This festive fan/Xmas Xpert/Santologist couldn't POSSIBLY let Christmas go unpodcasted (just invented that word - I apologise).

So in this guestless episode, Paul runs down the Top 5 Christmas carols AND the Top 5 festive pop songs.

He's amalgamated several polls, surveys and charts (inc. Songs of Praise Favourite Carol, Classical Magazine's poll of experts, Classic FM's carol survey, global charts etc), weighted them accordingly, and presto! Some Christmas podding for you.

From The Pogues to Postman Pat, Mendelssohn to Michael Buerk, Bing Crosby to two versions of In the Bleak Midwinter, we'll unpick the back-story of our best-loved Christmas crooners, carols and chart-toppers. All in under ten minutes.

It's all based on Paul's festive history book: Hark! The Biography of Christmas, available now in paperback, ebook and audiobook (get it free on an Audible free trial, then instantly cancel!).

Or read Paul's Yule blog.

We mention Paul's festive parody song, A Fairytale of Bethlehem - it's viewable on Youtube.

You'll find a different Christmas podcast special on The British Broadcasting Century, looking at the stories behind a classic British Christmas TV schedule: podfollow.com/bbcentury

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The podcast returns in 2022 with more guests and who knows what else...

Merry Listening!

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