Channel 4 has ordered Christmas special docs from indies Gold Wala (Sounds Like It’s Christmas with Ken Bruce) and King of Sunshine (An Alpine Train at Christmas (w/t)).
Single documentary An Alpine Train at Christmas (w/t) has behind the scenes access to one of Europe’s most scenic railway journeys, the Bernina Express.
Voiced by Hugh Bonneville, the show follows the train as it travels from Chur, Switzerland’s oldest town, through stunning Alpine landscapes ending in the town of Tirano in Italy. “En route, we visit some of the people who live and work with the mountains of the Alps as their backdrop.”
An Alpine Train at Christmas (w/t)is a 1 x 60’ special for Channel 4 from Salford-based indie King of Sunshine Productions with GroupM Motion Entertainment. The special is executive produced by Sohail Shah, Managing Director of King of Sunshine Productions, and Series Producer is Ben Sheldon. Deep Sehgal is Executive Producer for GroupM Motion Entertainment. The programme is commissioned by Channel 4’s Jasper Hone, Commissioning Executive, Lifestyle, and Jo Street, Head of Lifestyle.
Channel 4’s Jasper Hone comments: “It’s a bucket list railway ride for many, so we’re delighted to share with viewers access to see how this scenic Alpine train ride prepares for the Christmas holiday season. One of many festive highlights to indulge in this December on Channel 4.”
King of Sunshine Productions MD Sohail Shah comments: “The Bernina Express covers one of the most beautiful train routes in the world, and this behind-the-scenes look will be an absolute Christmas treat for Channel 4 viewers.”
Deep Sehgal, Executive Producer for GroupM Motion Entertainment adds: “This promises to be a really atmospheric and magical journey, and exactly what you want at Christmas. It’s an absolute pleasure to be aboard!”
From Gold Wala is Sounds Like It’s Christmas with Ken Bruce. Ken Bruce will “curate decades of Yuletide melodies and put together the ultimate Christmas playlist.”
The seasonal special will hear from the stars behind the hits as they “share the stories behind their own Chrimbo classics, as well as choosing their favourite tinsel-covered tracks of all time.”
Jona Lewie tells us about stopping the cavalry, Boney M’s Liz Mitchell reminisces about Mary’s Boy Child, Roy Wood wonders whether he still wishes it could be Christmas every day and Tony Mortimer recalls the poignant story behind East 17’s number one smash, Stay Another Day. Also adding their picks to the Yuletide mix are The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins, ska legend Pauline Black, pop producer supremo Pete Waterman, radio presenter Lauren Layfield and Walking in the Air icon Aled Jones. Plus, Paul Young recalls one of the most iconic moments in pop history.
Ken Bruce said: “Over the decades there have been thousands of Christmas tracks, from the classics to the novelty and the lesser known. Now I’m here to deliver the ultimate mix tape of the best festive songs to soundtrack this holiday season, helped along the way by some of the most well-known faces from the world of Christmas music. We hope you enjoy our playlist of Christmas hits.”
Sounds Like It’s Christmas with Ken Bruce is a 1×60’ programme for Channel 4, commissioned by Jasper Hone, Commissioning Executive, Lifestyle, and Jo Street, Head of Lifestyle and Director of Commissioning, Nations and Regions.
Sounds Like It’s Christmas with Ken Bruce is produced by Gold Wala and GroupM Motion Entertainment. The Executive Producer for Gold Wala is Faraz Osman with Melanie Darlaston as Executive Producer for GroupM Motion Entertainment.
Jasper Hone, Commissioning Executive for Channel 4, said: “It doesn’t truly feel like Christmas until those classic songs are playing non-stop and it’s a privilege to hear the stories behind them from some of the legends who lived them, all brought together by the inimitable Ken Bruce. We all have a favourite Christmas song, but will yours make it into Ken’s ultimate mix?”
Gold Wala MD and Executive Producer Faraz Osman said: “It’s been a gift to build on the success of our special Sounds Like The 80s, bringing together another group of incredible music greats to select the songs that mean the most to them at Christmas. Our brilliant team has pulled off another cracker of a show that’s sure to have you singing along and ringing out the festive bells!”
Melanie Darlaston, Head of Factual (UK) and Executive Producer for GroupM Motion Entertainment, said: “There’s nothing like a festive song to make you feel warm and fuzzy, and there’s no one more qualified than Ken Bruce to guide you through the best of the best! So, don your Christmas jumper and enjoy!”
The programmes are funded by Channel 4 and GroupM Motion Entertainment’s Diverse Indies Fund. The Diverse Indies Fund was set up to support small and medium-sized ethnically diverse-led independent production companies to produce new projects. The fund is overseen by Vivienne Molokwu, Senior Commissioning Editor at Channel 4 and Deep Sehgal, Head of Creative Diversity at GroupM Motion Entertainment.
Jon Creamer
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