Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Steps and Robyn are among the stars presenting one-off shows on BBC Radio across the festive period.
Over the holidays, the BBC’s stations will be manned by a number of guest presenters, each of whom will be playing their favourite tracks, reflecting on the past 12 months and looking to the year ahead.
The season kicks off with country legend Dolly Parton, who will be hosting her own BBC Radio 2 show, Dolly’s Christmas Good List, on December 19th from 9 pm GMT. The hour-long special will see the hitmaker chat with host Claudia Winkleman about her life, career and loves, as seen through her memories of Christmas, and she’ll also be playing tracks from her new album, A Holly Dolly Christmas.
There’s more fun lined up on Christmas Day, as The Muppets take over with their Christmas show, It’s Time To Play The Music – starring CeeLo Green, Ricky Gervais, Bret McKenzie and more – airing at 7 pm on Radio 2.
The run-up to New Year also sees major stars present shows, with Toni Braxton – who released her 10th album Spell My Name this year – playing her favourite R&B cuts from the likes of Destiny’s Child, Marvin Gaye and Usher on Radio 2 from 7 pm on December 29th.
The following day’s all about pop music, with What The Future Holds hitmakers Steps picking their favourite party songs and uplifting showstoppers and talking about their goals and what they are looking forward to in 2021 during their Steps Into 2021 show, from 7 pm.
On New Year’s Eve, Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco returns on Radio 2 from 7 pm with a mammoth two-hour set, while on 6 Music Swedish superstar Robyn brings the Party with two hours of massive tunes from 7 pm.
Other highlights include HER, Ivorian Doll, Ghetts, Big Zuu, Deno, Ray Blk and more as guests for 1Xtra’s 12 Days Of Christmas With… takeovers throughout the festive period, while 6 Music has artist mixes from Michael Kiwanuka, Goldie, Christine And The Queens, and more.