News > Latest Press Release

 

11 December 2008

FESTIVE HIGHLIGHTS ON BBC ALBA

BBC ALBA celebrates its inaugural festive season with an unprecedented schedule of Gaelic programming.

The channel is providing entertainment for all the family with dramas, documentaries, Gaelic film premieres, music and sport. Highlights of this year’s festive season on BBC ALBA include:

  • Music – Piping Live 2008 on Saturday 20th at 22:00 / Carols at Kelvingrove on Christmas Eve at 20:15 / Runrig – City of Lights at 19:00 on Christmas Day / Julie Fowlis and her band live from Glasgow on Boxing Day at 22:00
  • A look back at the Mòd 2008 on Tuesday 30th at 19:00 and a review of this year’s MG ALBA Trad Awards on Hogmanay at 19:00
  • Films – TV premiere of Seachd – The Inaccessible Pinnacle on Christmas Day at 21:30 / An Iolaire – marking the 90th anniversary of the tragic Iolaire disaster on New Year’s Day 1919 - the programme will broadcast on 1st January at 21:00
  • Documentaries
    Sim MacCoinnich - a celebration of the life and work of the late Simon Mackenzie, from his childhood in Harris and the fledgling days of Gaelic rep with Fir Chlis, to an illustrious and prolific acting career. This programme will be broadcast on Hogmanay at 22:30
    Dìomhair - The story of how successive Labour and Conservative Governments up until the 1970’s worked behind the scenes to discredit the Home Rule movement and the SNP – as revealed through once secret papers now available from official archives. This programme will be broadcast on Boxing day 26th December at 21:00
  • Sport – regular ‘as-live’ coverage of SPL football and live Scottish club rugby
  • For the Young Ones – the Dè a-nis? team feature the best new ideas for Christmas; an animated feature, Fear nam Mìorbhail and a pilot drama delves into the hectic life of An Gille Fortanach.
  • Ecumenical Christmas Service – An Isles Christmas broadcast on Christmas Eve at 23:00 and Christmas Day at 16:20
  • Live Hogmanay Show from Stornoway beginning at 23:30 and broadcast simultaneously on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal

Alan Esslemont, Head of Content at BBC ALBA said: “Our first festive season has been produced with all ages and family members in mind and we hope to provide an exciting package of programmes for all tastes and audiences.

“The live Hogmanay show is a fantastic way to round up the festive season and celebrate BBC ALBA's launch year. I very much look forward to welcoming in 2009 and working with our teams to deliver an exciting schedule of new programmes for viewers throughout Scotland.”

For a full list of all programmes available on BBC ALBA over the Christmas and New Year period please visit www.bbcalba.co.uk or www.mgalba.com

END

For further information please call Lorna Inglis or Ramsay Smith at Media House on 0141 220 6040 or email: lorna@mediahouse.co.uk / ramsay@mediahouse.co.uk

Notes to editors:
MG ALBA, in partnership with the BBC, has launched BBC ALBA, which is available on Sky channel 168 and on Freesat channel 110. BBC ALBA is expected to become available on cable in due course. Subject to review by the BBC Trust, BBC ALBA will become available on Freeview after digital switchover in 2010. More information on BBC ALBA can be had online at www.bbcalba.co.uk.

MG ALBA and the BBC have established a partnership to deliver digital television, radio and online services in Gaelic. BBC ALBA is broadcast under a BBC licence. To find out more about how the partnership works visit www.mgalba.com 

MG ALBA is the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (Gaelic Media Service), which is funded by the Scottish Government and regulated by Ofcom. MG ALBA stands for Meadhanan Gàidhlig Alba, or Gaelic Media Scotland.