I saw it last year and this but I missed the beginning this time round as I had been performing myself that evening, but when I got home, my wife had it on and I came in as the Unthanks were singing "In the Bleak Midwinter". I Remembered it from last year and my feelings about their rendering of the carol were much the same as last year - dire! Admittedly it is not my favourite carol, but it is too easy to sing it as a dirge and that is the trap they fell into. Otherwise this was a useful chance to re-appraise it and my feelings this time were to accept it for what it was. This was a piece of light hearted entertainment and, on the whole it worked at that level for me.

I think there are too many people in this thread who are taking the whole thing too seriously. This is a Christmas entertainment that happens to feature folk musicians not a showcase for folk music or an attempt to capture something of the folk club/session scene - which would not translate well to TV anyway.

That said, I understand Eliza C's concerns, but I think it would need a completely different type of programme to achieve what she would like to see. I detect the BBC becoming more aware of folk musicians. I have seen both Kate Rusby and Bella Hardy on Songs of Praise recently, in both cases being featured in a respectful manner. I suspect it needs someone with the right contacts and determination to push things along to bring them and others more into the mainstream of BBC programming.