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King of the Countdown Tony Blackburn takes on festive review Rate My Christmas, and Sara welcomes TV therapists the Speakmans into the studio with their tips for a happy 2016.

King of the Countdown, Tony Blackburn takes on the festive review 'Rate My Christmas'. Sara welcomes TV therapists 'The Speakmans' into the studio with their tips for a happy 2016. Secret raver/sports presenter Mike Williams gives his guide of where to celebrate New Year's Eve around the UK, and Benedictine Monk, Father Christopher Jamison provides the final Pause For Thought of the year.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Thu 31 Dec 2015 06:00

Music Played

  • Michael Jackson

    Black Or White

    • (CD Single).
    • Epic.
  • Meghan Trainor

    Lips Are Movin

    • (CD Single).
    • Epic.
    • 001.
  • Charlie Puth

    One Call Away

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.
  • All Saints

    Never Ever

    • Love (Various Artists).
    • Polygram Tv.
  • Steve Miller Band

    Abracadabra

    • The Very Best Of The Steve Miller Ban.
    • Arcade Records.
  • The Supremes

    Baby Love

    • Diana Ross & The Supremes - 40 Motown.
    • Polygram Tv.
  • Oasis

    Cigarettes & Alcohol

  • Lou Bega

    Mambo No. 5

    • Now 44 (Various Artists).
    • Virgin.
  • Earl

    Good Witch

    • (CD Single).
    • Good Witch Recordings.
  • The Feeling

    Fill My Little World

    • (CD Single).
    • Universal Island.
  • Billy Idol

    White Wedding

    • Rip It Up (Various Artists).
    • EMI.
  • Taylor Swift

    Shake It Off

    • (CD Single).
    • Big Machine.
    • 1.
  • Stereophonics

    Dakota

    • (CD Single).
    • V2.
  • Foxes

    Amazing

    • (CD Single).
    • Sign Of The Times.
  • Sarah Vaughan

    Broken Hearted Melody

    • Rediscover The 50's-Rock With The Cav.
    • Old Gold.
  • The Fratellis

    Whistle for the Choir

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.
  • Robin Schulz

    Sugar (feat. Francesco Yates)

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.
  • The Beatles

    Help!

    • The Beatles - 1.
    • Apple.
    • 010.
  • Bob Dylan

    Subterranean 91Èȱ¬sick Blues

    • Bob Dylan - Greatest Hits.
    • Columbia.
  • Blur

    Song 2

    • Music Of The Millennium (Various).
    • Universal Music Tv.
  • Black Eyed Peas

    I Gotta Feeling

    • (CD Single).
    • Interscope.
    • 4.
  • Michael Sembello

    Maniac

    • Flashdance O.S.T. (Various Artists).
    • VIRGIN.
  • Ike & Tina Turner

    Nutbush City Limits

    • The Greatest Hits Of 1973 (Various).
    • EMI.
  • David Guetta

    Titanium (feat. Sia)

    • (CD Single).
    • Positiva.
  • Led Zeppelin

    Rock And Roll

    • Led Zeppelin - Early Days.
    • Atlantic.
  • Elle King

    Ex's And Oh's

    • Love Stuff.
    • RCA.
    • 2.
  • Florence + The Machine

    Dog Days Are Over

    • CD SINGLE.
    • MOSHI MOSHI RECORDS.
    • 1.
  • Wilson Pickett

    Land Of 1000 Dances

    • Where It's At (Various Artists).
    • Kent.
  • Louisa Johnson

    Forever Young

    • (CD Single).
    • Syco.
  • Eurythmics

    Would I Lie To You?

    • Eurythmics - Greatest Hits.
    • RCA.
  • D:Ream

    Things Can Only Get Better

  • Mumford & Sons

    Believe

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.
  • Sylvester

    You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

    • Sylvester - The Original Hits.
    • Fantasy.
  • Jack Savoretti

    Catapult

    • (CD Single).
    • BMG.
    • 001.
  • Dolly Parton

    Coat Of Many Colors

    • Dolly Parton: The Ultimate Collection.
    • BMG/RCA.

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought

From Father Christopher Jamison, Benedictine Monk:


2015 has been a year of momentous events that nobody saw coming. Defence experts were caught off guard by the sudden appearance of a potent new military force in the Middle East, the so-called Islamic State. Ordinary citizens have been shocked by the unexpected waves of migrants arriving on Europe’s shores and even more horrified by the numbers who didn’t even make it to the shore. I could go on: the surprise result of our General Election, the astonishing first ever face transplant, the final of Bake Off being the most watched programme of the year…well maybe that last one isn’t so surprising. 2015 was the year of surprises.

One of the happiest surprises for me was the awarding of the Templeton Prize 2015 to one of the great humanitarians of our day, the Canadian Jean Vanier. His is a life of surprises. In 1964, he visited an institution in France for people that society called ‘crazy’. Designed for 40 residents with intellectual disabilities, there were 80 people crammed in. It was a horrible surprise for Jean, but he reacted not by walking away but by inviting two of the men to live with him.

So began L’Arche, a revolutionary network that now has 147 communities around the world where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together as peers. Here, people without disabilities are surprised by how much they receive from those with disabilities. Jean’s genius is to transform unhappy surprises into happy ones. At the Templeton Prize ceremony, the audience was taken by surprise when Jean invited L’Arche members on stage and transformed the formal ceremony into a joyful dance. Whatever surprises 2015 dealt you, I pray that like Jean Vanier you may find ways to transform the tough surprises into something surprisingly positive in 2016.

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Broadcast

  • Thu 31 Dec 2015 06:00

Farewell Chris Evans: The best bits from his last shows at Radio 2

After eight years of hosting the Breakfast Show, Chris Evans leaves Radio 2.

500 Words

91Èȱ¬ Radio 2's story-writing competition for kids.