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Manchester Cathedral to Host BBC Radio 4 Carol Concert

The third annual BBC Radio 4 Daily Service Carol Concert is being held at Manchester Cathedral for the first time on Friday 5 December 2025.

The third annual BBC Radio 4 Daily Service Carol Concert is being held at Manchester Cathedral for the first time on Friday 5 December 2025.

Previously hosted at Media City, the move reflects the event popularity with local audiences and highlights the success of BBC faith-based events across the UK.

Content will be broadcast across the Daily Service on BBC Radio 4 Extra from 22 to 26 December, with an hour airing on BBC Radio Manchester on Christmas Day.

This year’s event will showcase northern talent, including the Daily Service Singers, the Metropolitan Brass Quintet, and gospel group Warehouse Worship. In partnership with the Church of England the BBC has supported outreach efforts to strengthen choral music across Greater Manchester. This includes helping to form a new junior choir at Bolton Parish Church and commissioning carols by composer Sasha Johnson Manning.

Presenters will include The Rt Revd Dr David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, The Ven Dr Rachel Mann, Archdeacon of Salford and Bolton, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra presenter Swarzy Shire and gospel artist Seth Pinnock.

Outreach and Community Engagement

  • The BBC is partnering with our Sing My Soul programme to develop local choirs for the BBC recording – with choral scholas leading workshops for choirs from Atherton, Chadderton, Hopwood, and Prestwich.  
  • Members of choirs from St Ann’s, Manchester, Salford Cathedral, and Bolton Parish Church are also taking part.
  • The newly formed Bolton Parish Church Junior Choir, created in collaboration with Songs of Praise, will perform Away in a Manger and Little Donkey.

Musicians

  • Warehouse Worship, fresh from their historic performance at the Co-Op Live arena, will perform Emmanuel and O Holy Night.
  • BBC Young Choristers of the Year 2025, Leo and Alastair, will present a new arrangement of In the Bleak Midwinter by Sasha Johnson Manning.
  • Musicians include – Director of Music Andrew Earis, Organist Ben Collyer, the Metropolitan Brass Quintet led by Tim Barber, plus percussionist John Melborne.

Notes to Editors

The Daily Service, now in its 97th year, is a 15-minute Christian reflection with music, broadcast each weekday on 4Extra. 

To book tickets go to the BBC Shows and Tours website.

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