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A BBC Christmas Collection

By: Alexander McCall Smith, Rachel Joyce, Charles Dickens, Anton Chekhov, Leo Tolstoy, Elizabeth Gaskell, Jeremy Front, various
Narrated by: Nikesh Patel, Meera Syal, Stephen Fry, Rebecca Front, Stephanie Cole, Tamsin Grieg, Michelle Fairley, Niamh Cusack, Robert Lindsay, James Fleet, Nina Sosanya, full cast
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Publisher's summary

A sparkling seasonal anthology of BBC dramas and readings

Christmas is the perfect time to curl up with a good story, and this cracking collection brings you 30 wonderfully diverse tales inspired by this most special of seasons. From Santa Claus, gift-giving and family gatherings, to an unexpected encounter in a snowstorm and an alternative take on the Nativity, they're sure to get you in the festive mood.

Here are modern readings of classics such as Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Tree', Anton Chekhov's 'At Christmas Time', Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Fir Tree', O Henry's 'The Gift of the Magi', Elizabeth Gaskell's 'Christmas Storms and Sunshine' and Leo Tolstoy's 'Papa Panov's Special Christmas'. Alongside them is some superb short fiction by contemporary authors, including Stella Duffy ('South'), Paul McVeigh ('Daddy Christmas'), Laura Barnett ('Survivors'), and nine delightful stories by Alexander McCall Smith. Among the stellar narrators are Don Gilet, Nina Sosanya, Hannah Gordon, Stephanie Cole and Meera Syal.

Interspersed with these are a range of spellbinding plays, including Rachel Joyce's poignant Christmas by the Lake; festive action comedy Lena Marsh, Live and Schticking! by Jeremy Front; a very unusual and very dangerous Santa in The Morpeth Carol by Timothy X Atack; and Robert Hudson and Marie Phillips' epistolary animal tale, Some Hay in a Manger, introduced by Stephen Fry. All feature star casts including Niamh Cusack, Robert Lindsay, Sam Troughton, Clare Corbett, Tamsin Greig and Joel Fry.

Heartwarming and heartfelt, comic and bittersweet, moving and magical, these fantastic, evocative stories are a real Christmas treat.

Note: Chapter metadata updated in January 2023.

Contents
Christmas by the Lake by Rachel Joyce
Christmas Short Stories by Alexander McCall Smith:
· 'Motordrome'
· 'The Revenge, or Otherwise, of Herbie Bontemps'
· 'How to Escape in Gaelic'
· 'The Colourful Life of Cousin Grace'
· 'Good President Wenceslas'
The Christmas Present by Ben Crompton
Christmas Compass: Series 1:
· 'North' by Malachy Tallack
· 'South' by Stella Duffy
· 'East' by Ruth Thomas
· 'West' by Mike McCormack
A Time to Dance by Lucy Gannon
Christmas Compass: Series 2 by Alexander McCall Smith
· 'Winter Journey'
· 'In the DRC'
· 'Primatologist'
· 'On The Island'
Midnight at Christmas by Elliott Kerrigan
'The Fir Tree' by Hans Christian Andersen
'At Christmas Time'by Anton Chekhov
'Papa Panov's Special Christmas' by Leo Tolstoy
Some Hay in a Manger by Robert Hudson and Marie Phillips
'Daddy Christmas' by Paul McVeigh
'Christmas Storms and Sunshine'by Elizabeth Gaskell
The Morpeth Carol by Timothy X Atack
'Survivors' by Laura Barnett
Lena Marsh, Live and Shticking!by Jeremy Front
'A Christmas Tree' by Charles Dickens
'The Gift of the Magi' by O Henry
Get Santa by Peter Gibbs
'Home' by Christine Dwyer Hickey

©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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What listeners say about A BBC Christmas Collection

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Unimpressed

I’m only four stories in and I’m unimpressed with the story arcs. Firstly, these aren’t Christmas stories (except the first one, slightly). The word Christmas is used but that is where the connection to the season ends. Secondly, the stories do not draw me into the story. I kept listening because I wanted to keep trying to join the story. None of the story so far have piqued any feelings of warmth or even nostalgia.
I regret making this purchase with my one credit this month.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Depressing

Some of the stories were depressing. Missing the message of Christmas. Too PC. Spoilt the real Christmas stories

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4 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Awful!! Avoid!!!

What a waste of a credit!!
Most stories have tenuous links to Christmas at best!!
Many stories are depressing and very few are uplifting, if you want to get into the Christmas spirit avoid this collection at all costs (and if you must buy, use a credit and don’t waste cash on this awful collection)

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5 people found this helpful