For this year's BBC Radio 3 Carol Competition, music lovers were invited to write a tune or melody to a new lyric by Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage. Titled Polaris, it is inspired by a transformative visit to Antarctica. Another special aspect of this year's competition is the addition of the 11-to-15-year-old category, which will see young people allowed to enter the carol contest for the first time. Four entries from each category, 11-15-year-olds, and 16+, have been shortlisted to go through to the second phase of the competition, with the successful entrants working with arranger, Iain Farrington (one of the 12 Coronation composers) to transform their melodies into finely crafted and fully harmonised Christmas carols. Performed live to the public for the first time by the BBC Singers on this special Breakfast programme, the eight arranged carols will be presented across BBC Radio 3 programmes until Wednesday, 20th December, when voting closes. The winning carol will be announced in this show on December 21, and played throughout the festive season
