carols by candlelight australia

17 Things That Happen On Every ‘Carols By Candlelight’

Tell us you love Punkee without telling us you love Punkee. Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. It'll mean the world.

Christmas is about embracing what’s comforting and there’s nothing more soothing than watch Carols by Candlelight because it is exactly the same every single year — and that’s beautiful!

As a born and bred Melburnian, Carols by Candlelight is a BIG deal in my family. My parents used to work at the event before they got married, then when me and my sisters were born, we continued the tradition by watching the show every Christmas Eve. I’m not kidding, I’ve seen every single Carols by Candlelight from every year I’ve inhabited this earth. My first words were probably “Dennis Walter”. While my friends would go out partying the night before Christmas, I’d be in front of my TV singing like the goddamn von Trapp family.

My dad would even photocopy the songbooks for us all, which used to come attached to magazines or newspapers. While in the early days we used to take Carols quite seriously, these days we watch it mostly for the lols. Due to the holiday special being almost identical every year — showcasing the same singers, singing the same songs, in the same order — this means that it’s the perfect show to only half-watch while you roast it senselessly.

It’s not the kind of show that will keep you guessing; it’s the kind of show where you can predict exactly what will happen. From Tim Campbell opening the show by sauntering around to some horny jazz number to Marina Prior ending the show singing ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’, Carols by Candlelight follows a tried and tested formula.

And you know what? We still love it! With the rollercoaster that this year took us on, sometimes you just don’t want any surprises! So strap in for another Carols by Candlelight, and get ready to see exactly what you’ve seen year after year.

17 things that happen on every Carols by Candlelight:

1. Host David Campbell mentions his dad Jimmy Barnes… for some reason.

Did you know that David Campbell’s dad is Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes? Well, you will when you watch Carols By Candlelight. 

2. Some truly random international celebrity will appear to wish us all a merry Christmas.

It’s usually Michael Buble. Or if they can’t find anyone, Humphrey B. Bear will do. In 2015, they even enlisted the voice of Siri to sing.

3. Santa Clause makes a cameo…

It’s not Christmas until Carols has to rush through the obligatory kids’ portion of the evening, with Santa, elves, and reindeers galore. This is the ideal time to go and grab some nibbles before the night truly starts — which in my house is typically a cob loaf, cubed cheese, and kabana/cabanossi.

4. …before Hi-5 arrive to sing ‘Santa Claus is Coming’.

Now THIS is what we came for. I might not know who any of the current Hi-5 crew are, but I can still do all the dance moves to ‘Santa Claus is Coming’ and I don’t feel great about it!

5. An Australian Idol alum will pop up somewhere.

It’s the ’00s reality TV show that simply won’t quit. Whether it’s Rob ‘Millsy’ Mills, Paulini, Guy Sebastian, or Casey Donavan — someone from Australian Idol will be there! Thems the rules.

6. Oh, and Anthony Callea will probably sing ‘The Prayer’.

Anthony Callea usually makes a cameo and if we’re lucky, he’ll sing ‘The Prayer’ even if it’s only loosely related to Christmas.

7. And his husband Tim Campbell will dance along to some jazzy number.

Anthony and Tim are a package deal, and while Anthony will take on a big ballad, Tim typically sticks to a light and fluffy jazz number with fancy choreography.

8. A random stage show will perform a remixed version of a Christmas carol.

If there’s a stage show touring Melbourne, they will be on Carols by Candlelight. Bonus points if they try to promote their own show by mashing up a carol with a song from their production. Hamilton, I’m looking at you.

9. Some country band you’ve never heard of will perform.

To break up the traditional carols, the show will have a random performance by a country group that probably no one in Australia even knows.

10. Marina Prior will wear a ridiculously over-the-top dress.

While she sings ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’, and looking like she hasn’t aged a day. Vampire confirmed.

11. Silvie Paladino will go off script.

Silvie can sing like a superstar, but she also loves a bit of a chat! She often sings a song (usually ‘When A Child Is Born’ or ‘Song of Joy’), then between songs, she will waffle on about something, which signals that it’s time for Mum to go put the kettle on.

12. The camera pans over babies sleeping during ‘Silent Night’.

I don’t know why this has to happen every year, but I’ve never seen a ‘Silent Night’ performance that isn’t accompanied by random sleeping babies and kids. Who are these strange children??

13. Denis Walter will stop by to remind us he’s still alive.

There he is! Denis is a veteran of Carols, he would traditionally sing ‘O Holy Night’ most years, and he still pops up on the show on occasion.

14. Dami Im will steal the whole damn show.

While Dami is a recent recruit, she has proven her ability to absolutely slay every performance she’s done so far.

15. There will be a spine-tingling gospel performance.

This is the highlight of the night and it’s usually the only time that multiple non-white people are on the Carols stage at once. Yikes.

16. David Hobson will sing ‘The Holy City’.

There are only three certainties in life: death, taxes, and David Hobson singing ‘The Holy City’ on Carols by Candlelight. He really nails this tune like no other and it simply isn’t Christmas without your dad off-key belting “Jerusalem, Jeruuuu-salem!” at the TV.

17. The show ends with the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’, even though you drifted off to sleep 20 minutes ago.

The sound of ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ fading into ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ is simply the only way to finish Christmas Eve.

–

Carols by Candlelight kicks off on December 24 at 8pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.