BBC ALBA – CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

Date: Saturday, 19 December 2009 – Friday, 8 January 2010


Title: Miosachan na Nollaig / Advent Calendar

Will Santa lose weight in time for Christmas?

Transmitted: Saturday 19th December 2009
Time: 16:54


Title: De a-nis?

Dè a-nis are recording with the music group Na Rionnagan from Glasgow Gaelic School.

Transmitted: Saturday 19th December 2009
Time: 18:00


Title: Adventure Sulasgeir An Diugh

Updating the story of the gannet hunters of Ness, first broadcast in 1962.

Transmitted: Monday 21st December 2009
Time: 21:00


Title: Sailidh Mailidh - Cleasan Sneachda

Sailidh Mailidh and Cathag have lots of fun playing in the snow.

Transmitted: Wednesday 23rd December 2009
Time: 17:17


Title: De a-nis?

Join the Dè a-nis? team and their special guests as they gear up for some festive fun.

Transmitted: Wednesday 23rd December 2009
Time: 17:40


Title: Siubhlachan / Time Traveller

A young girl inherits a watch from her Grandfather that allows her to travel backwards and forwards through time. She quickly discovers there are dark forces who want the watch for themselves... and will stop at nothing to get it!

Transmitted: Thursday 24th December
Time: 6.10pm


Title: Duan Nollaig

Fiona J Mackenzie sings a wonderful mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas songs in front of a live audience at St Andrew's in the Square in Glasgow. Old favourites 'Away in a Manger' and 'Silent Night' sit beautifully alongside new songs such as 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', uniquely translated into Gaelic.

Transmitted: Thursday 24th December
Time: 20:16


Title: `S Fheàirrde Duine Gàire

Seasaidh Lexy, the Great Dame of Gaelic entertainment, is back with another treasure trove of Gaelic comedy clips.

Transmitted: Thursday 24th December
Time: 21:00


Title: Spors na Bliadhna

Derek Moireach presents Spors na Bliadhna – a review of what's been happening in the world of sport in the past year.

Transmitted: Thursday 24th December
Time: 22:00


Title: Nollaig bhon Ghaidhealtachd / Christmas Service

Join us this Christmas Eve for a very special ecumenical service from Ness Bank Church, Inverness. With performances from Kathleen MacInnes, Maggie MacDonald, James Graham, Inverness Gaelic Choir, Inverness Gaelic School and the Caledonian Ceilidh Trailers.

Transmitted: Thursday 24th December
Time: 23:00


Title: Cocaire nan Cocairean / Cookery Competition

The two semi-finalists are presented with a particular ingredient each has to use.

Transmitted: Friday 25th December 2009
Time: 20:30


Title: Bothan air a' Phreiridh

Iain MacPherson takes his friend Ewen MacKay on a journey home over space and time to the Canadian prairies: to the emptiness and growth at the heart of family stories and separations for both of them.

Beginning in Sleat, they visit Benbecula before heading west: to the endless land of wheat and rodeos on the trail of Ewen's mother, Bealag who was born overseas and returned over here, and her father Seonaidh Paterson, the Gaelic Cowboy himself.

Transmitted: Friday 25th December 2009
Time: 21:00


Title: A' Bhliadhna

A review of this year's news from a local, national and international perspective.

Transmitted: Sunday 27th December 2009
Time: 18:30


Title: Alleluia!/Spiritual Music & Verse

A Christmas edition of the programme. Govan Choir sing Èisd san Iarmailt Òran Binn, Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association perform Psalm 89, Brigadier Iain MacFarlane gives an account of the role his personal beliefs have played in his life and Mary Smith reads from Carmina Gadelica. Presented by Iain MacKinnon.

Transmitted: Sunday 27th December 2009
Time: 19:30


Title: Lasair Dhe

A festive season delight, with Gaelic soloists, musicians and choirs participating in a celebration of religious and spiritual music. The programme, filmed in Iona and Inverness Cathedrals in 2001, includes six contemporary arrangements of Gaelic Psalms originally commissioned by the Highland Festival in 1999.

Transmitted: Sunday 27th December 2009
Time: 21:00


Title: A Song of Crotal & White An-diugh

Updating the impression of life on the Isle of Lewis given by the MacDonald Sisters, first broadcast in 1969.

Transmission: Monday 28th December 2009
Time: 21:00


Title: Taghadh bho na Trads

Kathleen MacInnes with more great music from the winners of Na Trads including Lau, Lauren MacColl and Christine Primrose.

Transmission: Monday 28th December 2009
Time: 22:00


Title: Ceòl Country le Darren MacIll-Eain

Glasgow’s Grand Ole Opry hosts an evening of country music with Darren MacLean.

Transmitted: Tuesday 29th December 2009
Time: 21:00


Title: Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash - a musical career that spanned six decades, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. This documentary explores the prominent themes of Cash's life including love of the land, freedom, justice, family, faith and redemption through exclusive interviews, photos and unreleased music and footage.

Transmitted: Thursday 31st December 2009
Time: 21:00


Title: Hebridean Celtic Music Festival - Suil air Ais

Sets from the Megantic Outlaw performance with Calum Martin and band, accompanied by daughter Isobel. Also, featuring one of the most exciting young Scottish bands emerging onto the Celtic music scene, Face the West.

Transmitted: Thursday 31st December 2009
Time: 22:15


Title: Bliadhna Mhath Ùr

BBC ALBA’s special live Hogmanay show will come from Oban, featuring an all star cast of musicians, singers and special guests. Presented by the inimitable duo of Morag MacDonald and Tony Kearney, the show features Argyllshire's own Karen Matheson and Donald Shaw, top folk band Daimh, two of the World’s top piper’s Angus MacColl and Stuart Liddell, this year’s Mod Gold Medallists, Darren MacLean and Sineag MacIntyre, and the one and only Anne Lorne Gillies. Bliadhna Mhath Ùr will also be broadcast simultaneously on BBC Radio na Gàidheal.

Transmitted: Thursday 31st December 2009
Time: 23:30


Title: Taghadh bho na Trads

Kathleen MacInnes with more great music from the winners of Na Trads including Lau, Lauren MacColl and Christine Primrose.

Transmitted: Friday 1st January 2010
Time:19:00


Title: Na h-Òganaich

After a gap of 35 years, legendary Gaelic group Na h-Òganaich are back in the recording studio, but can they recapture their old magic?

Transmitted: Friday 1st January 2010
Time: 21:00


Title: Hebridean Celtic Music Festival - Suil air Ais

Featuring one of Australia's most popular festival bands with their ecclectic mix of Australian Roots/ Folk, The Ploughboys. Also featured are the renowned Orcadian 8 piece and Scottish Trad Band of the year in 2008, The Chair.

Transmitted: Saturday 2nd January 2010
Time: 23:15


Title: Alleluia!/Spiritual Music & Verse

Kathleen Graham sings Psalm 72, Calum Alex MacMillan sings Criosda a-mhàin, Chrissie Mary MacNeil tells how her faith has helped her deal with life-threatening illness in the family and Mary Smith reads from Carmina Gadelica. Presented by Iain MacKinnon.

Transmitted: Sunday 3rd January 2010
Time: 19:30


Title: Caileagan an Airm

Four girls undergo a gruelling selection process to join the TA. Are they tough enough?

Transmitted: Monday 4th January 2010
Time: 21:40


Title: Disappearing Island An-diugh

Updating the profile of the Island of Barra, first broadcast in 1965.

Transmitted: Monday 4th January 2010
Time: 22:10


Title: Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach/Sheepdog Trials

Catriona MacPhee and Donald MacSween return with a new series on sheepdog Trials with the young dogs at the Campbeltown Nursery Trials.

Transmitted: Tuesday 5th January 2010
Time: 21:00


Title: Thuige Seo

In the first programme of a new series of Thuige Seo, Donald Morrison is in conversation with the writer and broadcaster Mary Anne Macdonald.

Transmitted: Thursday 7th January 2010
Time: 20:30


Title: Farpais Fhallain / Islands on a Diet

We eat too much and drink too much. We need to change our lifestyle and our eating habits. Join three teams from the Isle of Lewis as they embark on a 12 week regime of fitness and fun to see who can lose the most weight.

Transmitted: Friday 8th January 2010
Time: 21:00