Christmas Carols With the Troops (24 Dec 10:15pm)

[Jillian]

Christmas Carols With The Troops

Thursday, 24 December 2009, 10:15PM - 11:15PM

Sir Trevor McDonald presents a special service for British troops serving in Afghanistan from St Clements Church, London. The programme is part of a special week on ITV1, Far From Home, focusing on British troops abroad over the Christmas period, particularly in Afghanistan.

Performing in the service are The Soldiers, whose single Coming Home reached number four in the chart, and the Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards, the nation’s oldest-serving military band and the world’s oldest continual surviving recording artist.

Also performing are Britain’s Got Talent star Faryl Smith, new forces sweetheart Hayley Westenra, who launched this year’s Poppy Appeal, and classically trained singer Camilla Kerslake, who is Gary Barlow’s new signing.

The service is conducted by the resident chaplain Rev Adrian Gatrill of the RAF, with the congregation made up of service men and women from all three forces plus friends and family. As well as the traditional service, the programme includes messages from troops abroad and an insight into what Christmas is like on the front line.

www.itv.com/presscentre/christmascarolswiththetroops/wk52christmascarolswiththetroops/default.html

Programme time updated by Dave

[Libby]

Is this actually occurring on Christmas eve, or is it pre-recorded, and will just be aired that day Christmas would be over in NZ by the time she would get there after that event, if it really happened that day.

[grant]

Hi Libby and everyone

I certainly hope that this is recorded. I'm sure I heard that Hayley was flying home a few days before Christmas. She makes enough sacrifices for her art and shouldn't have to sacrifice Christmas with her family as well!

Best wishes
Grant

[Martin]

Hi All
Rest assured that this programme will be pre-recorded for transmission at this time!

Martin

[Jeff]

Really looking forward to this, featuring as it does what I consider to be the three best singers in the country right now. (Sorry Susan but you don't qualify for this elite trio !! )

P.S. Did you know CK was brought up in NZ and her talent spotted by a schoolteacher ? (Like someone else we know !! )She's a savvy shopper too. Bought a handbag for £40 in a charity shop and sold it on Ebay for £1800 to help pay her university fees ! Off topic, sorry !

[grant]

Hello everyone

Latest tweet from Hayley a few minutes ago

HayleyWestenra: Performing for an ITV Christmas special for the troops today... Goes out Christmas Eve I think x

Best wishes
Grant

[martindn]

Hope it is broadcast at a sensible time. It will be great to hear those three together.

Martin

[Richard]

Hello Martindn!

The service will be broadcast on ITV 1 on Thursday 24th December from 11:15pm - 12:05am. See the first post of this thread for more information.

Richard

[martindn]

Hi Richard,

That's what I was afraid of. That is not a sensible time if you plan to go to Midnight Communion. Stil, I suppose we can record it, wih a bit of help from Sue.

Martin

[Jeff]

No need to worry, Martin. I've just checked the Xmas Radio Times and the show goes out 10.15pm till11.15pm on ITV1. You'll have time to get ready for church during the commercial breaks !

[martindn]

Thanks for that Jeff. It will set me up perfectly for Christmas I'm sure.

Martin

[Chrissi]

I saw this in the TV Guide today! Really looking forward to watching it.

[grant]

Hello everyone

There was a preview of this on Central News at 6.15pm this evening. It featured clips from Hayley, Faryl and Camilla and short interviews with Hayley and Faryl. I was actually on the telephone at the time but did hear Hayley say that she felt lucky that she was always able to get home for Christmas.

Best wishes
Grant

[martindn]

Hi Grant,

Yes, I saw that too. They had Faryl singing O Holy Night and Hayley singing Little Drummer Boy. CVan't remember what Camilla sang. I didn't hear it properly, but it was Sue that was on the phone, not be. I did catch Hayley's short interview though that came at the end.

Nice to see.

Martin D

[Dave]

Reminder for UK members - Christmas Carols With the Troops is on ITV1 at 10:15 pm on Christmas Eve, NOT 11:15 as originally scheduled.

I will modify the first post in the thread (and the thread title if it will fit)

Cheers, Dave