Mariah Carey switches on Christmas on BBC Radio 2

Earlier this morning, Mariah Carey switched on Christmas on Radio 2 and chatted to Zoe Ball who then played an hour of back-to-back festive hits.

This comes following the news that Mariah is to make her world exclusive radio presenting debut in an hour-long festive special on Radio 2 on Christmas Day.

On Zoe’s Breakfast Show this morning, Mariah spoke about the recording 30 years ago of All I Want For Christmas Is You, if she’s easy to buy presents for, and revealed whether she and her family wear matching PJs at Christmas!

When asked if she has happy memories of recording All I want for Christmas Is You, Mariah said: “I really do, I remember being in the studio and I had the studio all decked out in Christmas splendour. And I was there with the background singers doing all those [sings]… background parts.

“You know, I just remember that so vividly. I could never have known how far it would go. But it was an amazing moment, one of the best moments in the studio I have ever had!”

Zoe asked if she’s an easy person to buy a present for to which she answered that she thinks so because it’s the thought that counts.

“I know that sounds cliché, but it’s true. If somebody takes time out of their day, and goes and gets you something, that’s a big deal,” she told Zoe.

Mariah also revealed that her family wears matching Christmas pyjamas!

To mark this year being the 30th anniversary of the most-streamed Christmas song of all-time, All I Want For Christmas Is You, Mariah will be playing some of her favourite festive songs on Christmas Day.

The show will include Christmas classics old and new from the artists who have inspired her, including Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Nat King Cole, Whitney Houston, The Jackson Five and Destiny’s Child.

Mariah says: “I can’t wait to spend Christmas with you on BBC Radio 2… I hope you are feeling warm and cosy and having your own Holly Jolly Christmas.

“I would like to thank all of my fans in the UK and around the world for continuing to make special memories with All I Want For Christmas Is You, it really means the world to me.”

You can hear Mariah Carey’s Christmas Hour: 30 Years of All I Want For Christmas Is You on BBC Radio 2 on Christmas Day, 7-8pm.