On Christmas Eve, families and friends gather around the country to eat and drink well, give out claps and in some cases dance around the tree. For many, a few hours in front of the television is also a given part of the holiday celebration.
More specifically, it is classics such as “Kan du visla Johanna?”, “Karl-Bertil Jonsson’s Christmas Eve” and “Kalle Anka oskaren Merry Christmas” that make millions of Swedes sit on the couch.
Before the last-mentioned programme, it is also tradition in SVT that a well-known face, in the role of Christmas host who guides the viewers through the tableau, lights a candle.
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Many Swedes sit down in front of the programs broadcast on SVT on Christmas Eve. Photo: Christine Olsson/TT
It was a long time Arne Weise who hosted Christmas in the channel, but the year 2002 was his last year. Subsequently, a number of celebrities have wished the viewers a Merry Christmas in the TV box, including André Pops, Kattis Ahlström and most recently David Batra.
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Arne Weise was Christmas host in SVT for many years. Photo: Marc Femenia/TT Comedian David Batra hosted Christmas in 2023. Photo: Anders Wiklund/TTOddsen pointed to Schollin and Wahlgren
Already in October, betting companies began to present odds for who would be this year’s Christmas host in 2024. The actor had the lowest odds Christina Schollin and the television profile as well as the artist Pernilla Wahlgren. Mother and daughter were also joined at the top by the “On Track” judge Fredrik Lindström.
– It is always a nail-biter to predict who will be this year’s Christmas host. This year it is extra exciting with a real mother-daughter duel on the top list. And with Pernilla’s children, Benjamin and Bianca Ingrossoalso in the game as a high-roller, it could be a real family affair, said Raul Valencia Lopezmarketing and PR manager at Unibet, i a press release.
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Christina Schollin was one of the favorites to become Christmas host in 2024. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT
But it was neither Fredrik Lindström nor anyone from the Schollin-Wahlgren-Ingrosso clan who will light the candle in SVT this year. At a press conference on Monday, SVT’s program director announced Eva Beckman that it would be Mark Levengood who takes on the role of Christmas host in the channel.
– Many of us are longing for light and hope right now, and it’s not just about the winter darkness. In dark times, you need extra kindness and warmth, and we believe that this year’s Christmas host will be able to thaw the most frozen of souls, she said of Levengood.
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Mark Levengood will be this year’s Christmas host in 2024. Photo: Anders Wiklund/TT On December 24, Mark Levengood lights the candle in SVT. Photo: Anders Wiklund/TT
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Viewers’ reactions to this year’s Christmas host 2024
And when it became clear that Mark Levengood is this year’s Christmas host in SVT, people were not slow to agree. In the comments section of a Facebook post where the channel shared the news, hundreds of people had their say on the choice of host.
An overwhelming majority were positive. This is what some of them wrote:
“Yes, it can’t get any better!! You probably can’t get a bigger cozy factor!!”
“The absolute best choice.”
“Best choice.”
“Good choice!!”
“Oh how cozy!!”
“I was pretty sure he’d been a Christmas host before!? But apparently I’m misremembering. I watch a fair amount of TV on Christmas Eve, but I think he’ll probably make a good Christmas host. I have a little trouble understanding people who say that negative opinions about the election.”
“The top.”
“THANK YOU SVT! A really happy news in these times!! Just what we need right now!”
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Photo: Screenshot/Facebook/SVTPhoto: Screenshot/Facebook/SVT
A few people are all the more skeptical.
“That Christmas was smoking with SVT,” writes one person.
“Fuck so boring… They could have thought outside the box – Ulf Brunnberg or Mikael Persbrandt,” writes another.
“But noooo.. Do you have to look?!”, writes a third.
“You are OK but would have liked GW Persson,” writes a fourth person.
Photo: Screenshot/Facebook/SVT
What do you think of this year’s Christmas host? Vote in the poll below!