12 midnight
MY FAVOURITE SONG
We welcome some more famous faces as they each tell us all about their favourite song. Among those we hear from today are Radio 2 DJ Gary Davies, actor Michael Sheen, Lacey Turner from EastEnders and Simon LeBon from Duran Duran. They’ve chosen tracks by George Michael, The Beatles, My Sun & Stars and Slaves.
1.00am
THE WIZARD OF OZ
The Radio Warneford Players present a special adaptation of the 1939 film The Wizard Of Oz. When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz. Follow Dorothy and Toto’s adventures along the Yellow Brick Road towards the Emerald City!
1.55am
TEA AND COFFEE
Sara Lister chooses a selection of songs all about our two favourite beverages – tea and coffee – featuring music icons like Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole and Beverley Knight.
2.45am
SITTING ON THE PIER
Stephen Height interviews Coventry-based poet and writer Emily Jones who talks about her writing, some of the things that inspire her and reads some of her poems.
3.45am
SOUL SISTERS FROM THE CHESS RECORD LABEL
Founded in 1950, the Chess record label based in Chicago specialised in blues, R&B and soul. Ley Bricknell shares an hour of female soul sisters who recorded with this phenomenal label including the vocals of Etta James, Fontella Bass and Irma Thomas
4.45am
CLASSICAL SYMPHONIA
Cliff Proctor introduces excerpts from some of the most famous symphonies by eight composers including Mozart, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Haydn and Beethoven.
6.45am
ALADDIN
The Radio Warneford Players whisk you to a faraway land where Aladdin is tricked into an enchanted cave in search of a magic lamp. Out pops an all-powerful genie – and in a puff of smoke, Aladdin’s life is changed forever. A magical carpet ride of an adventure.
7.55am
HEATHER ENNESS’S BATTLE OF THE GIANTS
Heather Enness transports you to the movies with her battle of the top film music composers – James Horner, Hans Zimmer and John Williams. Who will triumph?
8.15am
THE BEST ADVERTS ON TV
Many of the adverts that you see on television use existing tunes to sell their products. Chris Ackroyd is here to play some of his favourites.
9.15am
FEMALE VOICES OF THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES
Sara Lister introduces a selection of fantastic songs by some of the great female voices of all time, from Lena Horne to Barbra Streisand.
10.15am
BEST OF BRITISH
Britain has produced some fantastic singers over the decades. Join Louise Kalus for an hour of some of the very best of them, from the 1940’s right through to the present day.
11.15am
MY FAVOURITE SONG
We welcome some more famous faces as they each tell us all about their favourite song. Among those we hear from today are Radio 2 DJ Gary Davies, actor Michael Sheen, Lacey Turner from EastEnders and Simon LeBon from Duran Duran. They’ve chosen tracks by George Michael, The Beatles, My Sun & Stars and Slaves.
12.15pm
ORIGINAL COVERS
Andy Dowell brings you a selection of little-known original recordings of famous songs along with some striking cover versions. Today’s show features the original versions of Don’t Turn Around, I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself and Superstar along with cover versions by Billy Paul, Gloria Gaynor and Boney M.
1.15pm
NIL BY MOUTH
Cliff Proctor and Tim Wallace bring you a mix of classic tunes from Jean Michel Jarre, Sky, Booker T & The MGs and a few surprises. All the tracks have one thing in common – there isn’t a voice to be heard!
2.45pm
A WINTER COLLECTION
Andrew Preshous introduces a selection of music on the theme of winter, maybe with the word “winter” in the title, related to the winter months or linked to winter themes. How many of them do you recognise?
3.45pm
NOW: A RADIO WARNEFORD CELEBRATION
The Now albums have been a fixture of the music scene since Christmas 1983. Andy Dowell tells the story of the most successful series of compilation albums in history along with some of the hits of the last 41 years from Culture Club, Wet Wet Wet, Kylie Minogue and Phil Collins.
Written by Stephen Height.
4.45pm
CALL ME NUMBER ONE
Another selection of No 1 hits from two different eras, chosen by Richard Smith. Today we hear from the Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and Naughty Boy, who all topped the charts in 2013, along with U2, Bryan Adams and the KLF, who were all best-sellers during 1991.
5.45pm
STARS FROM DOWN UNDER
Join Linda Ashworth for a journey to the other side of the world, to Australia, to discover which “Neighbours” actors joined the pop music world and find out who became the ‘Stars from Down Under’.
6.40pm
SONGS FOR THE SOUL
George Matts introduces his choice of soul classics to lighten the heart including Curtis Mayfield, Otis Redding and Adele.
7.10pm
SPOTLIGHT ON CHRIS DIFFORD
Stephen Height looks at the musical career of the founder member of the group Squeeze.
7.25pm
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Here is another chance to catch the Radio Warneford Players special version of Charles Dickens’ classic Victorian Christmas tale. Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve, each one determined to make him see the error of his miserly ways.
8.15pm
BROADWAY MELODY
Michele Monro, daughter of singing star Matt, plays some of her favourite show tunes from Hello Dolly, Chicago, Chess and more.
9.10pm
ORIGINAL COVERS
More little-known original recordings of some classic songs along with some striking cover versions. Andy Dowell plays you the original versions of The Only Way Is Up, Saving All My Love For You and Wind Beneath My Wings and covers from Tony Hadley, Annie Lennox and Hollywood actress Mae West.
10.10pm
KEYBOARD WIZARDS
Whether it’s a piano, organ or synthesizer, Cliff Proctor brings you an hour full of the some of the finest keyboard players in the world including Jean Michel Jarre, Ray Charles, Elton John, Billy Joel and Rick Wakeman.
11.15pm
MUSIC AND MEMORIES
A very special programme from July 2021. His Majesty King Charles, then Prince of Wales, pays tribute to hospital radio volunteers for the important work they have done for patients throughout the pandemic and reveals some of his favourite songs including tracks from Barbra Streisand, Peter Skellern, Dick Powell and the Three Degrees.
Listen Again!
You can now listen again to a selection of our Christmas programmes whenever you like.