0:00:05 > 0:00:07You voted in your thousands, and today
0:00:07 > 0:00:11we can reveal the United Kingdom's top 10 Christmas carols.
0:00:12 > 0:00:175,000 voices will be joined by stars of stage and screen, including
0:00:17 > 0:00:23Susan Boyle, Jonathan and Charlotte, Hayley Westenra and Michael Ball.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25So look out for your favourite carol
0:00:25 > 0:00:29and why not sing along on the Songs Of Praise Big Sing spectacular?
0:00:43 > 0:00:47APPLAUSE
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Thank you very much indeed. Hello.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Happy Christmas and welcome to a very festive Royal Albert Hall.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Are you ready to sing some classic Christmas carols?
0:01:00 > 0:01:02AUDIENCE: Yes!
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Thank goodness you said yes!
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Christmas just wouldn't be the same without carols, would it,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10- don't you think?- AUDIENCE: No! - And I personally love singing.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12And tonight, we're going to hear the 10 most popular,
0:01:12 > 0:01:17thanks to your votes. I can't wait to find out which is number one.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Before that, please welcome the stars of our show,
0:01:20 > 0:01:23our Big Sing orchestra, conducted by Paul Leddington Wright.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26APPLAUSE
0:01:26 > 0:01:29And our fabulous choirs, ladies and gentlemen,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32the Adventist Vocal Ensemble, Saint Michael's Singers,
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Brighton Festival Chorus and the Guildford Choral Society.
0:01:36 > 0:01:42APPLAUSE
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Incidentally, your look very festive. Well done.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49So, shall we get going and try something we've never
0:01:49 > 0:01:54attempted on The Big Sing before, singing two carols in one?
0:01:54 > 0:01:56At number 10 and nine in our charts,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59they've been blended together for this special occasion,
0:01:59 > 0:02:04the sublime O Come, O Come Emmanuel and the uplifting Joy To The World.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10# Rejoice! Rejoice!
0:02:10 > 0:02:15# Emmanuel
0:05:10 > 0:05:17APPLAUSE
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Wow, you guys are good! Two carols in one. What a great way to start!
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Well, our next festive favourite, number eight in the top 10,
0:05:25 > 0:05:29was written in 1848 by Cecil Frances Alexander.
0:05:29 > 0:05:30For more than 90 years,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33it's been the carol that a solo chorister sings in
0:05:33 > 0:05:35King's College, Cambridge, to begin
0:05:35 > 0:05:37the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40It is, of course, Once In Royal David's City.
0:05:40 > 0:05:41Well, to sing it for us tonight,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45a class act who shot to fame on Britain's Got Talent.
0:05:45 > 0:05:46They've been together
0:05:46 > 0:05:49since they sang in church for their teacher's wedding ceremony.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,
0:05:51 > 0:05:53please welcome Jonathan and Charlotte.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56APPLAUSE
0:06:07 > 0:06:14# Once in royal David's city
0:06:14 > 0:06:20# Stood a lowly cattle shed
0:06:20 > 0:06:27# Where a mother laid her baby
0:06:27 > 0:06:33# In a manger for His bed
0:06:33 > 0:06:40# Mary was that mother mild
0:06:40 > 0:06:46# Jesus Christ, her little child
0:06:49 > 0:06:55# For He is our childhood's pattern
0:06:55 > 0:07:02# Day by day, like us He grew
0:07:02 > 0:07:09# He was little, weak and helpless
0:07:09 > 0:07:15# Tears and smiles like us He knew
0:07:16 > 0:07:22# And He feeleth for our sadness
0:07:22 > 0:07:30# And He shareth in our gladness
0:08:36 > 0:08:43APPLAUSE
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Ah, wasn't that wonderful? Jonathan and Charlotte, ladies and gentlemen.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Well done, both of you.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Now then, at number seven, our next Christmas carol for all of us to
0:08:51 > 0:08:57sing is a powerful anthem for peace written by Edmund Sears in 1849.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Sears wanted humanity to hush the noise
0:09:00 > 0:09:02and to live in peace with one another.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04What a great message, not just for Christmas,
0:09:04 > 0:09:06but for all the year round.
0:11:37 > 0:11:43APPLAUSE
0:11:43 > 0:11:46That was magnificent! Just beautiful.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Now then, on Christmas Eve, nearly 150 years ago,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Phillips Brooks stood in a field in Bethlehem,
0:11:51 > 0:11:55surveying the scene close to the spot where Jesus was born.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57He was so inspired that he wrote our next
0:11:57 > 0:12:00carol for the children of his Sunday school to sing.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Performing a carol that just had to be in the top 10,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04it's our number six.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Please welcome our star guest, the lovely Hayley Westenra.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13APPLAUSE
0:12:25 > 0:12:31# O little town of Bethlehem
0:12:31 > 0:12:36# How still we see thee lie!
0:12:38 > 0:12:43# Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
0:12:43 > 0:12:48# The silent stars go by
0:12:49 > 0:12:55# Yet in thy dark streets shineth
0:12:55 > 0:13:00# The everlasting light
0:13:02 > 0:13:08# The hopes and fears of all the years
0:13:08 > 0:13:13# Are met in thee tonight
0:13:17 > 0:13:23# How silently, how silently
0:13:23 > 0:13:28# The wondrous Gift is giv'n
0:13:29 > 0:13:36# So God imparts to human hearts
0:13:36 > 0:13:40# The blessings of His Heav'n
0:13:42 > 0:13:48# No ear may hear His coming
0:13:48 > 0:13:53# But in this world of sin
0:13:54 > 0:14:00# Where meek souls will receive Him still
0:14:00 > 0:14:06# The dear Christ enters in
0:15:09 > 0:15:17# Our Lord, Emmanuel! #
0:15:20 > 0:15:24APPLAUSE
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Ladies and gentlemen, Hayley Westenra.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29APPLAUSE
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Well, can you believe we're almost halfway
0:15:31 > 0:15:34through our countdown of the UK's top 10 carols?
0:15:34 > 0:15:35You enjoying yourselves?
0:15:35 > 0:15:36AUDIENCE: Yes!
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Hope you are at home, too.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41You might be surprised this next one isn't the most popular of all.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43It's so widely sung at carol services,
0:15:43 > 0:15:45especially on Christmas Day.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47It's certainly a favourite for many of us,
0:15:47 > 0:15:50so do sing along, especially in the chorus.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52It is O Come, All Ye Faithful.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48APPLAUSE
0:18:48 > 0:18:49Wow, magnificent singing! Well done.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52I'm delighted to introduce our next choir.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55When they're not at school or singing at parish church services,
0:18:55 > 0:18:56they're travelling the world
0:18:56 > 0:19:00and delighting audiences with their unique sound.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03To sing their beautiful interpretation of Silent Night,
0:19:03 > 0:19:04my favourite boy band.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Please welcome Libera.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09APPLAUSE
0:19:15 > 0:19:19# Silent night
0:19:20 > 0:19:25# Holy night
0:19:25 > 0:19:30# All is calm
0:19:30 > 0:19:35# All is bright
0:19:35 > 0:19:39# Round yon Virgin
0:19:39 > 0:19:44# Mother and child
0:19:44 > 0:19:48# Holy infant
0:19:48 > 0:19:52# So tender and mild
0:19:54 > 0:20:02# Sleep in heavenly peace
0:20:03 > 0:20:11# Sleep in heavenly peace
0:20:18 > 0:20:23# Silent night
0:20:23 > 0:20:27# Holy night
0:20:27 > 0:20:35# Shepherds quake at the sight
0:20:37 > 0:20:45# Glories stream from Heaven afar
0:20:46 > 0:20:54# Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
0:20:55 > 0:21:03# Christ the Saviour is born
0:21:05 > 0:21:12# Christ the Saviour is born
0:21:19 > 0:21:24# Silent night
0:21:24 > 0:21:28# Holy night
0:21:28 > 0:21:33# Son of God
0:21:33 > 0:21:37# Love's pure light
0:21:37 > 0:21:45# Radiant beams from Thy holy face
0:21:46 > 0:21:54# With the dawn of redeeming grace
0:21:55 > 0:22:03# Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
0:22:07 > 0:22:15# Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. #
0:22:22 > 0:22:30APPLAUSE
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Libera, ladies and gentlemen. What a sound!
0:22:37 > 0:22:40APPLAUSE
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Well, we've reached the top three carols. How exciting!
0:22:44 > 0:22:47And number three is a carol that combines the talents of two giants
0:22:47 > 0:22:50when it comes to wonderful words and marvellous music.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52In the last century,
0:22:52 > 0:22:54verses penned by prolific hymn writer Charles Wesley
0:22:54 > 0:22:57and music composed by Felix Mendelssohn were brought
0:22:57 > 0:23:00together to produce a timeless classic.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Let's sing Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22APPLAUSE
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Well, I can feel the excitement
0:26:27 > 0:26:31building as we are down to the final two carols, ladies and gentlemen.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34At number two, a carol written by Christina Rossetti.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39Her beautiful words are linked with music by Gustav Holst and Harold Darke.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Singing the Holst version of In The Bleak Midwinter,
0:26:42 > 0:26:47please welcome to the Big Sing stage the amazing Susan Boyle.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49APPLAUSE
0:26:57 > 0:27:02# In the bleak midwinter
0:27:02 > 0:27:07# Frosty wind made moan
0:27:08 > 0:27:14# Earth stood hard as iron
0:27:14 > 0:27:19# Water like a stone
0:27:20 > 0:27:26# Snow had fallen, snow on snow
0:27:26 > 0:27:30# Snow on snow
0:27:32 > 0:27:38# In the bleak midwinter
0:27:38 > 0:27:44# Long, long ago
0:27:47 > 0:27:53# Our God, heaven cannot hold him
0:27:53 > 0:27:58# Nor earth sustain
0:28:00 > 0:28:05# Heaven and earth shall flee away
0:28:05 > 0:28:10# When he comes to reign
0:28:12 > 0:28:17# In the bleak midwinter
0:28:17 > 0:28:21# A stable place sufficed
0:28:23 > 0:28:30# The Lord God Almighty
0:28:30 > 0:28:35# Jesus Christ
0:28:39 > 0:28:44# Enough for Him, whom cherubim
0:28:44 > 0:28:49# Worship night and day
0:28:50 > 0:28:55# A breast full of milk
0:28:55 > 0:29:01# And a manger full of hay
0:29:02 > 0:29:08# Enough for Him, whom angels
0:29:08 > 0:29:13# Fall down before
0:29:15 > 0:29:20# The ox and ass and camel
0:29:20 > 0:29:25# Which adore
0:29:30 > 0:29:35# What can I give Him
0:29:35 > 0:29:40# Poor as I am?
0:29:42 > 0:29:47# If I were a shepherd
0:29:47 > 0:29:52# I would bring a lamb
0:29:54 > 0:29:59# If I were a Wise Man
0:29:59 > 0:30:04# I would do my part
0:30:05 > 0:30:12# Yet what I can I give Him?
0:30:12 > 0:30:17# Give my heart. #
0:30:21 > 0:30:25APPLAUSE
0:30:38 > 0:30:43- How did you feel singing it in this building?- It felt very exciting.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46Very exhilarated. It's my first time here.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49It's your first performance at the Royal Albert Hall?
0:30:49 > 0:30:51My very first time.
0:31:00 > 0:31:01What does Christmas mean to you?
0:31:01 > 0:31:05Christmas means being with my family, being with friends
0:31:05 > 0:31:10and celebrating in a holy and harmonious fashion.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13The church has always played a massive part in your life,
0:31:13 > 0:31:15- hasn't it?- It's been a very central part of my life.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19- In what way?- It's a special place of worship
0:31:19 > 0:31:21and you are communicating with God.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23Do you feel that when you are on stage,
0:31:23 > 0:31:26that you are communicating with God in a way as well?
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Very much so. I feel him very much right here, right now.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31Well, we all know about your journey.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34It's been incredible, it really has.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36Apart from being here for the first time,
0:31:36 > 0:31:39what have been some of the highlights for you?
0:31:39 > 0:31:43Travelling the world, making my albums, completing the very first
0:31:43 > 0:31:46concert tour, which I intend to do more of next year.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49And having a ball.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Ladies and gentlemen, give her a round of applause. Susan Boyle.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55APPLAUSE
0:32:04 > 0:32:06Right, this is it, the time has come.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09We are ready to reveal which carol most people
0:32:09 > 0:32:11voted for as their favourite.
0:32:11 > 0:32:16As it happens, it's not sung often in church services by a congregation.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19We often hear it sung by a soloist or choir.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22And have we got a very special soloist to sing it!
0:32:22 > 0:32:24Star of many a stage musical,
0:32:24 > 0:32:28he presents his own show on Radio 2 and he's lovely, too.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31Please put your hands together for Michael Ball!
0:32:31 > 0:32:33APPLAUSE
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Lovely, lovely. Thank you.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50- Happy Christmas.- And you.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53It's a silly question, but how much do you love Christmas?
0:32:53 > 0:32:55It's a fantastic time of year.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58It's a time that we look back on our lives as well.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01It's a time to reflect and think about people that we miss
0:33:01 > 0:33:05and haven't seen for a while and think about all the wonderful
0:33:05 > 0:33:07experiences we've had at this time of year. I love it.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10- I absolutely love it.- Is it always a time of warbling for you?
0:33:10 > 0:33:12Or are you with your feet up in front of the fire?
0:33:12 > 0:33:15Every day is a time of warbling for me.
0:33:15 > 0:33:19I try not to work actually too much over Christmas and get away with the family.
0:33:19 > 0:33:24I try to spend time doing that. In this business, sometimes you have to.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26Sometimes you have to work over Christmas.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28You've sung all over the world, all kinds of music,
0:33:28 > 0:33:31from musical theatre to pop, you name it. You've done the lot.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34What does it feel like that you're singing the nation's favourite carol?
0:33:34 > 0:33:36It's the biggest thrill.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Also to sing it here, in probably my favourite place to sing.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42- And it is also my favourite carol. - Oh, it is?- Absolutely.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44It's the one I voted for. I love it.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47- Do you think we should let them know what it is?- Absolutely.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50- What is the number one carol, Michael?- It's O Holy Night. Yeah.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54Beautiful.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58Why do you think it is so special?
0:33:58 > 0:34:01- You must have sung it millions of times.- I have sung it a lot.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04I think it's because it's not particularly traditional.
0:34:04 > 0:34:10There's a drama to it, there's a thrill to the lyric.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14It's about expectation, about feeling tiny because something
0:34:14 > 0:34:16so enormous is going on.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19It's beautiful and it's got a wonderful melody.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22You look very smart and you are here. So will you sing it for us?
0:34:22 > 0:34:24- You bet. Try and stop me.- Good.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27- Michael Ball, ladies and gentlemen. - Cheers, Aled.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36As Michael gets ready to sing it, thank you for joining us.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39I hope you've enjoyed singing along to the UK's top ten carols.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42You can check out the full list on the Songs Of Praise website,
0:34:42 > 0:34:44if you fancy.
0:34:44 > 0:34:48From myself and all of us here, have a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07# O holy night
0:35:07 > 0:35:12# The stars are brightly shining
0:35:12 > 0:35:18# It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth
0:35:25 > 0:35:32# Long lay the world in sin and error pining
0:35:34 > 0:35:39# Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
0:35:42 > 0:35:45# The thrill of hope
0:35:45 > 0:35:50# The weary soul rejoices
0:35:50 > 0:35:56# For yonder breaks a new and glorious dawn
0:35:57 > 0:36:03# Fall on your knees
0:36:05 > 0:36:11# O hear the angel voices
0:36:12 > 0:36:18# O night divine!
0:36:20 > 0:36:27# O night, when Christ was born
0:36:28 > 0:36:33# O night
0:36:33 > 0:36:39# O holy night
0:36:39 > 0:36:44# O night divine!
0:36:47 > 0:36:51# O night, when Christ was born
0:36:53 > 0:37:00# O hear the angel voices
0:37:01 > 0:37:07# O night divine
0:37:09 > 0:37:16# O night, when Christ was born
0:37:18 > 0:37:21# O night
0:37:21 > 0:37:28# O holy night
0:37:30 > 0:37:34# O night divine
0:37:43 > 0:37:48# O night
0:37:48 > 0:37:56# When Christ was born. #
0:38:05 > 0:38:08CHEERING AND APPLAUSE