Six guest editors will take the helm of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 between Christmas and New Year.
The guests are Martin Rees, David Hockney, Tony Adams, PD James, Robert Wyatt and Shirley Williams.
In her programme, author PD James will quiz Mark Thompson, the BBC's Director-General, about the future of the corporation and will discuss TV crime drama with Lynda La Plante and Sir Ian Blair.
Tony Adams' programme will include an interview with Newcastle footballer, Joey Barton, and the programme's famous racing tips will come from the Duke of Devonshire.
Artist David Hockney will be asking if there are too many laws and whether smokers across Europe and the United States are fighting back against the smoking ban.
Today's Editor Ceri Thomas said: "The guest editors have become something of a Christmas tradition on Today and we're very pleased with this year's list.
"They will bring their own unique expertise and new – often surprising – ideas to the editorial process."
The guest editors are responsible for between a third and a half of their programme's output but the normal day and night duty editors are on hand to make sure their material is newsworthy and meets the BBC's Editorial Guidelines.
Previous Today programme guest editors include Zadie Smith, Jarvis Cocker, Anthony Minghella, Professor Stephen Hawking and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
