royal Albert Hall and a celebration of Sir Cliff Richard's career and there's Carols From King's on Christmas Eve as well as Midnight Mass and Christmas Day Mass.
Other musical highlights include Doctor Who At The Proms, recorded this summer at the Royal Albert Hall; a look behind the scenes of hit summer series, Maestro, in Maestro: The Inside Story; celebrations of swing music and progressive music in The Swing Thing and Prog Rock Britannia and the return of TOTP2 with fabulous party guests including Wham!, Aretha Franklin and Culture Club.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales features as a guest in a special edition of the Antiques Roadshow from Dumfries House in East Ayrshire.
Nigella Lawson and the Hairy Bakers cook up a storm in the Christmas kitchen while there's a very different look at how your Christmas dinner really gets to your plate in BBC Three's Kill It Cook It Eat It Christmas special.
Younger viewers can enjoy powerful family drama Dustbin Baby, based on the novel by best-selling author Jacqueline Wilson – with a star-studded cast including Juliet Stevenson, Dakota Blue Richards and David Haig – as well as festive editions of ChuckleVision and Pinky & Perky.
Courtesy of BBC Press Releases
Christmas specials for Gavin And Stacey, The Royle Family, Strictly Come Dancing, Shooting Stars, My Family, Rab C Nesbitt, Peter Serafinowicz and Lead Balloon all feature in a talent-packed Christmas schedule, which also includes Top Of The Pops one-offs on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, and a Top Gear special from Vietnam.
Blackadder also returns for a one-off documentary – Blackadder Rides Again.
Mesmerising music and performance feature on BBC Two and BBC Four with sumptuous fairytale opera Hansel And Gretel; the New Year's Day Concert, live from Vienna; composer Howard Goodall exploring The Truth About Carols and acclaimed actor Simon Russell Beale telling the story of one of the most popular pieces of sacred music ever written in Sacred Music: The Story Of Allegri's Misere.
Thrilling drama comes courtesy of The 39 Steps starring Rupert Penry Jones; a very special edition of Doctor Who; spine-tingling ghost story Crooked House; as well as an explosive Christmas cracker for the Mitchells in EastEnders.
Wallace And Gromit return to the small screen with a special new adventure for BBC One, A Matter Of Loaf and Death.
Lark Rise To Candleford is also back with a captivating seasonal tale and Alan Davies reprises his role as Jonathan Creek with an exciting new mystery to solve.
There's a spectacular selection of films, including the television premieres of Shark Tale, Wallace And Gromit In The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, Superman Returns, The Chronicles Of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, Pirates Of The Caribbean – Dead Man's Chest, Madagascar and Starter For Ten.
Jana Bennett, Director of BBC Vision, says: "We've really pulled out all the stops this year to ensure a truly wonderful holiday schedule featuring the very best of British talent in a great line-up of exciting seasonal specials, from The Royle Family and Gavin And Stacey to Shooting Stars and Strictly Come Dancing.
"With exciting drama including The 39 Steps and Wallace and Gromit's A Matter Of Loaf And Death as well as stunning performance from Hansel And Gretel to Sacred Music there really is something for everyone.
"The whole family will be able to sit back, relax and let the BBC entertain them.
"And, of course, viewers can always catch up on BBC iPlayer if they miss out – while many programmes will be shown on BBC HD."
Songs Of Praise on BBC One prepares for the season with four special advent programmes including a packed concert at the Royal Albert Hall and a celebration of Sir Cliff Richard's career and there's Carols From King's on Christmas Eve as well as Midnight Mass and Christmas Day Mass.
Other musical highlights include Doctor Who At The Proms, recorded this summer at the Royal Albert Hall; a look behind the scenes of hit summer series, Maestro, in Maestro: The Inside Story; celebrations of swing music and progressive music in The Swing Thing and Prog Rock Britannia and the return of TOTP2 with fabulous party guests including Wham!, Aretha Franklin and Culture Club.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales features as a guest in a special edition of the Antiques Roadshow from Dumfries House in East Ayrshire.
Nigella Lawson and the Hairy Bakers cook up a storm in the Christmas kitchen while there's a very different look at how your Christmas dinner really gets to your plate in BBC Three's Kill It Cook It Eat It Christmas special.
Younger viewers can enjoy powerful family drama Dustbin Baby, based on the novel by best-selling author Jacqueline Wilson – with a star-studded cast including Juliet Stevenson, Dakota Blue Richards and David Haig – as well as festive editions of ChuckleVision and Pinky & Perky.
Courtesy of BBC Press Releases
Blackadder cast back for Christmas
Rowan Atkinson and the cast of legendary comedy series Blackadder are back for a one-off documentary special this Christmas on BBC One.
Blackadder Rides Again will feature the iconic cast in a documentary to mark 25 years since the original BBC transmission of the much-loved sitcom, first broadcast in 1983.
Blackadder Rides Again will include the first ever in-depth interview with Rowan Atkinson, on his personal experience of playing Edmund Blackadder and being involved in the sitcom and its phenomenal success.
Set to join Rowan are the core cast and writing team who have gone on to become some of the greatest names in entertainment, both in the UK and US.
These include: Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Richard Curtis, Ben Elton, Miranda Richardson, Tim McInnerny and Tony Robinson.
Ricky Kelehar, Executive Producer and Director of Factual Entertainment, Tiger Aspect, Productions, said: "We are extremely excited to have persuaded the entire creative team behind this iconic sitcom to appear in the same show for the very first time since they all worked together.
"Many of them have since gone on to become towering talents around the world, including Rowan – who has never before spoken in detail about playing the fantastic anti-hero, Edmund Blackadder."
Katie Taylor, Executive Editor Comedy Entertainment, said: "Blackadder is one of the BBC's most successful sitcoms of all time and how better to celebrate its 25th anniversary than a retrospective look at what makes this popular series so special.
"Featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes insight from its renowned cast and writers, Blackadder Rides Again is essential viewing this Christmas for all comedy fans."
Blackadder Rides Again is a 60-minute documentary made by Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC One.
Matt O'Casey is producer and director, Ricky Kelehar is executive producer with John Lloyd (producer of Blackadder, Spitting Image, Not The Nine O'Clock News) as programme consultant.
The documentary was commissioned for BBC One by Katie Taylor, BBC Executive Editor Comedy Entertainment.
Courtesy of BBC Press Releases
Blackadder Rides Again will feature the iconic cast in a documentary to mark 25 years since the original BBC transmission of the much-loved sitcom, first broadcast in 1983.
Blackadder Rides Again will include the first ever in-depth interview with Rowan Atkinson, on his personal experience of playing Edmund Blackadder and being involved in the sitcom and its phenomenal success.
Set to join Rowan are the core cast and writing team who have gone on to become some of the greatest names in entertainment, both in the UK and US.
These include: Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Richard Curtis, Ben Elton, Miranda Richardson, Tim McInnerny and Tony Robinson.
Ricky Kelehar, Executive Producer and Director of Factual Entertainment, Tiger Aspect, Productions, said: "We are extremely excited to have persuaded the entire creative team behind this iconic sitcom to appear in the same show for the very first time since they all worked together.
"Many of them have since gone on to become towering talents around the world, including Rowan – who has never before spoken in detail about playing the fantastic anti-hero, Edmund Blackadder."
Katie Taylor, Executive Editor Comedy Entertainment, said: "Blackadder is one of the BBC's most successful sitcoms of all time and how better to celebrate its 25th anniversary than a retrospective look at what makes this popular series so special.
"Featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes insight from its renowned cast and writers, Blackadder Rides Again is essential viewing this Christmas for all comedy fans."
Blackadder Rides Again is a 60-minute documentary made by Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC One.
Matt O'Casey is producer and director, Ricky Kelehar is executive producer with John Lloyd (producer of Blackadder, Spitting Image, Not The Nine O'Clock News) as programme consultant.
The documentary was commissioned for BBC One by Katie Taylor, BBC Executive Editor Comedy Entertainment.
Courtesy of BBC Press Releases
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