Canap in 1967; (L-R) Pete Brady,

Keith Skues, Dave Cash and

 Tony Blackburn. 

1980 Spinning the discs L-R

Andy Peebles, DLT and staff

Jon Kutner (later author; Complete Book of the British chart)

1980 Tommy Vance tucks in

1980 Jimmy Savile with

secretary Sue Drumm

1983 drinks before lunch

1986 (L-R from back) Adrian Juste, Janice Long, Mike Smith, John Peel, Anne Nightingale, Simon Mayo, Dave Lee Travis, Mark Page, Gary Davies, Dixie Peach, Mike Read, Peter Powell and Steve Wright celebrate in style.

From the launch of Radio 1 in 1967, Radio 1 DJs traditionally got together to celebrate Christmas, and a special annual programme was recorded at one of Broadcasting House's council chambers.

With the BBC canteen serving a full festive dinner with drinks, the show was heard on Christmas Day lunchtime with most of the current presenters briefly interviewed and each choosing their favourite record to be played on the programme. Dave Lee Travis was compere for the first few years, followed by Mike Read in later years.

In a 1997 interview, John Peel called the party  "the most appalling event of the year." He recalled that after one such lunch he, along with Kid Jensen and Paul Burnett, fuelled by drink, waited in the BBC car park to beat up Simon Bates, who never arrived "fortunately, because we might have suffered an embarrassing reverse as he's probably stronger than us"

From the early 1990's it became a private affair held at Camden Lock in London.

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