I have no idea what i am singing. Louise is worried. Six breakfast presenters and a i,000 strong audience what could possibly go wrong . find out how we got on in our big singing challenge. And phil avery has the weather. Steph, very good morning to you. Merry christmas. I feel as though i am in the way here. Here is your headline, if you havent got any power here in stevenage this morning, i think i have found a reason. I will have all the detail on the christmas whether in 15 minutes. Weather. Good morning. First, our main story the queen will pay tribute to the cities of manchester and london in her Christmas Day broadcast, for the way in which they dealt with this years terrorist attacks. She is at her estate at sandringham with other members of the royal family, including prince harry and his fiancee, Meghan Markle. Our royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell reports. The queen recorded this years broadcast a few days ago at buckingham palace. Its main theme is the importance of home, a place she describes as a source of warmth and love. Looking back over the events of 2017, she praises the cities of london and manchester. The queen visited victims of the bombing at manchester arena, in which 22 people died as they left a concert. In her broadcast, she will talk about the powerful identities of manchester and london, which she says had shone through in the face of appalling attacks. On the table beside her in the broadcast, alongside pictures of Prince George and princess charlotte, are two photographs of her and her husband, one of which was taken on their wedding day in 1947. This year, they have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, and the duke of edinburgh retired from his separate programme of public engagements. In the broadcast, the queen will praise her husband for his support and, as she puts it, for his unique sense of humour. The worlds most experienced. Laughter. The queen was absent from last years Christmas DayChurch Service at sandringham, due to a heavy cold. But there is expected to be a full turnout of the family at church this morning, and among the group attending church will be prince harry and his fiancee, Meghan Markle, who are both spending christmas on the sandringham estate. It will be the first time someone who is yet to marry into the royal family will have joined their christmas celebrations, her presence a reminder of one of the events to which the family can look forward in 2018. Our reporter Daniela Relph is outside st Mary Magdalenes church, on the sandringham estate, where the royal family will make their traditional trip for the Christmas Day service. Good morning to you. Merry christmas. It is going to be a busy one for the royal family. A lot of eyes on prince harry and Meghan Markle. That is the difference, that we are going to see Meghan Markle here. The traditional Christmas Day service at st Mary Magdalenes church on the sandringham estate is at 11 church on the sandringham estate is atiia. M. I church on the sandringham estate is at 11 a. M. I think all eyes will be on prince harry and Meghan Markle. We are expecting them to walk with the other members of the royal familyjust the other members of the royal family just before iiam the other members of the royal family just before am from the other members of the royal familyjust before am from the main house at sandringham up to the church. It is unusual that Meghan Markle has been invited to spend christmas with the royal family, because traditionally, if you go back, if you were a royal girlfriend oi back, if you were a royal girlfriend or boyfriend you didnt tend to get invited. It was only once you were married that you are invited to spend christmas here at sandringham. If you look back at the duchess of cambridge when she was just kate middleton, she didnt get invited to sandringham. She spent christmas with the middleton family. I think theissue with the middleton family. I think the issue with Meghan Markle is that she is american. She has moved to the uk to be with herfiance she is american. She has moved to the uk to be with her fiance ahab of her wedding next year, she doesnt have any family here, and clearly prince harry has asked the queen for an exception this year and to get her invited. For the first time we will see her in the presence of the wider royalfamily. Will see her in the presence of the wider royal family. All eyes will be on her and there are already people queueing at the gate to make sure that they get a prime position. And you will be talking to them a bit later on for us. And the queens Christmas Day broadcast will be on bbc one at 3 00pm this afternoon. Pope francis has urged the world not to ignore the plight of millions of migrants driven from their land, during Christmas Eve mass. The pontiff compared them to mary and joseph, recounting how they had to travel from nazareth to bethlehem, but found no place to stay. He said many migrants were being forced to flee from leaders who see no problem in shedding innocent blood. Meanwhile, services have taken place across the uk and further afield. Our religious editor Martin Bashir reports. At westminster cathedral, Cardinal Vincent nichols, leader of the Roman Catholic church in england and wales, framed his christmas message asa wales, framed his christmas message as a statement of concern for the way we tend to communicate with each other. He said we often prefer conflict to dialogue, hostility instead of a willingness to listen. It isa instead of a willingness to listen. It is a manifestation of a radical individualism. And, while the individualism. And, while the individual is hugely important, we have to know that we are also built to belong to each other. We are built to have a relationships, and to work and find our best through relationships. He went on to say that, as we gaze into a nativity scene at christmas, we find one who can free us from the choking effects of disagreement and strife. Christ himself. And, at the very beginning of the christmas narrative, here in bethlehem, in a land defined by walls of separation, a renewed call for reconciliation. Here in manger square, a Midnight Service has been held that the church of them as nativity, where the archbishop of jerusalem said that, whilejesus was born ina jerusalem said that, whilejesus was born in a town under roman occupation, he was identified as the prince of peace. Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales has ordered to move the countrys embassy in israel to jerusalem. In a facebook post, mr morales said the decision was taken after he had spoken with israels pm, benjamin netanyahu. Last week, guatemala was one of only nine nations to vote against a Un Resolution urging america to reverse its recognition ofjerusalem as the capital of israel. Donald trump threatened to cut aid to nations that voted against the us. The us is an important aid donor to guatemala, an impoverished Central American country. On sunday, mr morales said he had instructed the guatemalan authorities to start the necessary respective Co Ordination before moving the countrys embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem. Surrey police are trying to identify a man who was found unconscious in a ditch yesterday afternoon. They have released pictures of the mans clothing in an attempt to track down his family. The man, who is thought to be in his 20s, is in a serious condition in hospital. Around 150 skiers have been rescued from a broken down ski lift in the french alps, after being trapped on it for several hours on Christmas Eve. Helicopters were used to rescue the people from their individual gondolas, which were around 82 feet above the snow, and rope was used to help the skiers get back down the slopes. The cause of the fault isnt known. You wouldnt want to be trapped up there, would you 7 if you are relaxing at home, perhaps opening presents this morning, spare a thought for this team who are still hard at work. Santa and his reindeer spent the night travelling the globe to deliver presents to children across the world. To make sure theirjourney went without a hitch, air Traffic Controllers from the north American Aerospace defence command, or norad for short, have been tracking the flight path of his sleigh. As you can see, he has already delivered billions of presents. He is currently flying over canada. Of course, we wish him well. Fantastic to see where santa is exactly, isnt it . Fora fantastic to see where santa is exactly, isnt it . For a lot of us, Christmas Day is one of the best of the year, the excitement, the food, the year, the excitement, the food, the presence, the food and the memories. We have been asking people about the times they remember best. My my favourite childhood memory of christmas was i got a Snooker Table went i was eight or nine, we bought my grandad a waistcoat, so everybody that played snooker that they had to have a waistcoat on to be like a proper snooker player. My childhood memories of christmas has got to be how much snow we used to have. We dont have as much snowfall any more, but i remember it being knee deep, being assessed with pulling icicles off and things. But also being out for about five hours at a time in it and not bothering. Sol think i would say snow, heavy snowfall. When i was a child, and we are going back many years to the 19705, i are going back many years to the 1970s, i remember the are going back many years to the 1970s, i rememberthe fake 1970s, i remember the fake christmas trees. We have one that we could look at the ceiling and see all the reflections of the tree on the ceiling. I still have baubles today from then, i have baubles from nearly 100 years ago now. I dont really remember. She has a very bad memory, like a goldfish. We would stand by the window and had some pink pigs on a christmas tree, and these used to fascinate me, and thatis and these used to fascinate me, and that is a memory i always have. With the fire blazing and steamy windows, and these little pink pigs on a christmas tree. I know it sounds silly, but they are memories i have got from being little. |j silly, but they are memories i have got from being little. I had a big doll with an orange dress, and she was nearly as big as me. Doll with an orange dress, and she was nearly as big as melj doll with an orange dress, and she was nearly as big as me. I was born on Christmas Day, and one of my memories was blowing out candles on the christmas tree, but they were proper candles, and they were only put upjust proper candles, and they were only put up just for that, and then they we re put up just for that, and then they were taken away. Were used to have to go to bed at a certain time, and we would hear this little bell and we would hear this little bell and we would hear this little bell and we would get told it was tinkerbell. If you didnt go to sleep within half an hour, tinkerbell with this little bell, you would never get your presence. I can remember as a child being so excited because santa was coming. Some brilliant memories there. If you have any you want to share with get in touch. I am sure phil has a few. You outside your house this morning . Merry christmas. Merry christmas. In fact, morning . Merry christmas. Merry christmas. Infact, i morning . Merry christmas. Merry christmas. In fact, i will give credit where it is due. This is the garden from stevenage, and it is a long way from this weather front which will short circuit anybodys electrics, i am afraid. We have already had about 100 millimetres of rain. In one particular prime spot in cumbria, and we are not quite done yet. It is a fairly slow moving affair. What an awful what it also is is a heavy affair. Ahead of it is another mild, grey sort of day. The sun still does exist, and we will get to that shortly. But there is in an awful lot of wintry weather to be had here. This which im showing you hear is snow on the high ground, in the southern up lines of scotland, eventually the cumbrians cells. Up lines. It will be well and through Christmas Day before we push that through the british isles. Some of the gusts along the channel coast, 60, possibly a bit more than that. Once thatis possibly a bit more than that. Once that is a way it begins to open the door too much Colder Weather for boxing day. A big sporting day, and iam boxing day. A big sporting day, and i am showing ice here but groundsmen and spectators, and all the rest of it, dont worry about it too much because i think what ice falls will because i think what ice falls will be away pretty quickly and the sun comes out. We can talk about the sunshine for a while. There will be wintry showers getting into the northern half of scotland and eventually some cloud, wind and rain back into the south western quarter. Some of that rank in its own right really very heavy. For the sporting fixtures late in the day, you will need an awful lot of layers because it will be pretty tricky weather. They gradually works its way across the southern half of the british isles. All the cold air which is slowing down these isobars from the north down across all parts as we get on in the wednesday, we have the classic mix. A lot of moisture, colder, and this is the point at which we may find a little bit of snowfall beginning to get into the midlands, and on through the day that might creep into central, southern england. This could be down over the chilterns, that sort of neck of the woods. Any of the high ground in the south could be seeing a little bit more in the way of wintry weather. But in the short term it is more of the same. It is the dull, cloudy sort of stuff. It has been dry for a number of days. Asi has been dry for a number of days. As i say, as that weather front comes by tonight, you will hear it rattling on the windows, and the wind is really quite gusty as well. Quite a bit going on over the next few days, big sporting fixtures, boxing day, on towards the new year. If you want the detail in the longer term than i can give you at the moment, it is on the bbc weather website. Thank you very much, and i know you will be with us throughout the morning. Your christmas involve much beyond getting off the couch, but many people are working. We are going to be talking to lots of them throughout the programme. But, first of all lets head to nepal, where we can speak to lauren dine and jason lund, who are volunteering with the International Citizen service. They are alsojoined by samad siddiqui, who is a volunteer from nepal. What have you been up to . The volu nteers what have you been up to . The volunteers have arrived, we have been playing christmas songs, getting into the christmas spirit. And tell us a bit about what you do out there. Lauren, you do really important work, there is a lot of serious work going on in the background, isnt there . Iam the i am the team leader, i am not actually out in the school is working. We have lots of volunteers. They are split into four separate communities. One community, basically we have been working with school involvement, so they can give more opportunity to young girls who suffer from discrimination. We want to try and increase the participation and retention of children who are dropping out of school from an early age, that includes organising health, that cove rs includes organising health, that covers sanitation are. We are focusing on education and health, equipping them with skills, and when we are focusing on risk of disasters. Along with that, what we do, we create an environment where parents and the community and school environment, where students can make. You want to say anything to your family, they are probably watching back home here in the uk. I just want to say hello to my Little Brothers and my sister and my mum and my nieces and nephews, and i miss them very much. Merry christmas to all my family, and i am just missing them lots. It feels really good to be doing something that is helping other people. Fantastic, Merry Christmas from nepal to everyone in the uk. Thank you very much, have a cracking christmas, enjoy whatever you are doing today, it is lovely to talk to you. Thank you, goodbye they are very cheery. As part of our bbc sing series we were set a challenge. Could we pull off a Live Performance at manchesters Bridgewater Hall, singing in front of more than a thousand people, with only eight hours to learn our lines . How did we get on . Lets have a look. If you have a earmuffs i suggest you put them on at this point. Dramatic music plays. Six Breakfast Television presenters. At manchesters Bridgewater Hall. Their challenge, to learn a christmas classic. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Applause. And roasting on an open fire. Applause. And sync to a full house of more than 1000 people. That a lot of people fear that could be potentially bleeding by the end of this. Presenters will perform with the gospel choir, manchester inspirational voices. The gospel choir, manchester inspirationalvoices. But will the gospel choir, manchester inspirational voices. But will they end the words . Lots of toys and. laughs . Will they remember the tune . I literally dont even know how it should be. The challenge is on. I am shaking. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. The Bridgewater Hall is sold out. In the audience, to give much needed support, sean and louisa s husband. They had never saying before, individually or as a quiet, and they have landed in one day. Wow. Hardly they have learned the words and im sure they will do well. Im a big fan of dan, so i am looking forward to singing his performance. Good luck, do well, breathe before you do it and just have a good time. Presenters will need all the help they can get. They have had just a couple of hours to learn, rehearse and perfect the song. |j couple of hours to learn, rehearse and perfect the song. I have no what it thai and perfect the song. I have no what it thai had no idea what i am singing. Louise is worried. The words keep going out of my brain, it is two lines, it is ridiculous and embarrassing. There you go applause. Guiding our presenters, the remarkably patient leader of manchester inspirational voices, wayne ellington. You do bring a real sense of joy into wayne ellington. You do bring a real sense ofjoy into what you are doing. He has this great way of making you feel like you are diana ross. And every mother s child is going to start. When you clearly are not, when you are a dying cats. He is an amazingly optimistic man. Because he sees talent where we are not seeing talent. Merry christmas. Merry christmas. laughs . Wayne has been an absolute wizard. A magician. Every mother s child is going to spy. Take wayne out of the equation, where all in trouble. Jy where all in trouble. Joy to where all in trouble. Joy to the world. The concert as started, wayne and his choir bringing joy to the world. Meanwhile, backstage. Apparently my trousers are gone. And every mother s child is going to spy. This is the suit and he has put my trousers on and walked out. It sounds awful, doesnt it. They know that centre is on his way. Charlie, do you want to borrow my address . Lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. My trousers, do you randomly pick up. My trousers, do you randomly pick up other people s trousers . My trousers, do you randomly pick up other people s trousers . Thats enough, we need to get ready, goodbye. With just minutes to go, wayne gathers the presenters for a final pep talk. Should anything go out of place, any notes or anything like that, you just have to tighten up, like that, you just have to tighten keep your like that, you just have to tighten p your eyes like that, you just have to tighten up, keep your eyes on me. Im hoping that they are going to feel co mforta ble that they are going to feel comfortable and just be ok. Ijust hope bbc seem singh. We will see what happens. Why did we agree to this . It gives me great pleasure to announce our special guest, the bbc presenters, naga muchetty, mike bushell, louise minchin. Presenters, naga muchetty, mike bushell, louise minchin. Applause. And charlie sayt hold onto your hats everyone. We go. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire jack frost nipping at your nose yuletide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up like eskimos Everybody Knows a turkey and some mistletoe help to make the season bright tiny tots with their eyes all aglow will find it hard to sleep tonight they know that santas on his way hes loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh and every mothers child is gonna spy to see if reindeer really know how to fly applause. And so im offering this simple phrase to kids from one to 92 although its been said many times, many ways Merry Christmas to you. They know that santas on his way hes bringing lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh and every mothers child is gonna spy to see if reindeer really know how to fly and so im offering this simple phrase to kids from one to 92 although its been said many times, many ways Merry Christmas to you. Merry christmas to you. cheering and applause . Didnt she do well sheedy brilliant, i am so proud. Absolutely fantastic. Get you right here. Applause. Thank you they were brilliant, they were up for a laugh, thats the main thing, thats what you do at christmas. They were so brave to do it they really we nt they were so brave to do it they really went for it. I really thought they did brilliantly. Got away with it got away with it they were so kind to us im going to give the audience ten out of ten. Merry christmas to you. Is it safe to come out yet . I am bright red from mass. We have some guests here as well. Bright red from bass. What did you think . Fantastic. You have to say that, dont you. I thought you were very brave. You got everyone to sing along, engaging with the audience, thatis along, engaging with the audience, that is what it is all about. If anyone has tuned in in the middle of bass, i apologise. Anyone has tuned in in the middle of bass, iapologise. Merry anyone has tuned in in the middle of bass, i apologise. Merry christmas, thank you. You are here to talk about, the pressures of christmas, we will talk a lot about all of the great elements, but also for some people, it can be lonely for a start. It can, some people are alone, and nobody needs to have a miserable christmas. There are things everyone can do to boost their spirits and engage in a christmas spirit. What are your top tips for making christmas as best it can be . Take a moment out for something spiritual, whatever that means the u. Take a moment to remember life and what has been good about this year, remember the hope, maybe say a prayer if that is your tradition, gather with those you love, whether that means engaging on social media, that means gathering around a table with friends and family, get out of the community if you can, and overall walk, go to church, whatever makes your life enhanced. But do something that engages with something bigger than the pressures that can be so did today