LBC Radio

Press release

MUSLIM GIRL GOES FOR NOEL NUMBER ONE
WITH CHRISTMAS CAROL CLASSIC

Report to: Christmas Tree, Trafalgar Square, London
When: 16:30, Tuesday 12 December 2006

12 year old Sonia Tailor launches her bid to be the first Muslim Christmas number one in British chart history with her rendition of ‘O Christmas Tree’ in London on Tuesday.

Sonia, a girl guide, grade four trumpet player and aspiring singer from Hatch End, begins her Beatles-beating attempt by Britain’s most famous Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. Spurred on by the unlikely successes of Mr Blobby and Bob the Builder, Noel number ones in 1993 and 2000 respectively, she hopes to go one better than Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), who achieved the number two spot with Ronan Keating in 2004 with ‘Father and Son.’ Sonia is part of LBC97.3FM radio’s ‘Nick Ferrari Muslim Ensemble,’ a choir of Muslim children dedicated to raising money for charity and celebrating the true spirit of Christmas - togetherness, happiness and good will. ‘O Christmas Tree’ is track three of the choir’s ‘A Very Merry Muslim Christmas Album.’

Sonia says ‘I love Christmas, it’s a fun time when families and friends get together and it would be amazing to be number one. I am still a Muslim and don’t see any problem in singing a carol – singing and being happy is what Christmas is all about.’