 
                
                        Bah! Humbug!
Dominic West and Ruth Bradley with readings exploring the challenging aspects of Christmas: useless presents, tedious board games, relentless relatives, and awful office parties.
Dominic West (The Crown) and Ruth Bradley (Slow Horses) let out their inner Grinch's to explore the challenging aspects of Christmas: useless presents, tedious board games, relentless relatives, and excruciating office parties to name just a few. We'll hear from Bridget Jones, Dr Seuss, Reginald, Philip Larkin, George Bernard Shaw, and the most infamous Christmas grump of all, Ebenezer Scrooge: but will the Christmas Spirit win out in the end? Featuring music by Sufjan Stevens, Kate Rusby, James Horner, Richard Addinsell, and a host of festive favourites.
Readings:
The Devils Dictionary - Ambrose Bierce
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Dr Seuss 
Letter to Judy Egerton - Philip Larkin
A Christmas Poem - Wendy Cope
Little Women – Louisa May Alcott
Music in London - George Bernard Shaw 
Bridget Jones Diary - Helen Fielding
Reginald on Christmas Presents - Saki
Christmas in Bournemouth - Jonathan Raban 
Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind from As You Like It - Shakespeare
The 1981 Night Before Christmas - Frank Jacobs
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Dr Seuss
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
Producer: Ruth Thomson
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Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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    Ambrose Bierce: The Devil's Dictionary, read by Dominic WestAmbrose Bierce: The Devil's Dictionary, read by Dominic West![]() 00:02 00:02Irving BerlinWhite Christmas Performer: Bing Crosby.![]() 00:00 00:00Irving BerlinWhite Christmas Performer: Bing Crosby.- MCA.
- DMCTV-3.
 Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol., read by Dominic WestCharles Dickens: A Christmas Carol., read by Dominic West![]() 00:07 00:07Paul WilliamsScrooge (Muppet Christmas Carol) Ensemble: Original Cast.![]() 00:04 00:04The MuppetsScrooge - ARISTA/BMG.
- 7432112194-2.
 Dr Seuss: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, read by Ruth BradleyDr Seuss: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, read by Ruth Bradley![]() 00:09 00:09James HornerThe Heist (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.![]() 00:08 00:08James HornerThe Heist Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: James Horner. Conductor: James Horner.- INTERSCOPE.
- 490-765 2.
 ![]() 00:12 00:12Hugh MartinHave yourself a merry little Christmas Singer: Bryn Terfel. Orchestra: Welsh National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Tecwyn Evans.![]() 00:10 00:10Bryn Terfel, Ella Taylor, Liam Jones & Shuna Scott SendallHave Yourself A Very Merry Little Christmas Orchestra: ѿý Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Martin Yates.Philip Larkin: Letter to Judy Eggerton, read by Dominic WestPhilip Larkin: Letter to Judy Eggerton, read by Dominic West![]() 00:16 00:16Felix MendelssohnHark! The Herald Angels Sing Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks. Choir: Bach Choir. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Rutter.![]() 00:14 00:14Felix MendelssohnHark! The herald angels sing, arr. D.Willcocks for chorus/es and accomp Conductor: John Rutter. Performer: The Bach Choir. Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.- DECCA.
- 2782129.
 Wendy Cope: A Christmas Poem, read by Ruth Bradley)Wendy Cope: A Christmas Poem, read by Ruth Bradley)![]() 00:20 00:20Billy HayesBlue Christmas Performer: Elvis Presley.![]() 00:18 00:18Elvis PresleyBLUE CHRISTMAS Music Arranger: N/A.- RCA.
- PD-90689(5)-3.
 ![]() 00:22 00:22Sergey ProkofievTroika (Lieutenant Kije) Orchestra: St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Yuri Temirkanov.![]() 00:20 00:20Sergey ProkofievLieutenant Kije - suite Op.60 for orchestra, with baritone ad lib. Conductor: Yuri Temirkanov. Performer: St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra.- RCA.
- RD-60984.
 ![]() 00:26 00:26Traditional CzechPrisla jsem k vam na koledu Performer: Eva Peckova. Orchestra: Musica Bohemica.![]() 00:24 00:24հäPrisla jsem k vam na koledu Conductor: Jaroslav Krček. Performer: Eva Peckova. Performer: Musica Bohemia.- Supraphon.
- 1118182711.
 ![]() 00:28 00:28Patrick DoyleIt's only a diary (Bridget Jones Diary) Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Patrick Doyle.![]() 00:26 00:26UnknownIt's Only A Diary Music Arranger: Unknown. Music Arranger: Unknown. Performer: Patrick Doyle.- Mercury.
- 548-7962.
 Helen Fielding: Bridget Jones Diary, read by Ruth BradleyHelen Fielding: Bridget Jones Diary, read by Ruth Bradley![]() 00:32 00:32Eric CarmenAll by myself Performer: Jamie O’Neal.![]() 00:32 00:32Eric CarmenAll By Myself Performer: Jamie O’Neal.- Universal.
- BCD-4538.
 ![]() 00:36 00:36Arcangelo CorelliConcerto grosso in G minor, Op.6 no.8 (Christmas Night) Orchestra: Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Conductor: Hartmut Haenchen.![]() 00:35 00:35Arcangelo CorelliConcerto grosso in G minor Op.6 No.8 (Christmas night) Orchestra: Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Conductor: Hartmut Haenchen.- SONY.
- S2K-53266.
 George Bernard Shaw: Music in London, read by Dominic WestGeorge Bernard Shaw: Music in London, read by Dominic West![]() 00:42 00:42Ernst AnschützO Tannenbaum Ensemble: Vince Guaraldi Trio.![]() 00:42 00:42VINCE GUARALDIO TANNENBAUM Music Arranger: N/A.- FANTASY.
- 8431-2.
 ![]() 00:48 00:48Sufjan StevensThat was the worst Christmas ever Performer: Sufjan Stevens.![]() 00:47 00:47Sufjan StevensThat was the Worst Christmas Ever! - ROUGH TRADE.
- rTRAD-CDX450.
 Saki: Reginald on Christmas Presents, read by Dominic WestSaki: Reginald on Christmas Presents, read by Dominic West![]() 00:52 00:52Nigel HessChristmas Overture Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Stephen Bell.![]() 00:55 00:55Nigel HessA Christmas Overture Conductor: Stephen Bell. Performer: Hallé.- Halle.
- CD HLL 7545.
 Emily Bronte: Wuthering Heights, read by Ruth BradleyEmily Bronte: Wuthering Heights, read by Ruth Bradley![]() 01:02 01:02Kate RusbyYorkshire Merry Christmas Performer: Kate Rusby.![]() 01:00 01:00Kate RusbyYorkshire Merry Christmas Performer: Kate Rusby.- Pure Records.
- PRCD40.
 Ted Kooser: Christmas Mail, read by Dominic WestTed Kooser: Christmas Mail, read by Dominic West![]() 01:06 01:06Franz Xaver GruberStille Nacht, Heilige Nacht Performer: Maria Stader. Ensemble: Instrumentalvereinigung.![]() 01:05 01:05Franz Xaver GruberStille Nacht (Silent night) Performer: Maria Stader. Performer: Instrumentalvereinigung.- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 4777970.
 Shakespeare: Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind, read by Ruth BradleyShakespeare: Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind, read by Ruth Bradley![]() 01:10 01:10James HornerChange of Heart (How the Grinch stole Christmas) Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: James Horner.![]() 01:10 01:10James HornerChange of the Heart Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: James Horner.- INTERSCOPE.
- 490-765 2.
 ![]() 01:14 01:14Richard AddinsellScrooge Orchestra: ѿý Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.![]() 01:15 01:15Richard AddinsellSuite from "Scrooge" Conductor: Rumon Gamba. Music Arranger: Steven Bernstein. Performer: ѿý Philharmonic Orchestra.- CHANDOS.
- CHAN-10046.
 Jonathan Raban: Christmas in Bournemouth, read by Ruth BradleyJonathan Raban: Christmas in Bournemouth, read by Ruth BradleyFrank Jacobs: The 1981 Night Before Christmas, read by Dominic WestFrank Jacobs: The 1981 Night Before Christmas, read by Dominic West![]() 00:04 00:04The MuppetsScrooge - ARISTA/BMG.
- 7432112194-2.
 ![]() 01:15 01:15Richard AddinsellSuite from "Scrooge" Conductor: Rumon Gamba. Music Arranger: Steven Bernstein. Performer: ѿý Philharmonic Orchestra.- CHANDOS.
- CHAN-10046.
 Broadcasts- Sun 22 Dec 2019 17:30ѿý Radio 3
- Christmas Day 2024 17:00ѿý Radio 3
 
 
            