The Story of Christmas

Publish Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2025, 4:25pm

It's been called 'The Greatest Story Ever Told', and besides the countless stage shows, publications, songs and films, the Nativity story has also inspired a raft of radio productions...

Radio J - The 1983 Edition

The brainchild of John Hawkesby and Dale Bradley, Radio J was a revolutionary programme imagining a radio station broadcasting from Jerusalem on the night of the very first Christmas.

The Tonight Show's 'Sammy Amos' who encounters the characters of The Nativity via a roving reporter

The programme starring Tom Bradley and John Hawkesby won the 'Best Entertainment Mobil Radio Award' in 1984.

Newstalk BC - The 2020 Edition

A Christmas feature unlike any other, Newstalk BC is an hour of talkback radio on the day that split time in two. In a tense and oppressive political landscape, amid conjecture of a foretold liberator, talkback host 'Hannah du Polanski-Alderman' investigates claims of a new king being born in Judea.

Starring Heather du Plessis-Allan, Mike Hosking, Barry Soper, Judy Bailey, Raylene Ramsay, Sir Peter Leitch, Mark Hadlow and Ian Mune, this production won 3 Gold and 3 Silver New York Festivals Awards as well as the AIB Creative Feature.

Whostalk ZB - The 2019 Edition

In this fantasy world of Dr Seuss rhyme, it’s the night before Christmas. Mike Hosking is relaxing at home after all the pre-Christmas chaos. When he lies down for a nap before dinner, Mike finds himself in a fantastical dream world. As he interviews of all the newsmakers of 'Who Zealand', a bright light in the sky out on the East Coast shakes up everyone's Christmas day.

Featuring Mike Hosking, Leighton Smith, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Wendy Petrie, Robyn Malcolm, Pio Terei, Sir Peter Leitch and an array of Newstalk ZB personalities, the show won Silver at New York Festivals, Bronze at the London International Awards, and Best Creative Feature at the New Zealand Radio Awards.