We are all familiar with the opening line of the much-loved traditional Christmas poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, but in the hands of five inventive and imaginative writers the traditional gets a contemporary and unexpected twist in this week of new stories for BBC7.

Book-ending their stories with the opening and closing lines of the poem, writers Philip Ardagh, Carlo Gebler, Garry Kilworth, Dominic Holland and Arthur Mathews bring us five unique interpretations of what might happen on the night before Christmas. From a Celtic spin on an ancient folk tale to some unexpected encounters with some favourite Christmas characters, the stories provide an entertaining collection to usher in the festive season.

Monday 19th December
It Never Happened by Arthur Mathews
Read by Robert Webb
Produced by Heather Larmour
Understaffed, underpaid, the busiest time of the year with urgent deadlines to meet: Christmas Eve in the office is no picnic and certainly no time for your eccentric boss to behave even more strangely than usual!

Tuesday 20th December
Gifts by Garry Kilworth
Read by Joe Armstrong
Produced by Heather Brennon
Cold, wet and far from home on Christmas Eve, a young hitchhiker on his way to his friend's house gets not just a lift from some unusual travellers but a gift that will have a profound effect on the rest of his life.

Wednesday 21st December
Silver Hoof, the Goat by Carlo Gebler
Read by David Kelly & Hannah R Gordon
Produced by Heather Brennon
When old Gregory adopts young orphan, Maggie, she insists her cat Edmund comes too. The following Christmas they receive a wonderful gift but sadly for Maggie it doesn't come without making a sacrifice.

Thursday 22nd December
The Emergency Visit by Dominic Holland
Read by Philip Jackson
Produced by Heather Larmour
Shootings, stabbings, beatings, hit and runs, muggings - just an average Christmas Eve shift in a busy Accident & Emergency department for Dr Robert Johnston. That and the odd drunk and disorderly in Father Christmas outfit! Robert has seen it all before and is disillusioned with Christmas and with human nature, but this is one shift he won't forget in a hurry!

Friday 23rd December
Not a Word of a Lie by Philip Ardagh
Read by James Fleet
Produced by Heather Brennon
Despite his older brother's best efforts to spoil things for him Christmas is still a special and magical event for young Philip; and on Christmas Eve he has an encounter which confirms that it is indeed an enchanting and miraculous time.

Writers
Philip Ardagh: is well known for his Eddie Dickens books, which have been translated into 25 languages and recently optioned by Warner Brothers for a proposed series of films. The Fall of Fergal, the first of his 'Unlikely Exploits' trilogy, has been serialised on Radio 4 and BBC7.

Carlo Gébler: has written several novels including, Malachy and His Family, Life of a Drum, How To Murder a Man and most recently Bull Raider. He has also written an Autobiography, Father and I: A Memoir as well as travel books, plays and children's books including The TV Genie and The Witch That Wasn't.

Garry Kilworth: has written over 70 books, both for adults and children in different genres including sci-fi, fantasy and historical. His best known children's works are the animal fantasy series The Welkin Weasels. Garry is a winner of the World Fantasy Award, the British Science Fiction Association Award and the Children's Book of the Year Award.

Dominic Holland: a well known stand up comedian and broadcaster, Dominic has also written for shows such as Clive Anderson All Talk, The Des O'Connor Show, The Brian Conley Show, Harry Enfield, Bob Monkhouse, and The Small World of Dominic Holland.

Arthur Mathews: co-creator and co-writer of Father Ted, Arthur has written for numerous television shows including Hippies, Big Train, Black Books, The Fast Show & Coogan's Run. His first novel, Well-Remembered Days was published in 2001 and he has recently co-written the musical I Keano.

The Readers include:

Joe Armstrong, is an exciting new actor who has already appeared in top rated television series such as Waking the Dead, Blackpool, Foyles War and Midsommer Murders as well as theatre roles in productions such as Nicholas Nickelby and A Night at the Dogs.

James Fleet is probably best known for his role as Hugo in the popular Vicar of Dibley. He has also appeared on stage and in many films including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Sense and Sensibility and Phantom of the Opera.

Philip Jackson is probably best known for his role as Inspector Japp in television's Poirot though he has appeared in numerous other series such as A Touch of Frost, Little Britain and Pennies from Heaven. He also has a prolific career on stage and in film.

David Kelly, is a much loved veteran actor who has had an illustrious career in television (Robin's Nest, Fawlty Towers), theatre (Krapps Last Tape, Give Me Your Answer Do ) and film (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Waking Ned) as well as numerous parts in numerous radio dramas.

Robert Webb has starred in 3 series of Peep Show along with his comedy partner David Mitchell, and is well known to audiences as Robin in the BBC's The Smoking Room. Robert has appeared in numerous tv shows such as My Family, People like Us, Ed Stone is Dead, and Bruiser, which he both wrote and performed. Along with David Mitchell he has appeared in The Mitchell and Webb Situation for TV and That Mitchell and Webb Sound for BBC Radio 4. He has also written material for Big Train, Armstrong and Miller and The Jack Doherty Show.

...Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night.

More Brochure Additions>>

Brochure Changes>>