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Airdate: Carols by Candlelight

Jimmy, David and Mahalia will lead a very Barnsey xmas this year -and it's starting one hour earlier than previous years.

Nine promises a very Barnsey Christmas when father Jimmy Barnes, son David Campbell and daughter Mahalia Barnes will appear at Carols by Candlelight at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Also on the bill are Vanessa Amorosi, The McClymonts, Katie Noonan, Anthony Callea, Tim Campbell, Marina Prior, Ian Stenlake, Jay Laga’aia duetting with Georgie Parker, Hi-5 and Humphrey, Denis Walter, Gorgi Quill, Lorin Nicholson.

Stars from Billy Eliot and Wicked will also appear.

Musical Director is John Foreman and the National Boys Choir and the Australian Girls Choir.

For the first time it is hosted by Today‘s Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson.

Carols has always been a big part of my family’s Christmas ritual and I am honoured to be part of the celebration,” Wilkinson said.

“To be hosting Carols is a real honour and I am looking forward to being part of such an amazing show that raises money for a very deserving charity,” Stefanovic said.

It airs at the earlier time of 8pm Wednesday December 24, one hour earlier than tradition.

Press Release:
Rock legend Jimmy Barnes will take centre stage at Vision Australia’s Carols By Candlelight live from 8.00pm Wednesday, December 24 on Channel Nine.

It will be a family affair for the Barnes clan this year as Jimmy’s son and Carols ambassador, multi-platinum artist David Campbell, will perform a duet with his father which will bring the house down.

Jimmy’s daughter, Mahalia Barnes, will also be performing, singing solo at her first Carols By Candlelight appearance.

It’s a year of new faces for the 71st edition of Vision Australia’s Carols By Candlelight, with TODAY hosts Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson hosting the traditional Christmas Eve show from the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne.

“Carols has always been a big part of my family’s Christmas ritual and I am honoured to be part of the celebration,” Wilkinson said.

“To be hosting Carols is a real honour and I am looking forward to being part of such an amazing show that raises money for a very deserving charity,” Stefanovic said.

The three Billy Elliots (Josh Denyer, Rhys Kosakowski and Josh Waiss-Gates) from the Broadway smash hit, Billy Elliot The Musical, will sing their way around the stage in their first appearance at Carols.

The critically acclaimed cast of Wicked The Musical will perform with their newest cast member, Bert Newton, headlining as The Wizard of Oz.

Play School veteran Jay Laga’aia will do a duet with the host of Animal Emergency, Georgie Parker, who is also making her début at Carols By Candlelight, a performance she regards as a career highlight.

“I am beside myself, but my family is probably even more excited. Watching Carols is how we spend our Christmas Eve and now my family will be able to see me participate. I can’t wait,” Parker said.

Another newcomer to Carols this year is Tim Campbell. After enjoying the success of Channel Nine’s Celebrity Singing Bee, Campbell is turning his talents to the stage and will perform a festive favourite.

A spectacular lineup including multi-platinum-selling artist Vanessa Amorosi, ARIA-nominated group The McClymonts, 3AW announcer and Nine News weather presenter Denis Walter, Carols favourite Anthony Callea, first lady of song Marina Prior, plus Guys and Dolls performer and star of Sea Patrol, Ian Stenlake, will also take to the stage.

Under the baton of Musical Director John Foreman, other drawcards for this year’s Carols By Candlelight include family favourites Hi-5 and Humphrey, Gorgi Quill, inspirational blind singer and guitarist Lorin Nicholson, double ARIA winner Katie Noonan, the National Boys Choir and the Australian Girls Choir.

For further information on Vision Australia’s Carols By Candlelight and for ticketing go to www.visionaustralia.org.

Join in for Australia’s premier Christmas event:
Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight
from the Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Wednesday, December 24 at 8.00pm on Channel Nine

16 Responses

  1. Karl and Lisa hosting Carols will suck even more than when Glen Ridge and Nicky Buckley hosted it one year during the 90s.

    Ed Phillips and Lavinia Nixon would do a much better job. Although it may seem that it is simply repeating the Sale Carols mistake, I think they are preferred by viewers (especially by Melbourne audiences).

  2. Sounds like decent lineup.
    One can only hope co-hosts Lisa & Karl either get sick before night or find a personality that engages with others bar their own egos.

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