From a famous Mariachi band, to bespoke forces comedy shows and exclusive music sessions, plus live link ups, carol concerts, quizzes and competitions, we’ve got your forces festivities all wrapped up…
Our seasonal programmes begin at 1pm (UK) on Saturday 19th December with chat and live tracks from country duo, Ward Thomas, who recorded the festive session exclusively for BFBS.
During Christmas week, Charlene Guy will be linking families and friends with loved ones on tour, and getting listeners into the spirit of the season, as she hosts the Total Ops Connection from 10 – 1pm (UK) from Monday 21st through to Thursday 24th December.
Our unique Christmas Eve Live show from 1pm (UK) with Jason Webster and Tim Humphries will be simulcast on BFBS extra TV, and via Periscope for viewers in the UK. It’s the perfect time and place to exchange messages with anyone serving worldwide.
For fans of traditional music, the magical SSAFA Christmas Carol Concert, recorded in the Guards Chapel in London, starts at 4pm (UK) on Christmas Eve, and is followed by another chance to hear country twins Ward Thomas getting all festive before Santa comes down the chimney.
On the big day, presenter Stephen Bumfrey returns to BFBS for fun and festivities from 10 – 1pm (UK) with his Norfolk Turkey. BFBS Scotland’s Mark McKenzie follows at 1pm (UK) with Christmas messages from Kabul, and from 2pm (UK) Charlene Guy is back in the studio with special dedications for deployed troops and their families – and not forgetting the Queen’s speech.
Original forces comedy returns to the airwaves at 4.30pm (UK) with a Christmas episode of BFBS Radio’s award-winning sketch show, Damn The Torpedoes, recorded with a live audience at the RADA studios in London.
The Royal Navy is centre stage from 5 until 7pm (UK) on Christmas Day as BFBS’s Jo Thoenes introduces the annual Admiralty Service from St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
On Boxing Day, from 10am (UK) Richard Hutchinson’s Best of the Guests programme takes a look back at highlights from BFBS Radio in 2015, with forces interviews, award-winning documentaries and live music sessions.
BFBS reflects on top military stories from the last 12 months in the BFBS News Review of the Year from 4pm (UK) on Thursday 31st December, before we launch into Jason Webster’s New Year’s Eve Pre-Party Party at 6pm (UK).
With a crazy Christmas soundtrack from The Mariachis (the actual Doritos’ Mexican in-house band) and special guest, East 17’s Tony Mortimer, his show will be packed with jolly jingles, brilliant banter and musical treats.
Then it’s over to Chris Keen with his New Year’s Eve Warm Up from 8pm (UK), Chris Pearson with The Vibe until 11pm (UK), and Nick Steele who presents the Forces New Year, to celebrate midnight and beyond.
And if your shift or party continues into Friday 1st January, we’ll have music pumping well into the early hours, with Neil Moore’s New Year Club Culture and Paul Van Dyk’s Politics of Dancing until 5am (UK).
Listeners can kick start 2016 with more fun, frolics, jokes and resolutions as presenters Hal Stewart and Sim Courtie return with Sim and Hal’s Quiz of the Year from 1pm (UK). And from 4pm (UK), there’s an extra helping of hilarious military mishaps and service-life sketches in the second new episode of Damn The Torpedoes.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year from BFBS!
BFBS Radio is available on DAB digital radio in the UK, on FM in the UK, on FM across the forces world, on Sky Channel 0211, Freesat Channel 786, online atwww.bfbs.com and via the free BFBS smartphone app.