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Allan Finnegan is a Baptist minister, stand-up comedian, Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, and the author of the memoir I Didn’t Ask for Any of This, which looks back on his life, but also his cancer diagnosis. As Christmas approaches — a season full of joy, pressure, memories and emotion, Allan brings a unique perspective on finding faith, hope and humour in the midst of whatever life throws at us. Michael began by asking Allan what life is like for him now.

For refugees and asylum seekers, Christmas is often spent far from family, traditions, and sometimes even their own faiths, with little security and limited hope for the future. Kathryn Burgoyne, who has led the Foodshare initiative at Wycliffe Baptist Church in Reading, spoke to Michael about how it sets out to make a meaningful difference to many lives over the Christmas period.

After images emerged of Russell Brand baptising several people in a penguin enclosure, Michael sat down with Anglican minister Howard Espie to explore whether this was ok, or whether the sacraments of baptism and communion should be approached with greater reverence in Uk Churches.