Zoe Ball launches Christmas on Radio 2 in her Breakfast Show

Today on The Breakfast Show, Zoe Ball officially launched Christmas on BBC Radio 2 by playing the station’s first festive track of the season, Elton John’s Step Into Christmas.

Zoe said to listeners: “You might have gone early this year, but we have held out until now. It’s 1st December so it’s time to officially switch on Christmas here at BBC Radio 2.”

She then joked about the travel reporter Richie Anderson, saying that he wasn’t invited to do the Daventry lights switch-on and that he got side-lined for Chico at the one in his hometown, but they couldn’t think of anyone else – or indeed get anyone else – to officially do it for them.

Richie responded: “Do you know what, I thought my year had peaked when I was on Countryfile for 27 seconds, but this is huge.”

They both then counted down with the production squad to the official launch.

Gary Barlow also popped up as a guest on the show. He played The Dream of Christmas, a festive song from his latest Christmas album and a version of Take That’s Everything Changes.

Ken Bruce continued the festive fun, when he introduced two very special Ken Bruce Christmas decorations – Ebenezer Bruce and Tiny Ken!

It's the new @realkenbruce Christmas decoration! ??

So… Will you get the Ebenezer Bruce like @thejeremyvine, or the Tiny Ken adorning your Christmas centrepiece like @zoetheball!? ? pic.twitter.com/VdscZnRggg

— BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) December 1, 2021

Well, if it’s started on Radio 2 it must mean it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!