The BBC will be broadcasting the Midnight Mass and Christmas Day services live from Blackburn Cathedral.

In early September, Blackburn Cathedral was approached by the BBC enquiring about the possibility of broadcasting the cathedral’s Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services on television.

Details are still to be finalised but the Cathedral has confirmed the Christmas Eve service at the Cathedral will take place at 11.45pm and will be broadcast by BBC.

On Christmas Day, a 10am service will be held by the Cathedral which will also be broadcast live.

Bishop Phillip North said: “This is a tremendous privilege for us to be able to welcome millions of people from across the world to worship with us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

“The finer details of each service are still being finalised but what we do know is how our services, which will be broadcast live, will slot into the schedules for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

"The Christmas Eve service this year will start at 11.45pm, fifteen minutes later than normal.

“On Christmas Day there will be one morning service starting at 10am to which everyone is invited and is a great opportunity to invite family, friends and neighbours.”

The Cathedral have said that more information will be available in the weeks to come.