Your Guide to the Holidays; Team-FM Christmas and New Year Shows!
Well, it's nearly here, Santa will soon be on his way, and the Team-FM holiday programmes are in full swing! Whether you are wrapping presents, out with family and friends, or particularly if you are on your own during the festivities, why not drop into Team-FM for some company and hear some great entertainment. We hope that what we have to offer will also help with loneliness and keeping up your spirits. We have 125 hours of special programming still to come!
We started our Christmas celebrations this past Saturday with festive shows across the weekend. , and today we've brought you christmas entertainment from 2 PM.
From shows filled with nostalgia, through to those presented by well-known celebrities and current mainstream radio personalities, we hope you'll enjoy our Christmas and New Year lineup!
There's no shortage of shows to check out this holiday time with festive tunes, the latest hits and oldies. For those who love radio from the past, we've brought back our very popular chart re-creations you've enjoyed so much over the years. Not only that, this Christmas Eve is a special day for you! Check out the details below. In addition, we've brought back our 12-hour New Year's Eve party!
All times for the programmes below are for the UK, however throughout the holiday you'll see these displayed in the Schedule on our website in the time zone of your choosing.
Keep checking back each day as the schedule refreshes!
https://www.team-fm.com/schedule
Should an internet connectivity problem arise during the festive period, we'll endeavour to reschedule shows at an alternative time of day. Thank you for your patience if this occurs. Keep checking Mastodon, X, Facebook, the web site, our Email list or the WhatsApp group for alternative times.
How to Listen.
You can hear Team-FM in any of the following ways:
https://www.team-fm.com/click. This page contains a variety of ways to listen and there's our audio player too.
Directly from our Facebook page.
By asking your Amazon Alexa to “Play Team FM”. Grab our Team-FM Alexa Skill.
Our IOS and Android apps. Download the app from the store, tap the app, and there we’ll be.
We're also on many other platforms, such as MixCloud Live and Twitch TV. If we're not on a platform you would prefer, please let us know.
Team-FM Holiday Shows.
As this blog post goes to press, Brian D is hosting the Welcome to the Weekend Christmas Party! With food, drink, studio guests, the best festive tunes and a real party atmosphere, join Brian D right now!
and then from 9 through to midnight, Brian Hartgen goes Christmas crazy with the Music Machine. Three hours of festive favourites old and new, your requests, games, and once again, the Christmas Novelty Hour! A lively show to spread some christmas cheer!
Saturday 23 December.
9 AM. Totally 80's Christmas.
As well as the great Christmas hits from the decade, a number of celebrity guests will choose their favourite festive songs too. Gary King will be with you at the Christmas tree.
11 AM. The 100 Biggest Hits at Christmas 2023.
She's back. She has the stars, the music and Christmas goodies to entertain you. New for 2023, Claire Sturgess brings you the 100 biggest hits at Christmas. With those classics and newer festive favourites you just have to sing along to, she'll be there to help your Christmas preparations go with a swing. You'll even hear from the stars with the stories behind some of the classics and those songs released within the past few years.
7 PM. The Music Machine.
Focusing upon those Christmas number 1's, Brian Hartgen has stacks of fascinating facts to tell you about them you may not have heard before. And no Music Machine would be complete without its games, and we've got some real tough ones for those music lovers out there.
9 PM. Airsleigh40.
You've been voting and this is the countdown to end all countdowns. People from all over the world have been voting for their festive favourites and Spencer james will reveal all in the Christmas airsleigh40.
Sunday 24 December.
8 AM. The Retro Chart Show.
He's the man with the bag of records. Dave Mac is along to bring you the Christmas Retro Chart show. He'll count down the charts from two great years, and you'll hear the Christmas number 1's, but which years will they be?
10 AM. Sing And Tell.
We all want artists to sing and tell. Each week on Sunday Gold, there's always an artist in the spotlight, who talks about his or her music career. In our show Sing and Tell, you'll hear a compilation of these. Everyone from Julie Andrews and Patti Page, through to Jim Reeves and Johnny Mathis, not forgetting Tony Bennett who passed away this year.
2 PM. Charts From the Past.
Tommy Vance takes us back to Christmas 1983. Hear from Slade, Status Quo, Billy Joel and Cliff Richard.
4 PM. Charting the Charts.
Have you ever wondered how many of the DJ's who presented the charts in its early days got started? You can find out in our documentary Charting the Charts at 4 PM. Originally broadcast in 2017, you will hear about the chart from the days of Radio Luxembourg through to the BBC light programme and radio 1. DJ's such as Alan Freeman, Tom Brown, Simon Bates and Tommy Vance tell their stories.
6 PM. Once Upon a Time in the West Midlands.
do you remember the battle of the bands as slade and wizard tried to capture the all important christmas number 1? hear the story behind that memorable year in a fascinating documentary.
7 PM. The Big Big Sound: The Story of Broadcaster Tony Blackburn.
He's a man who everybody loves, has made broadcasting history and he was even King of the Jungle in the TV show I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. His story is told in a Team-FM documentary produced this year.
9 PM. Top of the Morning: the Story of Broadcaster Terry Wogan.
Terry Wogan was an all round entertainer. He hosted the breakfast show in Britain for many years, presented TV quiz games and chat shows, and had a passion for the Children In Need annual fundraiser. Given he was from Ireland he knows how to talk. You will hear Terry telling his own story. This documentary was created in 2016 but it's been significantly updated in 2023.
11 PM. ABBA: a Sweedish Success Story.
This rare documentary produced in 1978 tells the story of the super group from their beginnings until close to the end of the 70's.
Monday 25 December.
9 AM. The Meaning of Christmas.
We begin Christmas Day in the traditional way. Lulu Hartgen brings to you the Meaning of Christmas, a mixture of classic and modern poetry together with your favourite Christmas carols performed by the finest choirs to begin the day with a little quiet reflection.
10 AM. Music For a Merry Christmas.
Many people have a party at Christmas, but there's nothing like spending time with your family or together. That's what Brian and Lulu Hartgen will be doing as they play music for a merry christmas. whether you are unwrapping your presents on Christmas morning, cooking the turkey, or maybe you are on your own this Christmas day, there's something for you in this show. It's a six hour extravaganza not to be missed!
4 PM. Charts From the Past.
Tommy Vance takes us back to 1982. Hear songs from Shakin' Stevens, Bucks Fizz, David Essex and Modern Romance.
6 PM. Born to Runner Up at Christmas.
A song getting to Christmas number 1 is the highlight of an artist's career. So how would it be if the festive favourite only got to number 2? Brian Hartgen takes you through those Christmas songs which didn't quite make it in Born to Runner Up at Christmas.
8 PM. Charts From the Past.
Tom Brown takes us back to Christmas 1975, when Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody was at number 1. You'll also hear from Dana, Greg Lake and Mud.
9 PM. A Merry Disney Princess Christmas.
Join Brian and Lulu Hartgen once again as we hear Disney classics from the very old to the newest. The magic of Disney is the perfect way to enjoy your Christmas day as with Disney, all your dreams come true!
11 PM. The Meaning of Christmas.
A chance to end the day in reflective mood or for those who could not hear it
earlier, the meaning of Christmas ends our day with beautiful poetry and carols.
Tuesday 26 December.
11 AM. The Song: All Time Favourites.
Once again you've been voting; this time for your all time favourite songs. Join Brian and Lulu Hartgen for The Song. This time, they'll focus on those songs considered to be the Team-FM all time favourites; from the 60's to the present day. You are in for some musical treats.
5 PM. Charts From the Past.
Alan Freeman lets us hear the best selling singles of 1971. Hear from Cilla Black, Benny Hill, T. Rex and Tom Jones.
7 PM. The ABC of the 80's: Part 1.
Brian Hartgen explores the hits of the 80's in some depth, all beginning with the letter A B and C. For three hours, he'll play the songs and tell you the back-stories behind them too.
Wednesday 27 December.
2 PM. The All Time 100 Debut Hits.
Claire Sturgess, (an extremely popular and well-known radio personality and voice artist), is joined by many of the biggest stars from the music industry to celebrate the hits which took the artists from being unknown and turned them into superstars, including Bryan Adams, Cyndi Lauper, Katy Perry, Leann Rimes, and many more. For eight hours she cannot wait to play you the biggest and the best songs and talk to the people who made them!
Thursday 28 December.
2 PM. The Music Trail 2023.
The Beatles had it right when they sang about the Magical Mystery Tour. There's nothing like playing songs which are connected to each other to see where the music takes you. That's exactly what Brian and Lulu Hartgen will be doing. New for 2023, they'll start with a song, and either Brian or Lulu will need to find another one which is connected to it. Can they do it, and in four hours can the trail lead them back to where they began? Join them both as they follow the music trail.
6 PM. Charts From the Past.
Richard Skinner takes us back to hear songs of 1984. Hear artists such as Wham, Deniece Williams, Duran Duran and the Style Council.
8 PM. The ABC of the 80's: Part 2.
Brian Hartgen explores the hits of the 80's in some depth, all beginning with the letter A B and C. For two hours, He'll play the songs and tell you the back-stories behind them too.
Friday 29 December.
1 PM. Totally 80's Remixed.
Gary King presents the coolest remixes from the decadent decade with maybe a surprise celebrity guest to spice up the concoction.
3 PM. I'll Tell You a Story.
Many songs tell complete stories from beginning to end. Some paint the picture of a person or scene. Some are ghost stories or those with a happy ending. For four hours, Brian and Lulu Hartgen celebrate the art of story telling through song.
7 PM. Welcome to the Weekend.
Brian D welcomes us to the weekend including the Friday Disco at 8 and not forgetting those upbeat tunes and friendly banter!
9 PM. It Must Be Upbeat Love.
Lulu Hartgen says "It Must Be Upbeat Love". All kinds of love songs with one thing in common: they're not slow or quiet, they're upbeat and they might even make you want to dance!
Saturday 30 December.
1 PM. The ABC of the 80's: Part 3.
Brian Hartgen explores the hits of the 80's in some depth, all beginning with the letter A B and C. He'll play the songs and tell you the back-stories behind them too.
3 PM. 80's One Hit Wonders.
In music, sometimes the star that burns twice as bright burns twice as quickly. Gary King will celebrate those artists who only had one big hit during the 80's decade.
5 PM. Charts From the Past.
Bruno Brookes gives us the best selling singles of 1987. Hear from Rick Astley, the Pet Shop Boys, Whitney Houston and the Bee Gees.
7 PM. The Music Machine Forgotten 80's.
In our occasional series, Brian Hartgen plays those songs from the 80's you may have forgotten all about.
Sunday 31 December.
8 AM. It Was a Very Good Year.
Hear the story of the music legend Frank Sinatra. Originally broadcast as part of Sunday Gold, you'll hear from Frank himself and the people who worked with him as well as those all time favourite songs.
10 AM. Champagne Sunday.
Brian and Lulu Hartgen love their oldies. They also love their champagne! For seven hours, they'll bring you Champagne Sunday. They will play music from the 50's and 60's in the sunday gold segment, and the 70's and 80's in the second part of the show. For the 70's and 80's they'll have the memories, the events, the TV and we'll see how Lulu gets on in our game Carry On singing!
5 PM. Charts From the Past.
Simon Bates takes us back to 1985. Hear from artists such as Cyndi Lauper, Nik Kershaw, Alison Moyet and the Pointer Sisters.
6 PM. The Team-FM New Year Party.
The stage is set, the party is here. it's the new year all night extravaganza on team-fm, the biggest, the loudest, the craziest party ever. helping you to see out 2023 and to bring you into 2024. And the party goes on from 6 PM through to 6 in the morning! Brian and Lulu Hartgen look forward to playing those party hits to get you up on your feet from the 60's through to today. They even have the chimes at midnight and those fireworks too!
If you're looking for entertainment to get your own New Year's Eve party started, Team-FM is the place to be.
Monday 1 January.
2 PM. Airplay40 Chart of the Year.
The suspense is mounting! Who will take that coveted number one slot? Spencer James tells all.
5 PM. Review of the Year.
Brian D celebrates the best music in his review of 2023. He'll tell you about the most successful groups and artists as only he can, and, he'll remember some of the Team-FM Top Tunes too. Hear from artists such as Ava Max, Mimi Webb, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lippa and Lewis Capaldi.
7 PM. Junior Choice.
Now in its 12th year, through songs, archive recordings and their own memories, Brian and Lulu Hartgen celebrate the best radio show for children to come out of britain which is still remembered even today.
That's your guide to the holidays on Team-FM! Thank you for listening to our station during 2023 and we hope that we'll be part of your regular listening next year. We would like to wish you all the very best for Christmas and the new year!
And remember, Team-FM means More Christmas!
