NEWPORT Centre was a hive of celebrity activity yesterday for the recording of BBC special,The Really Welsh Christmas Show.

Hosted by West End star Sophie Evans, the programme features Katherine Jenkins and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

During the show, which is being presented by Miss Evans for the second time, and filmed in front of a studio audience, Ms Jenkins will perform Dreaming of the Days and Silent Night.

Also performing will be Casualty actress Suzanne Packer with All that Jazz, and Niall Allen from Only Men Aloud who will be singing Beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Miss Evans said: “I was really happy when they asked me to do the show and when they said that we were singing Merry Christmas Everyone I was excited as that is one of my favourites.

“I will also be singing Downtown which I once performed with Petula Clark so I am looking forward to that too.”

The programme’s producer, Phillip Moss, said that the idea was to create an entertainment programme within Wales and featuring Welsh artists.

The show is in its second year with last year’s piece filmed in Cardiff.

Mr Moss added: “I am pleased that we are in Newport as it is a big thing for us to have brought out of Cardiff to another part of the country.”

Also filming on set was BBC weatherman Derek Brockway, alongside opera singer Wynne Evans, of Gocompare fame, who were creating a piece for Children in Need.

Within the sketch Mr Brockway performs O sole mio but is soon put in his place by Mr Evans.

Mr Brockway said: “Filming the piece has been good fun and it is to raise money for an amazing cause so I was pleased to get involved.

“I hope the piece surprises everyone as it certainly was a shock for me when they told me.”

He joked: “I think Wynne was surprised by how good I was so I may have to take singing up so watch out Wynne.”

Mr Evans said: “It’s great to be in Newport and although there is a serious reason behind why we are filming here, it has been great fun and Derek was brilliant and really got into the spirit of things.”

The BBC special show will be aired in the run-up the Christmas and the Children in Need show will be broadcast tonight.