Christmas Day is an exciting time of year for any child.

But this year will be extra special for Bredgar Primary School pupils.

That’s because they are set to feature in a Radio 2 programme entitled Sing in Heavenly Peace: The True Story Of Silent Night.

In the show, which is due to air at 9pm on Christmas Day, Sir Cliff Richard looks into the truth behind the world’s most famous Christmas carol, Silent Night.

As part of the recording the youngsters can be heard singing the song, which was composed in Austria in 1818.

Listeners will also hear Year 6 pupil Leon Baker, 11, reading the first verse of the poem Twas The Night Before Christmas as well as other children from the school talking about what Christmas means to them.

It was all recorded at St John the Baptist Church in the village back in October, but it wouldn’t have happened had it not been for head teacher David Whitehead.

By day he runs the school but in his spare time he writes and this was just one idea he came up with and pitched to his friend Jon Holmes who runs a production company called Unusual Productions in London.

Following talks with Radio 2 the programme was commissioned.

Mr Whitehead said: “I’ve always loved the hymn Silent Night and thought it was very special, but when I started researching the history behind it I found my knowledge was wrong.

“I thought it was written in the trenches during the First World War but it was actually written a whole century before that.

“I thought others would be interested to know the background too.

“We asked Sir Cliff Richard to narrate it because he’s the nation’s favourite Christian and he jumped at it. I didn’t meet him though.

“I’m very pleased the programme has been made and I know the children are very excited about it.

“The staff, children and their parents are going to be tuning in on the day.
“We’ve mentioned it in our newsletter and made reference to it on the Christmas cards we’ve sent out to other schools in the area and friends of the school to let them know about it too so hopefully lots of people will tune in.”