Merry Britsmas

If you think there's no good new Christmas music OR just want more Christmas music, well how about this BONUS MERRY BRITSMAS offering of new British Xmas songs? Check them out below and also, if you can, buy their stuff and go to their gigs!  The Bug Club - Christmas Lullaby  Los Bitchos - Los Chrismos Joss Stone - Bring on Christmas Day  BumbleWasps - Mr Christmas  Shybits & Eddie Argos - Hope Th...

IT'S CHRISTMAS! And in this super festive December episode, I explore Alan Partridge's Knowing Me Knowing Yule, the John Lennon classic Happy Xmas (War Is Over), & the history of the Christmas Pudding! Also, find out the champion of the World Cup of the Ghost of Xmas Present, and hear a modern festive poem from Carol Ann Duffy!  How to make a Victorian Xmas Pudding  Diana Ross - Happy Xmas (War Is...

In my first December episode of 2022, I explore school nativities, a brilliant TV special called Flint Street Nativity, and British covers of 80s new wave classic Christmas Wrapping.  Also, check out Have Yourself A Merry Indie Xmas compilation on Bandcamp for Crisis below: https://v4velindre.bandcamp.com/album/have-yourself-a-merry-indie-christmas-volume-i   https://v4velindre.bandcamp.com/album/...

It's almost December and it's time for more full on Christmas joy! In this episode, I discuss the marvellous music of British festive classic Love Actually, how Christianity helped people through World War II, and brotherly conflict over decorations in the cult ITV special Christmas Lights.  Also, hear the results of the first round of the World Cup of the Ghost of Xmas Present! Vote for the next...

In my first fully festive episode of November, I step right into Xmas! It's time to go back to timey wimey Dr Who with their take on A Xmas Carol, British covers of Winter Wonderland, and more wartime history of festive entertainment. I also discuss my new poll for the very best Ghost of Christmas Present! Vote on Twitter at Merry Britsmas!  Jamie Cullum - Winter Wonderland Gary Barlow - Winter Wo...

It's Christmas Podcast Day! In celebration of the start of November, check out the Christmas Podcast Podcast, which will help you hear all of the Christmas Podcasts worth checking out!  https://christmaspodcasts.com/   In this bonus episode, I also talk about something seasonal for November 5th - Bonfire Night aka Fireworks Night aka Guy Fawkes Day!  The Big Moon - Bonfire  Talk Less Say More - Bo...

In our full on Halloween special, we take on some spooky British things, including a Halloween-set episode of kind-of-forgotten sitcom My Family, some alternative rock songs about zombies and gravedwellers, and explore some slight differences and unique traditions for a Scottish Halloween.  Spooky Alternative Songs Veronica Falls - Found Love in a Graveyard  Jamie T - Zombie  The Wytches - Gravedw...

In the first of our October 2022 episodes, Merry Britsmas covers some festive but spooky things! Listen to me ramble about the Xmas Special of The League of Gentlemen, some terrifying novelty Xmas songs, and a historical exploration of the creepy winter Night of the Mothers.  The Cheeky Girls - Cheeky Xmas  Fast Food Rockers - I Love Xmas  Cruz Beckham - If Everyday Was Xmas 

In the September 22 episode of Merry Britsmas, I pay homage to the festive power of our late majesty, explore a joke filled modern sitcom called Not Going Out, some alternative and glam christmas songs, and what sort of presents were given at Xmas during WWII.  T-Rex - Christmas Bop The Staves - Home Alone Too  The Staves & Flyte - Have Yourself A Merry Little Xmas  Oscar - It's Christmas Again  S...

We are very close to the ber months so celebrate with Merry Britsmas by hearing me ramble about the second Band Aid to take on Do They Know It's Christmas, a pair of super spies from the sixties in a strange festive adventure, and how decorating was all about tradition and thrift during wartime.  Band Aid II  Going Live! Report on Band Aid II  Glee  Slade   Richard Cheese 

It's Christmas In July! Which mean's it's time to talk all things Christmas (as it is every month here...). This month, I explore some kind-of sunny British festive songs, a nativity that goes dreadfully wrong from the Play That Goes Wrong, and how rationing affected the holiday season during World War II.  British Summery Christmas Songs Shame - Feliz Navidad  Shaggy & Joss Stone - Sunny Celebrat...

It's Half Christmas! So let's get proper festive with the classic Snowman tune Walking in the Air, as well as discussing a kind-of-superheroic festive special from cult show Misfits, along with our now regular topic of British Christmas during World War II, focusing on rationing and supplies.  Aled Jones - Walking in the Air  Tom Chaplin cover  Jack Robert Hardman cover  Jerkcurb cover  The Maccab...

How about taking a little look at a classic 70s sitcom Xmas episode about life in prison with Ronnie Barker in Porridge, the merry joy of ex-footballer Chris Kamara singing some classic holiday songs, & the difficulties of Xmas during bombing raids in WWII.  Chris Kamara - Here's To Christmas

In the first episode of 2022, I take a look at a silly reboot of a kids show about a super spy rodent, listen to some under appreciated festive British indie pop, and begin a new section exploring what life was like in the UK at Christmas during World War II.  Dan Croll - A Guardian Christmas  Gabrielle Aplin - Untitled  Belle & Sebastian - Are You Coming Over For Christmas? 

In the wise words of Noddy Holder, it's CHRIIIISTTMAAASSSS!! Check out this mega message of festive love and celebration from the Christmas Podcast Network! Happy Christmas all of you brilliant, wonderful people! 

In a special bonus episode, I review and recommend some brilliant new British festive songs from this year including the likes of Billy Nomates, Shame, Gary Barlow, Dream Nails and Will Joseph Cook. Check out the songs below:  Gary Barlow - The Dream of Xmas  Will Joseph Cook - No Time To Be Alone  Shame - Baldur's Gate Blackaby - Plastic Mistletoe Laurie Shaw - Snow Day Billy Nomates - Xmas is fo...

It's our full on final proper episode of 2021 and it's an extra long packed present full of more than just the usual Merry Britsmas ramblings! I look at British classic The Vicar of Dibley's The Xmas Lunch Incident, covers of Greg Lake's I Believe in Father Xmas, and hear from other festive podcasters to get the final say on which Xmas advert of 2021 is the very best!  Check out the other festive...

It's actually DECEMBER! So let's get super festive with some historical Medieval feasting, a Xmas celebration with Mark & Jez of Peep Show, and some intriguing British covers of Mariah Carey's super hit All I Want For Christmas Is You.  Check out the covers:  Clean Bandit  Bastille   Puppini Sisters Jamie Cullum Olivia Olson  Check out The Christmas Alphabet podcast: http://christmasalphabet.com/...

In the second November episode of 2021, I explore a festive Titanic cosmic cruise from an episode of Doctor Who, some seasonal poetry from Wendy Cope, and some history and covers of Fairytale of New York by The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl.   

In the first November episode of 2021, I take the festive up a notch by looking at the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree, a festive episode of Aardman' kids TV show legend Shaun the Sheep, and look at some seasonal indie rock from British bands. Check out the full songs below as well as a new podcaster in the Christmas Podcast Network (& another Brit!), Kringle Talks Kristmas.  Los Campesinos! - Whe...

In our first ever full Halloween special episode, we get into some disgusting & spooky British culture! I discuss the history of Halloween on the British Isles, a grotesque Halloween episode of cult sitcom Bottom, & share some gothic rock that perfectly fits spooky season.    Check out this video for more information on Samhain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai_8RaTbmeY  

It's October & spooky season is here! For my festive spooktacular, I explore a seasonal episode of BBC sitcom Ghosts, a tale of history & horror from Hertfordshire, and an album of 'Ghost Stories' from Aidan Moffat.   If you liked the strange historical tale this episode, follow @Verity_Holloway on Twitter or visit https://verityholloway.com/  

In the September episode (just!), I explore all things Father Christmas to give you a real festive Ber month episode! I explore the history of the British Father Christmas figure, an episode of 70s sitcom Are You Being Served called The Father Christmas Affair, and The Kinks' rocking class attack track, Father Christmas.    The Kinks  - Father Christmas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPPCPqDINEk...

In our August episode, I explore the tasty joy that is the Christmas Sandwich, the festive Panto focused episode of police procedural The Bill, and British covers of Donny Hathaway's soul classic This Christmas.  John Lewis' Xmas Decoration Themes 2021  The Xmas Sandwich Song by Christopher Dennis 

In the Christmas in July episode, we get a little bit summery and sunny! Check out my thoughts on a Benidorm christmas special, the tradition of mummering (which is not carolling!), & some indie summer-adjacent christmas songs!