Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid halts show for ‘breaking news’ announcement
TV presenter Richard Arnold shared the wonderful news on the ITV show on Wednesday, November 13.
He joined Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid to reveal that Band Aid’s classic “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” will be re-released for its 40th anniversary, featuring original voices alongside new artists. It will feature voices from three previous versions of the song: those from 1984, 2004, and 2014.
Introducing the segment, Susanna said: “We have some breaking news. Do They Know It’s Christmas? is coming back with a new version.” Richard then shared details on the lineup, saying: “Paul McCartney, Ed Sheeran, and more will lend their voices to mark the 40th anniversary of this historic hit, which raised over £8 million back in 1984.”
Showbiz editor Richard Arnold shared a sneak peek of the track with viewers at home. Madeley then pointed out: “George Michael always had mixed feelings about that because it went to number one and ended up blocking his own song, released that same year, from reaching the top spot.”
Susanna added: “It was such a significant event wasn’t it because it was all sparked by the remarkable reporting of Michael Buerk who was in Ethiopia just reporting what was called a biblical faming and Bob Geldof watched that and just went ‘we’ve got to do something’ and it was almost the beginning of charity singles wasn’t it? It got this super group together and raised millions.”
The Do They Know It’s Christmas? – 2024 Ultimate Mix will debut on UK breakfast radio and streaming platforms on November 25, marking 40 years since the original recording. Physical copies of the track, including CD and vinyl, will be available on November 29 as part of the Band Aid Compilation release.
This new mix brings together voices from all three previous versions—1984, 2004, and 2014—including artists like Harry Styles, George Michael, and Chris Martin. It will also feature an intergenerational blend, with iconic voices like Bono’s singing alongside younger artists.
