Christmas 2023 on Absolute Radio – a guide to our festive specials

Welcome to Christmas 2023 on Absolute Radio!

Once again, we've created some very special programmes that we’re sure you’ll enjoy over the festive period with some mulled wine and a mince pie. You can find out more about the specials below and see our full Christmas schedule at the bottom of the page.

As well as highlighting the top-notch yuletide content we have planned for Christmas, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank YOU, our beloved Absolute Radio listeners, for tuning in over the past year. We truly wouldn’t be here without you. We wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

We also know that Christmas is not always a great time for everyone, so remember that if you’re struggling there are places to get help on our Time to Listen page.

The Absolute Radio Christmas Party:

Christmas Eve - 8pm

Absolute Radio will provide a non-stop soundtrack while you rush around wrapping the presents and peeling the sprouts as we bring you the Absolute Radio Christmas Party - a hand-picked selection from our exclusive Premium station.

The Isle of Wight Festival Special:

Christmas Day - 6pm to 9pm

Isle of Wight Festival 2023 was one of our favourites and tonight we're taking you back to that long summer weekend and putting you in the front row of the crowd for some amazing live music.

Sarah Champion and Ben Burrell are back together to introduce performances from George Ezra, Courteeners, The Manic Street Preachers, Blondie and loads more.

Wham! Making it Big in China:

Christmas Day - 9pm to 10pm

A special edition of the Absolute Radio Stories as we re-live how Wham! became the first western pop group to play in China in April 1985.

Andrew Ridgeley and Shirlie Kemp are among the guests joining Jay Lawrence to tell the story of one of the most important gigs in music history.

Welcome To Nashville:

Christmas Day - 10pm to 11pm

The UK's Number 1 Country Music station is Absolute Radio Country and this special programme which celebrates the home of Country Music - Nashville. It's the place every aspiring musician goes to if they want to make it big - but we'll be looking at what it takes to make it in music city. Shania Twain, Marren Morris and Sam Palladio tell their stories to Jennie Longdon.

Tim’s Listening Party:

Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 27th, 28th December - 11pm

Another chance to hear Tim's Listening Party – a hit show we launched on Absolute Radio this year. Episodes we’re broadcasting again are Simple Minds, Skunk Anansie's Skin, U2's The Edge and Texas' Sharleen Spiteri.

The Best of Kendal Calling:

Boxing Day - 7pm to 9pm

In a Boxing Day special, we're re-living the best of Kendal Calling festival. During the summer, we sent Jay Lawrence and Emil Franchi to Cumbria to watch the likes of Kasabian, Royal Blood, KT Tunstall, Blossoms and more. The show puts you in the front row of the crowd to re-live the best bits.

12 Drummers Drumming with John Thomson:

Boxing Day plus 27th, 28th and 29th December - 9pm to 10pm

Comedy icon and esteemed actor John Thomson is hosting a new four-part show on Absolute Radio this Christmas called 12 Drummers Drumming, which celebrates a dozen of the greatest drummers from the worlds of rock, pop, jazz and rhythm and blues.

Starting on Boxing Day at 9pm, the first show will see John Thomson shine the spotlight on three fabled rock drummers - Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham, Rush’s Neil Peart and Cream’s Ginger Baker. Over the next three nights, John will focus on nine influential pop, jazz (‘Nice!’) and R'n'B drummers including Stewart Copeland, Buddy Rich, and Phil Collins.

The Best of Absolute Radio Live with Noel Gallagher and James:

Wednesday 27th December - 7pm to 9pm

Just when you thought we'd stopped talking about our 15th birthday - we're back at it again. Earlier this year, we created two very special gigs as part of the celebrations and you can hear the best bits of those gigs in this two hour special. Join us for an hour of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and James!

LOADED: The Sound of Scotland:

Wednesday 27th December - 10pm to 11pm

When it comes to the world of Indie and rock, Scotland has produced more than its fair share of incredible bands. From Franz Ferdinand and Biffy Clyro to Texas and Simple Minds, what’s in the water north of the border that’s created the country’s soundtrack?

That's what Danielle Perry will be asking in a special programme 9 where she chats with music journalists, music fans and the bands themselves.

Enjoy Yourself: The Terry Hall Story:

Thursday 28th December - 10pm to 11pm

A year on from the devastating loss of Terry Hall, Absolute Radio looks back on the career of the much-loved Specials and Fun Boy Three frontman and discovers why his music was and is so important.

Claire Sturgess celebrates the impact of one of Britain’s best loved musicians with contributions from Noel Gallagher, Lynval Golding (The Specials & Fun Boy Three), Horace Panter (The Specials), Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Rowetta (Happy Mondays), Gary Powell (The Libertines) and Steve Cradock (Ocean Colour Scene).

Andy Bush's New Year's Eve Indie Disco:

Sunday 31st December - 6pm to 8pm

We've got the perfect soundtrack for your New Year's Eve, and it all starts at 6pm with Andy Bush's New Year's Eve Indie Disco with the biggest songs from the likes of Blur, Pulp, Sleeper, Elastica, Blondie and more.

80s versus 90s versus 00s with The Dixon Brothers:

Sunday 31st December - 8pm to 10pm

From 8pm, we'll head seamlessly through the 80s, 90s and 00s with the Dixon Brothers from KISS in the mix

The Absolute Radio Mixtape:

Sunday 31st December - 10pm

From 10pm, we go through midnight with the Absolute Radio mixtape. No adverts, no presenters, just the biggest songs and the Big Ben bongs.

Ben Burrell’s The Best Single By:

New Year’s Day – 1pm to 4pm

Every afternoon on the No Repeat Guarantee, Ben Burrell asks you to pick the best singles by different bands. He's been doing it all year and it's culminating this afternoon with a three hour show which is nothing but “The Best Single By”.

From The Beatles and The Stones to Bowie, Oasis, Hendrix, Killers, Fleetwood Mac, Springsteen and many more. So, if you want the perfect hangover cure, then you can listen to only the biggest songs with Ben Burrell's Best Single By.

Listen to Absolute Radio across the UK on your digital radio, the free Rayo app, by hitting that play button on the bottom of your screen or by asking your smart speaker to "play Absolute Radio".

Absolute Radio’s full Christmas schedule:

Saturday 23rd December 2023

4am - Emil Franchi

8am - The Best of Frank Skinner

11am - Sarah Champion

2pm - Rock N Roll Football with Jay Lawrence

5pm - Andy Bush's Indie Disco

7pm - The Absolute Classic Rock Party with Claire Sturgess

10pm - Through The Decades with Sophie K

Sunday 24th December 2023

4am - Jennie Longdon

8am - Emil Franchi

11am - Sarah Champion

2pm - Claire Sturgess

5pm - Absolute 80s with Jennie Longdon

8pm - The Absolute Radio Christmas Party

Monday 25th December 2023

1am - Ben Coley

6am - Dan Noble

10am - Claire Sturgess

1pm - Through The Christmas Decades with Sophie K

4pm - 80s versus 90s versus 00s with the Dixon Brothers

6pm - The Isle Of Wight Festival (Sarah Champion & Ben Burrell)

9pm - Wham! Making it Big in China

10pm - Welcome to Nashville: Making It In Music City

11pm - Tim's Listening Party with Simple Minds

Tuesday 26th December 2023

1am - Ben Coley

6am - Dan Noble

10am - Claire Sturgess

1pm - Ben Burrell

4pm - Through The Decades with Sophie K

7pm - The Best of Kendall Calling (Jay Lawrence & Emil Franchi)

9pm - Twelve Drummers Drumming with John Thomson

10pm - All Roads Lead Back To Ringo

11pm - Tim's Listening Party with Skin

Wednesday 27th December 2023

1am - Ben Coley

6am - Dan Noble

10am - Claire Sturgess

1pm - Ben Burrell

4pm - Emil Franchi

7pm - The Best of Absolute Radio Live (Noel G + James)

9pm - Twelve Drummers Drumming with John Thomson

10pm - Loaded: A journey into the sound of Scotland

11pm - Tim's Listening Party with The Edge

Thursday 28th December 2023

1am - Ben Coley

6am - Jay Lawrence

10am - Claire Sturgess

1pm - Ben Burrell

4pm - Emil Franchi

7pm - Jennie Longdon

9pm - Twelve Drummers Drumming with John Thomson

10pm - Enjoy Yourself: The Terry Hall story

11pm - Tim's Listening Party with Sharleen Spiteri

Friday 29th December 2023

1am - Ben Coley

6am - Jay Lawrence

10am - Claire Sturgess

1pm - Ben Burrell

4pm - Emil Franchi

7pm - Absolute 80s with Jennie Longdon

9pm - Twelve Drummers Drumming with John Thomson

10pm - Through The Decades with Sophie K

Saturday 30th December 2023

4am - Emil Franchi

8am - The Best of Frank Skinner

11am - Sarah Champion

2pm - Rock N Roll Football with Dan Noble

5pm - Andy Bush's Indie Disco

7pm - The Absolute Classic Rock Party with Jennie Longdon

10pm - Through The Decades with Sophie K

Sunday 31st December 2023

4am - Jennie Longdon

8am - Emil Franchi

11am - Sarah Champion

2pm - Jay Lawrence

6pm - Andy Bush's Indie Disco

8pm - 80s versus 90s versus 00s with The Dixon Brothers

10pm - The Absolute Radio Mixtape

Monday 1st January 2024

12am - The Absolute Radio Mixtape

6am - Dan Noble

10am - Claire Sturgess

1pm - The Best Single By with Ben Burrell

4pm - Jay Lawrence

7pm - The Isle Of Wight Festival (Sarah Champion & Ben Burrell)

10pm - The Best of Kendall Calling (Jay Lawrence & Emil Franchi)

Tuesday 2nd January 2024

1am - Ben Coley

6am - Ben Burrell

10am - Leona Graham

1pm - Jay Lawrence

4pm - Hometime with Bush & Richie

7pm - Danielle Perry

10pm - Emil Franchi

Absolute Radio's 50 greatest songs of the past 15 years:

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