Victorian Bakers at Christmas

4 x 60 series.

How the Victorians invented Christmas as we know it today – through the eyes of four professional bakers, who make favourite festive products from the most revolutionary era in British history. Featuring the long lost centrepiece of British Christmas known as twelfth cake, mince pies with actual meat in them (tripe – and roast beef), surprisingly recent innovations such as Christmas cake, cards, crackers and even Santa Claus.

Historians Alex Langlands and Annie Gray are on hand to fill in the fascinating facts behind the transformation of our midwinter break – from a riotous 12-day affair with clear pagan elements which climaxed in early January, to the more respectable family-based occasion centred on December 25th which we know today.