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Airdate: Carols by Candlelight

Nine has announced the line-up for this year's Carols by Candlelight, to again be hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson.

Nine has announced the line-up for this year’s Carols by Candlelight, to again be hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson on Christmas Eve.

The evening will be broadcast live from Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Friday, December 24, from 8.00pm on Channel Nine – a concert full of everyone’s favourite Christmas carols featuring some of Australia’s favourite performers.

Joining the TODAY hosts will be Carols by Candlelight ambassador Ricki-Lee Coulter.

“My most vivid memories of Christmas as a kid were watching Carols by Candlelight with the family and wishing it was me up there on that stage, and this year my wish will come true. I am beyond excited,” she said.

Now in its 73rd year, Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight has become a tradition for households throughout Australia.

Audiences will be treated to performances by Kate Ceberano, Rob Mills, Anthony Callea, Marina Prior and David Hobson, who will each perform a selection of all-time Christmas favourites.

The Music Bowl will be set alight by the sensationally talented casts of Mary Poppins, Hairspray and Wicked, all bringing their unique style of music theatre to the night.

Making it a family affair will be country music’s singing sisters, The McClymonts, as well as Sea Patrol’s Ian Stenlake with his wife Rachael Beck.

Children’s favourites Hi-5 and Humphrey B. Bear will keep the little ones entertained.

No night of carols would be complete without a visit from Santa, taking time out from his busy schedule to make a special appearance at the Music Bowl.

Carols by Candlelight will again be conducted under the guidance of John Foreman, who is returning for his eighth year as musical director and his second as one of the show’s producers.

It airs Friday December 24 at 8.00pm.

26 Responses

  1. This was awful! Some performances were scratchy, the whole production was sentimental and sugary and Karl and Lisa had no idea. Apparently the spirit of Christmas was anything from ‘giving” to “family” but clearly the real spirit of Christmas is the gratuitous product placement from the Myers dress range! And, I am not religious, but can’t understand why a carol concert makes no mention of Jesus until ten minutes from the end. If this is the best that Australian TV can produce for Christmas Eve then we are in serious creative do-do.

  2. I agree, Karl and Lisa have no idea about Carols. I like them on the Today show, but get Eddie or Darryl – so much better because they are Melbourne identities!! I’m disappointed it won’t be streamed live, I’m oversease this Christmas and feeling quite a little bit homesick. I will set my alarm and listen though.

  3. Hi there,

    Just wanted to bring the question about whether this will be available to watch on the internet to the forefront again. Does anyone know if this is possible?

    I too live overseas and would love to be able to watch this. No matter how bad the line up, it’s a taster from home for me.

    Mel

  4. Carols by Candlelight is such a family institution. Every year my family look forward to watching the show together before Santa arrives and I must say I would miss it if Denis Walter, Marina Prior and Silvie Paladino were not on the bill. They are the true essence of what this show stands for. Nice to see Ricki Lee is the Ambassador for the show, however she must have forgotten she was on the show last year according to the above quote. I think Eddie McGuire would be a magnificent host of this show….he and his family have grown up watching this show.

  5. not a fan of the hosts at all, Ray was a great choice every year.

    Still, the Channel Nine Carols wipe the floor with Seven. I mean, 7 was doing it with Woolworths and MLC… i think Vision being part of it sends a greater message especially since its Christmas.
    and 73rd year? Jeez, clearly they got a good thing going here.

    Glad to see Ricki-Lee back too, she was great last year. Say what you want about the girl…. shes still got a damn good voice.

  6. @THTANK: I don’t think the show will be streamed on the Channel Nine website, but you can hear the whole event live on the website of Melbourne radio station Magic 1278 (which with sister station 3AW is one of the main sponsors) at magic1278.com.au

  7. I wish they’d drop the McClymonts. They can sing in splendid tight harmony, thats for sure. But I’m not sure skirts barely below their navels last year was seemly, and they sing with that sickening fake hillbilly accent. Last year it was ‘Saarlent Naaaart. Holy Naaart. Ouwl is calm, ouwl is braaaart …”
    I know a lot of genuine hillbillies from Virginia and Kentucky and the McClymonts make me cringe at the offence they’re causing to any of my friends who might hear them.

  8. I know I agree. We dont need Karl & Lisa. They dont get the whole history of it. There is nothing wrong with having Darryl or even Bert host them. At least htye know what its like to have the carols in melbourne.

  9. Yeah I’m with Steve on this one – let’s get it back to the way it used to be – Melbourne based hosts, commercial free, actual Christmas carols & songs and lose the latest “pop” sensation flogging their new CD. What next, advertorials????

  10. @Karlos – Don’t know about Marina, but I’ve seen every perfomance that Callea has had at Carols and he has never performed the same tune twice – always a pleasure to hear he, and Silvie Paladino, belt out a ‘big’ song on Christmas Eve.

  11. I do wish they could find someone better than Karl and Lisa to host this. Even Eddie McGuire would be better. He at least has a warmth they lack. Yes I realize using them is a tactical move by Nine to boost Karl and Lisa’s profile, but it’s to the Carols’ detriment, at least IMO.

  12. Why do they have the same guests on this program year in and year out? How about freshening it up a bit with something new? I am so tired of hearing Marina Prior and Anthony Callea sing the same carols every year.

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