麻豆社

There will be special interviews across the festive period with stars including Margot Robbie, Jodie Whittaker, Sir Paul McCartney, Jeff Lynne, Harry Connick Jr, The Carpenters and Brigitte Bardot.

On Christmas Eve some of the nation’s best loved chefs create a feast of a menu for the whole family to enjoy, and on New Year’s Eve Radio 2 provides 12 hours of the perfect party playlist, live with some of the network’s top DJs.

Talking Take That

TX details: Tuesday 25 December, 2pm-4pm

This Christmas Day, as Take That celebrate 30 years together, Radio 2 invite Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen to spend a couple of hours sharing their memories of life in the band and the music that has accompanied them on their journey - from when they first met in Manchester in 1989 to becoming one of the most successful bands in British chart history.

Artists played on the show will include Prince, Tasmin Archer, James Blake and of course Take That, and listeners can find out how each of the chosen tracks have played a part in the story of the band.

With an enviable career and hits including Back For Good, Patience, Greatest Day and The Flood, Take That have sold over 45 million albums in the UK alone, had 16 Number One singles and 9 Number One albums.

• Presenters: Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen
• Producer: Fiona Day for the 麻豆社

Sean At Home With Bryn Terfel

Jo Whiley Meets…

TX details: Monday 24 - Wednesday 26 December, 7pm-8pm

In this exclusive series, Jo Whiley chats to three very special guests: Margot Robbie, Jodie Whittaker and Idris Elba.

Hollywood actor Margot Robbie plays some of her favourite tunes to Jo and chats about her new role as Queen Elizabeth I in the upcoming film, Mary Queen of Scots.

Acclaimed actor Jodie Whittaker chats to Jo about Doctor Who, her acting career, her eclectic taste in music, and guides listeners through some of her favourite tracks.

Multi-talented actor, producer, musician and DJ, Idris Elba talks to Jo and plays some of his favourite records.

• Presenter: Jo Whiley
• Producer: Anna Richards for the 麻豆社

Olly Smith’s Taste Of Christmas

TX details: Monday 24 December, 12pm-2pm

Some of the nation’s best loved chefs and cooks - Prue Leith, Tom Kerridge, Candice Brown, Atul Kochhar and Andi Oliver - join Olly Smith for a fun filled two hours of sizzling, slicing, basting and baking for the whole family.

Recorded exclusively in their homes and restaurants, the chefs create a feast of a menu for friends and family to enjoy, and the great thing is that listeners can make the entire menu at home.

Each chef will take over a part of the Christmas menu. Prue Leith creates the perfect dish for Christmas Eve ready for when the family arrive; Andi Oliver shares her best recipes for party food, and dishes you can whip up quickly for those unexpected guests; Tom Kerridge cooks the turkey and reveals his secrets for the perfect Christmas dinner; Candice Brown bakes some delicious Christmas deserts and Atul Kochhar turns Boxing Day into a brilliant fusion of British ingredients and modern Indian cuisine.

Olly will also be chatting to the food maestros about their Christmas traditions, seasonal slip ups, festive fun and special Christmas memories. Plus Olly pairs up the delicious food with some affordable wine and creates a celebratory non-alcoholic punch.

And of course the chefs and Olly let rip with their favourite songs to make a playlist of festive favourites.

• Producer: Jodie Keene for the 麻豆社

Matt Lucas

Podcast Radio Hour

TX details: Tuesday 25 December, 11am-2pm

Comedian Matt Lucas hosts his very special live Christmas Day celebration, joined by celebrity friends, listeners and his mum.

Matt says: "I’m really excited to be live on Radio 2 on Christmas Day with a big show. Please don’t rob my house."

With phone calls from celebs explaining what they are up to on Christmas Day, to a live 'Christmas Dinner Watch', the show is Matt's very special take on the festive celebrations. There's Matt's International Christmas Quiz and his 'Lack Of Gratitude' Top 10, where he goes through the ten most unloved presents opened that day.

Music is a key part of the show, with an amazing variety of Christmas tunes including some brilliant alternatives, a chart rundown of the most unusual festive tracks and Matt's performance of a very special Hanukkah song. Naturally, the brilliant soundtrack will be complemented by lots of dedications to those working across the country during the festive period.

• Presenter: Matt Lucas
• Producer: Paul Thomas for Wise Buddah Ltd.

Carpenters, From A to Z

TX details: Sunday 23 December, 5pm-7pm

Graham Norton revisits the music and legacy of Richard and Karen Carpenter.

Some of the most successful recording artists in music history, they pioneered melodic, melancholic pop and their influence as songwriters, performers, and composers spans multiple generations and genres. They won three Grammy Awards and have sold over 100 million records.

Avoiding a dogged chronological approach, Carpenters From A to Z features a brand new interview with Richard in which he discusses creating the Carpenters “sound”, their problematic relationship with the media and how he has recently approached a new project with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Richard says: “I enjoyed the interview very much… when I listen to the two of us and how we complemented each other, it’s astounding and really rare: this was a sister being born to a brother, who was put on this earth to showcase the sister. Next year will mark our 50th year with A&M Records. I’m still engaging in interviews after all this time - it really says a lot about Karen and the work that we have done. I want everybody to have a listen to this and maybe reawaken their ears to the music.”

• Presenter: Graham Norton
• Producer: Malcolm Prince for the 麻豆社

Barry's Wireless Christmas

TX details: Sunday 23 December, 9pm-11pm

Barry Humphries channels the Ghost of Christmas past to transport listeners back to the age of the wireless.

Barry says: “I’m looking forward to once again spinning my turntable time machine to transport Radio 2 listeners back to the first half of the 20th century with a selection of my favourite festive vintage recordings. As well as reliving childhood memories, I shall be paying tribute to the earliest recording starts and celebrating the birth of radio. It was a time before video games, microwaves, skinny lattes, digital watches and even Darth Vader.”

Barry also reveals why he came to be sacked from his Christmas job in a top Melbourne department store and tells listeners about how he never receives a Christmas card from Dame Edna.

Artists featured on the show will include Judy Garland, Vera Lynn, Arthur Tracy, Tessie O’Shea, Harry Helmsley, George Formby, Max Miller, Fred Astaire, Leroy Anderson, Julie London, Peggy Lee, Jimmy Durante, Bobby Comber, Billy Williams and Spike Milligan. Plus Barry will be playing the original, rarely-heard opening verse of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.

• Presenter: Barry Humphries
• Producer: Clair Wordsworth for Strauss House

Jeremy Vine: Agony Uncle

TX details: Monday 24 December, 9pm-10pm

Jeremy Vine: Agony Uncle sees the beloved lunchtime radio legend (played by impressionist Lewis MacLeod) cast as the go-to guy for celebrities and their everyday problems.

It’s the night before Christmas and all through the house, celebrities are stirring - and they need Jeremy’s help like never before. While everyone is busy stuffing the turkey, Jeremy Vine, as played by Lewis MacLeod (Postman Pat, Star Wars: Episode I - Phantom Menace) will be on air stuffing his sage advice into the ears of any showbiz type or world leader who calls in, whilst simultaneously giving listeners the chance to hear what unfolds in the Radio 2 studio while the records are on.

From President Putin and Jacob Rees-Mogg to Her Majesty the Queen, via Zoe Ball, Sara Cox, Kanye West and many, many more,(including some famous names that may well be playing themselves) this is Jeremy Vine: Agony Uncle at Christmas - with bells on.

Starring Lewis MacLeod, Jess Robinson, Terry Mynott and Jon Holmes.

• Producer: Nick Minter for Unusual Productions

New Year’s Eve On Radio 2

TX details: Monday 31 December, 5pm-5am

Over 12 jam-packed hours, Tony Blackburn, Mark Goodier, Gary Davies, Ana Matronic and Dave Pearce provide the live soundtrack to the nation’s New Year’s Eve party.

From 5pm-7pm Tony Blackburn gets the party started in Tony Blackburn's NYE 60s. There will be tracks from The Monkees, The Crystals, Dusty, Unit four Plus Two, Elvis, Aretha Franklin and Bobby Vee, and many more. Plus Tony will be counting down his Top 5 60s dancefloor fillers.

From 7pm-9pm Mark Goodier's NYE 70s will feature some of the biggest bangers of the decade as well as taking the listeners’ requests for their ultimate 70's tunes.

From 9pm-11pm Gary Davies' NYE 80s brings listeners the best party tunes from the DJ’s favourite decade. Gary says: "It's the perfect 80s warm up to get you in the mood for the new year. We're going to party like it’s 2019!"

Ana Matronic’s NYE 90s brings listeners all the very best from the 90s, from 11pm through to 1am - with shiny disco hits, huge dance tunes, and awesome club classics.

And finally, join Dave Pearce for a massive New Year’s House Party in Dave Pearce Dance Anthems, from 1am-5am. He’ll have a four-hour dance marathon takeover featuring the biggest Ibiza classics and club anthems. Dave will also be checking in with Radio 2 ravers across the UK to see how people are celebrating the first few hours of 2019.

Producers: Tom Du Croz for the 麻豆社 / Chris Skinner for Somethin’ Else / Paul Thomas for Wisebuddah / Paul Thomas for Wisebuddah / Jordan Hemingway for Audio Always (in order that programmes are listed above).

When Jamie Met Harry

TX details: Tuesday 1 January, 7pm-9pm

Jamie Cullum spends two hours in conversation with one of his musical heroes - Harry Connick Jr.

Jamie credits the New Orleans-born legend with kick-starting his own musical passion after he saw him playing the piano on TV.

Jamie says: "I thought 'What is this sound?' It's not jazz it's not blues - I was 14 and it was a huge turning point for me."

The pair talk through their shared love of New Orleans' rich musical history, their influences and inspirations, and what the future might hold. The programme will feature music from the very beginning of Harry's career until the present day, and some of the artists that have inspired them both.

• Presenter: Jamie Cullum
• Producer: Ian Parkinson for Folded Wing

Carte Blanche - Brigitte Bardot

TX details: Tuesday 1 January, 9pm-10pm

In an exclusive interview recorded at her home in St Tropez, Brigitte Bardot gives Vincent Niclo carte blanche to talk about her life.

In this second series of Carte Blanche, French singer Vincent Niclo celebrates talented artists, celebrated and creative, independent and determined, who are beloved in France and around the world.

In this first episode Vincent talks to Brigitte Bardot about her life and career. Passionate, outspoken and controversial since her first public appearance in 1950, Brigitte has always been a trail blazer, ahead of her time.

With dreams of becoming a ballerina, it was a modelling shoot when she was just 15 that caught the eye of film director Roger Vadim. She became an actress and was just 18 when she was cast in the film that would make her a star: And God Created Woman.

Brigitte was globally adored, the first Continental actress to achieve Hollywood-size fame.

A screen icon, she made over 40 films, recorded over 60 songs, popularised the bikini, the beehive and the pink gingham dress, and of course, there was ‘that’ iconic pose.

As famous for her initials - B.B - as she was for her full name, in 1973, at just 39, at the height of her beauty and fame, she turned her back on stardom, and went off to start her real life as an animal rights activist and campaigner. And she’s remained committed to her cause ever since.

• Presenter: Vincent Niclo
• Producer: Jodie Keane for the 麻豆社

Please note that due to a scheduling change, Gary Barlow Meets… Paul McCartney (week 51) and Gary Barlow Meets… Jeff Lynne (week 1) will now be broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 2 in early 2019 as part of a longer series.

And in the three part series Jo Whiley Meets…, Jo meets Idris Elba in the third episode (26 December), and not Noel Fielding as previously published.