The Kanneh-Masons reunite on BBC Two this Christmas Day for some festive family time…
Festive family fun, mesmerising renditions of beloved songs, and some good old childhood tales, a new Christmas TV show offers an insight into one of the city's most famous families.
A Musical Family Christmas with the Kanneh-Masons delves into the world of the seven brothers and sisters who are taking the classical music world by storm. The family are perhaps most well-known for homegrown cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who performed at Windsor Castle for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018. He has since won an MBE for services to music and his siblings also hold lofty achievements in the arts.
The one-off hour long special follows the family over the festive period as they pause their hectic lives and return to their hometown. Produced by MacLarty Brown Media - an independent TV company based in the East Midlands - the heart-warming documentary features wholesome Christmas activities that anyone is sure to relate to, such as competitive family board games, tree decorating and a Secret Santa draw. Their celebrations incorporate a cultural mix of family traditions from the UK, Sierra Leone and the Caribbean.
The family from Nottingham first rose to popularity when they got to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent, but that was only the beginning of what was to come for them
It’s refreshing to see a family who have accomplished so much remain so unpretentious and relatable - no amount of global fame and success could ever lift their feet off the ground.
As well as the festivities, we are treated to the mesmerising delights of their music. The family consists of sisters Isata, Konya, Aminata, Mariatu and Jeneba, and brothers Sheku and Braimah. Between them they play piano, cello and violin, arranged beautifully for renditions of some of their seasonal favourites: Mary’s Boy Child, We Three Kings, Santa Baby, Sugar Plum Fairy and In the Bleak Midwinter.
They also perform exclusive versions of Bob Marley’s Who the Cap Fit, Eric Whitacre’s The Seal Lullaby and Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. The latter will give you chills; it’s a song we’ve all heard before, but somehow this one feels especially moving. Perhaps because it means something to them - they explain that it was one of the first songs Sheku ever recorded.
Parents Kadie and Stuart continue to be right here with them, cheering on their every endeavour. With some having just finished tours of the US and Europe, they can be seen in this Christmas special experiencing some rare time altogether.
The family from Nottingham first rose to popularity when they got to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent, but that was only the beginning of what was to come for them. Since appearing in the show back in 2015, they have been trailblazing through the classical music scene, each becoming stars in their own right.
You might expect an inkling of envy, but despite their successes as individuals, they are all genuinely happy for one another
After being state school educated in Nottingham, they all went on to attend some of London’s top music schools (Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music). Earlier this year, they won the award for the Best Classical Artist for their first family album Carnival of the Animals.
Moments of nostalgia are enjoyed as they reminisce over old footage from throughout the years and we are able to see how music has shaped their lives today. As they reflect on personal highlights from their journeys so far, each one seems more surreal than the next given how humble they are. Sheku, for instance, was recently awarded an MBE but, back home in Nottingham, he’s just Sheku: brother, son and according to his youngest sister, the hardest to buy for in Secret Santa.
One thing becomes clear from the show - they’re all in it together. You might expect an inkling of envy perhaps, but despite their successes as individuals, they are genuinely happy for one another. In their solo interviews, they are never short of praise and kind words for their siblings.
Just as an orchestra doesn’t work unless everyone plays in harmony, the Kanneh-Masons are all on the same page, both in their music and in their family life. While everything else seems so uncertain, this is the undoubtedly perfect way to escape the madness and be reminded what’s really important.
A Musical Family Christmas with the Kanneh-Masons premieres at 8:35pm Christmas Day on BBC Two, and will be available on BBC iPlayer shortly after.
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