Christmas broadcasts will feature Seven Dwarves's Max Laird and Vic Godard from Educating Essex
For the first time since it began broadcasting its own version of the Queen's annual Christmas address to the nation in 1993, Channel 4 is to air two Alternative Christmas Messages.
One will make a "plea for tolerance" and be delivered by the stars of some of Channel 4's diversity programmes, including Max Laird from Seven Dwarves and Beauty and the Beast contributor Susan Campbell-Duncan, who has a facial disfigurement.
The theme of their broadcast will be "Just Be Yourself" and they will be joined by Karen Gayle from My Transsexual Summer and acid-attack survivor Katie Piper ? the second time she has recorded an Alternative Christmas Message for Channel 4.
The second alternative message will feature Vic Goddard, the headteacher of the comprehensive school that appears in Channel 4 documentary Educating Essex, and his deputy Stephen Drew.
Channel 4's director of creative diversity Stuart Cosgrove said: "Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message is a yuletide institution giving voice to different opinions and social attitudes.
"This year the [first] message is collectively authored by people who have all starred in shows which foreground diversity. The message is a plea for tolerance and praises difference in a society that often demands conformity."
The two messages will appear on Christmas Day.
Channel 4's traditional alternative to the Queen's Christmas Day broadcast first aired in 1993 when it was delivered by Quentin Crisp.
Since then it has featured a varied selection of presenters, including an injured veteran from the war in Afghanistan; the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; the Reverend Jesse Jackson; Doreen and Neville Lawrence; a 9/11 survivor; and The Simpsons.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/dec/22/channel-4-alternative-christmas-messages
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