If you don't know the film, George Bailey spends his entire life giving up his dreams for the good of his town. But one Christmas Eve, he is broken over the misplacing of a significant sum of money and the machinations of millionaire Mr. Potter. His guardian angel, Clarence, shows him how his town, family, and friends would have turned out if he had never been born. 

The film was originally considered a turkey by the studio Liberty films, in fact they let its copyright lapse. This meant that, by the seventies, there was a festive Frank Capra film available for networks to screen for free - it turned in to a cracker, some seventy years later it's a Christmas favourite. 

'It's a Wonderful Life' is one of my Christmas traditions. Re-reading Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol and having Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby on the radio are others. 

You'll hear some of those songs at the Christmas roadshows Bolton FM will be part of over the next couple of weeks. 

This weekend (2nd December) we're taking part in Curley's Christmas Market in Horwich from 10am. 

December 10th sees us Hike the Pike with Bolton Hospice. Hike the Pike is a 5 mile sponsored festive family hike from Ridgmont House, Horwich up to Rivington Pike to raise funds for Bolton Hospice. It's the perfect event for the whole family (including your dog!) and a great opportunity for a festive family photo! 

We're opening a stall in Bolton Market from 2nd December giving you the opportunity to record a 'Christmas Card'. We'll broadcast it as part of our Christmas programming. So while you're shopping at the Market or the children are visiting Santa's grotto pop along and say 'hello'!