Absolute Radio announces Xmas line-up

Frank Skinner will front Absolute Radio’s Christmas Day morning show as part of a festive line-up that sees the group’s ‘decades’ stations taking over the main station each evening.

Skinner’s ‘Christmas Cracker’ 10am-12noon show on 25th December will be followed by breakfast presenter Christian O’Connell in the afternoon and then a second chance to hear Bon Jovi’s live gig in Hyde Park from the summer.

Each evening from Christmas Day to 28 December some of Absolute Radio’s decades and specialist stations get a run out on the main Absolute Radio station. It starts on Christmas Day with Absolute Classic Rock presenting specials on Queen, Pink Floyd and AC/DC, and is followed on Boxing Day by 80s specials including interviews with Gary Kemp and Annie Lennox.

On 27th December Absolute Radio 90s presents features about Noel Gallagher, Foo Fighters, Manic Street Preachers and Red Hot Chilli Peppers, while on 28th a 00s takeover includes Coldplay and Florence and the Machine in conversation plus live performances from Elbow, Arcade Fire and Mumford and Sons.

In the run up to Christmas, the stations is hosting a series of gigs at a tiny church in London’s Soho district. Performances at the House of St Barnabus inclue Ed Sheeran, Kasabian and Madness which will air on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings of the week before Christmas.

Throughout December, Absolute Radio 80s is also having a series of shows presented by guest presenter Howard Jones. The ‘Electronic 80s’ programme will air on Sunday nights on the digital station.

Meanwhile on New Year’s Eve, Absolute is offering two party soundtracks. On the main Absolute Radio station listeners can hear a Classic Rock takeover presented by Leona Graham, while on Absolute 90s Geoff Lloyd hosts an ‘Indie Disco’ featuring the likes of Oasis, Blur and Nirvana.

Is your station doing anything different or special this Christmas? Tell us about your programming highlights by getting in touch.