Sally takes the Rev Richard Coles back to the church pew where he first found his faith to discover how Christmas has brought some of the most joyful, meaningful and sorrowful moments in his life. From childhood chorister and Communards fame to life as a vicar and the death of his beloved life partner David, Richard tells a story filled with frank, funny and festive memories.

Sally Phillips meets Lemn Sissay, who spent years in the care system after being taken from his mother as a baby. His is a tale of lost Christmases and rejection before he found the voice and words that have made him one of the most celebrated poets in the UK today. As Sally discovers, it’s a position that has now helped him bring the true meaning of Christmas to hundreds of other care leavers across the country.

Sally Phillips visits the home of Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas to hear how Christmas has marked her journey from her childhood in the Wirral to huge acclaim across the world as a professional dance champion. Shirley shares her story of hard work, passion and loss - with one particularly tragic Christmas at its heart.