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The Royal Institution Christmas Lecture marks its triumphant return to the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, with an inspiring lecture from one of Britain's most interesting scientists, Dr Mark Miodownik.

In this three-part public lecture series, the engineer and materials scientist asks: Does size matter?

In three absorbing, inspiring and entertaining lectures, Mark explains how hamsters can survive falling from an aircraft without a parachute; why planet Earth is so puny; and the extraordinary hidden powers of human hair. He then goes on to reveal Why Elephants Can't Dance, Why Chocolate Melts And Jet Planes Don't and Why Mountains Are So Small.

Mark joins a distinguished line of past lecturers, including Sir David Attenborough and Baroness Susan Greenfield, who have inspired generations of children and adults across the country through spirited annual talks that tackle some of the most interesting questions in science.

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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Four's acclaimed series returns with two special Christmas programmes that look beyond the familiar carols and festive songs to reveal two millennia of music and texts from across Europe.

Both programmes feature an astonishing range of seasonal music from composers as diverse as JS Bach, William Byrd, Felix Mendelssohn, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Handel, Mozart and Gustav Holst.

In Sacred Music – A Christmas History, Simon Russell Beale travels through Italy, Britain, Germany and Austria as he explores how the sound of Christmas has evolved in response to changing ideas about the Nativity.

The documentary is complemented by a special performance programme, introduced by Simon from St Augustine's church in Kilburn, London, allowing viewers to hear longer versions of some of the choral music featured in the documentary.

Sacred Music – A Choral Christmas features Bach's harmonisation of the medieval carol In Dulci Jubilo and the Christmas text, O Magnum Mysterium, set as a motet by Tomás Luis de Victoria.

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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Four presents a Christmas concert with a difference in Soul Noel, featuring classic festive carols with a gospel and soul twist.

Viewers can warm a winter’s night with gospel, soul, reggae, ska and soca versions of classics such as We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Jingle Bells and many more.

Filmed at the Porchester Hall in West London, the concert features UK soul diva Beverley Knight; multi-talented jazz blues soul singer Carleen Anderson; and Lagos-born jazz soul singer Ola Onabule in a unique celebration of Christmas. The legendary original Southern blues-singing Golden Gate Quartet, formed back in 1934, also perform. The Gates were a truly radical jubilee quartet, bringing the swing and groove of jazz into gospel music.

There is also a guest appearence from young soul sensation Bryn Christopher, who released an acclaimed debut album, My World, in 2008.

Added to the mix, led by MD Ken Burton, is the London Community Gospel Choir and a range of other top vocalists who have sung with the world's biggest stars and who are all backed by a sizzling soul band.

Massed voices raise the roof with soulful melodies and soaring harmonies in what promises to be a great evening for all the family to stir the Christmas spirit.

More lead voices will be announced closer to transmission.

FD