Castle Howard’s Christmas events to star in Channel 4 documentary series
Castle Howard’s Christmas events will feature in a new Channel 4 documentary series, ‘A Very British Christmas’. The programme is a three-part series following designers Adrian Lillie and Charlotte Lloyd Webber from CLW Event Design as they create festive experiences for iconic British stately homes, with one episode dedicated to Castle Howard’s extravaganza.
The Castle Howard episode is due to broadcast on Channel 4 on Tuesday 9th December at 8pm and is the first in the series. Other homes and castles featured in the programme include Chiswick House in London, Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland and Kensington Palace. The programme is produced by Factual Fiction, a production company based in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Photos by Tom Arber.
The programme follows the CLW Event Design team as they plan, build and install Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which opened to visitors in November. The 300-year-old House is dressed in set pieces, decorations, floristry, projections, lighting and sound, set to delight tens of thousands of visitors over a 7-week period.
The showstopping Emerald City High Street in the Long Gallery is a highlight of the experience for 2025, with life size fabricated shop fronts inspired by York Shambles, decorated by a specialist signwriting expert. In addition, Castle Howard’s famous 28-foot Christmas tree sparkles in the Great Hall, installed by a team of 30 using a specialist forklift and winch system. The CLW Event Design team have worked on the project since January with huge set pieces fabricated and built on the Castle Howard Estate before being moved into the House. The installation process in the House takes ten days to complete, with circa 30,000 baubles are on display.
Getting ready for Christmas at Castle Howard. Photos by Tom Arber.
Abbi Ollive, Castle Howard’s Visitor Attraction Director, said: “We were delighted to welcome Channel 4 back to Castle Howard to follow the amazing Christmas team bring to life our festive experience. Thousands of hours go into creating our theatrical worlds to delight our visitors year on year, and this year is no different. It’s always a joy to show off the behind-the-scenes and celebrate the amazing team that make it happen.”
A Very British Christmas: Castle Howard, Channel 4
9th December, 8pm
www.channel4.com/programmes/great-estates-from-above
Castle Howard Christmas Tree. Photo by Tom Arber
Christmas at Castle Howard events:
- Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz – in the House, 13th November –
4th January - Father Christmas in the Castle – in the House, 22nd November – 24th December
- Santa’s Grotto in the Boathouse – in the Boathouse, 6th – 24th December
- Oz Twilight Tours – 28th November, 5th December, 12th December, 19th December