Britain's Christmas Story

Britain's Christmas Story

Music 2019

Available on BBC iPlayer

Gareth Malone and Karen Gibson reveal the stories and legends behind some of Britain's Christmas traditions, unwrapping the surprising ways that the festive season was marked in the past, and, with their shared passion for music, exploring what the nation has sung at this time of year across the centuries.

Music 2019

Starring Gareth Malone, Karen Gibson

EPISODE 1

Episode 1

Gareth and Karen follow the story of Christmas on these shores from its origins, through the lavish partying of Elizabethan times, to the banning of the celebrations in the seventeenth century. Along the way they discover that carols were once as much about dancing as singing.

58 min · 15 Dec 2019
EPISODE 2

Episode 2

Gareth Malone and Karen Gibson discover why a ban on Christmas led to rioting in the streets, and how the festivities were revived with a vengeance in Victorian times. The Archbishop of Canterbury explains how he celebrates Christmas, and why its meaning remains so relevant today.

58 min · 22 Dec 2019

Gareth Malone

Host
Karen Gibson

Host
Karen Selway

Producer
Rob Unsworth

Producer

About

Britain's Christmas Story

MUSIC

Gareth Malone and Karen Gibson reveal the stories and legends behind some of Britain's Christmas traditions, unwrapping the surprising ways that the festive season was marked in the past, and, with their shared passion for music, exploring what the nation has sung at this time of year across the centuries.

Information

Studio: bbc_one
Released: 2019

Languages

Subtitles: English (CC)

Accessibility

: Closed captions refer to subtitles in available languages with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.