Unique Norfolk nativity set to take to airwaves

EmmaPhilpottsNativity450A Bishop, three MPs, a Norwich City football legend and a council leader will all be part of a unique new nativity play on BBC Radio Norfolk this Christmas Day.
The Greatest Story Ever Told comes to BBC Radio Norfolk when Emma Philpotts presents a uniquely Norfolk take on the Nativity as part of a special Christmas Day edition of her Sunday Breakfast faith programme. Listeners to Emma's show will be able to follow the progress of Mary and Joseph across the morning, and enjoy hearing some familiar voices in some unexpected roles!
 
Featuring a full cast drawn from BBC Radio Norfolk personalities and presenters, as well as notable local figures from public life in the county, The BBC Radio Norfolk Nativity is a fun but still reverent reminder of the true story of Christmas. A school Nativity play for the airwaves - albeit starring grown-ups!
 
The Right Reverend Graham James, the Bishop of Norwich, provides the Nativity's narration, assisted by the Venerable Jan McFarlane, the Archdeacon of Norwich.
 
Local MPs Richard Bacon, Norman Lamb and Chloe Smith feature as the "Three Wise People", Norfolk County Council leader Derrick Murphy becomes the leader of "Bethlehem City Council", and Norwich City legend Paul McVeigh is on hand to provide some "half-time analysis" of the story!
 
The lead roles of Mary and Joseph are taken by BBC Radio Norfolk's Becky Betts and David Clayton, the on-air duo well known for their popular Sunday morning Treasure Quest antics. Presenters Chris Goreham, Nick Conrad, Helen McDermott, Stephen Bumfrey, Matthew Gudgin and David Whiteley all feature, along with a host of other voices from across the station's output, becoming innkeepers, shepherds and even sheep!
 
The idea for The BBC Radio Norfolk Nativity came about when Emma Philpotts realised that she would be presenting her Sunday Breakfast programme on Christmas Day itself this year, and she decided to add something extra special to her regular look at spiritual and religious life in the county.
 
In addition to being a presenter on BBC Radio Norfolk, Emma is also the station sound producer, meaning that she was ideally placed to see the project through from beginning to end. The whole production was entirely conceived, recorded, produced and edited by Emma herself.
 

The BBC Radio Norfolk Nativity will be broadcast across six mini-episodes during Emma's programme from 6am to 9am on Christmas morning. After 9am, the episodes will also be available to listen to online at www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk

Pictured top is presenter Emma Philpotts, centre, with Norfolk MPs Richard Bacon and Chloe Smith.