As Christmas rolls around for another year, David Campbell and Sarah Abo are busy preparing to share the magic of the festive season at this year’s Vision Australia: Carols By Candlelight in Melbourne.
The television hosts have even made a list of Australia’s most-talented singers who will be taking to the stage at this year’s Carols and checked it twice!
“All the favourites will be back like Marina Prior, Silvie Paladino and Denis Walter, who we adore,” Sarah, 40, tells Woman’s Day ahead of the annual event.
“There are also a few we can reveal – Casey Donovan is back, Morgan Evans is coming this year which will be really exciting,” David, 52, chimes in. “Dami Im will be back for the first time in a few years, and for the kids, Emma Memma will be there too! I don’t want to reveal too much, but we’re getting pretty stacked.”
The pair, who first hosted Carols together in 2023, also reveal the cast of MJ: The Musical will be taking to the stage as well.
When we ask David if he’ll be performing his favourite carol for this year, We Three Kings, he remains coy.
“I don’t know about that… watch this space,” he laughs.
“We need a karaoke version of Christmas carols for me to get involved,” jokes Sarah, who is a big fan of Silent Night.
CHRISTMAS PLANS
While Sarah unfortunately had to miss last year’s Carols due to a bout of appendicitis, she’s excited to see all the children in the audience patiently waiting for Santa to come and visit.
“As a little kid who grew up in Melbourne, you can’t mark Christmas without the Carols,” Sarah tells. “It just feels like part of the routine when gathering with your family. Carols has always been part of our lives.”
For Christmas Day, Sarah will be spending the morning spoiling her niece and three nephews with basketball gear and books in Melbourne, before travelling out to country Victoria to spend the evening with her in-laws.
“We like to have a traditional Syrian spread with all these delicious Middle Eastern meals, and I love taking that to my in-laws too because it’s food they don’t often eat,” Sarah shares. “There’s so much love in the preparation of food and that’s what makes Christmas special in mine and my husband’s family.”
While David usually spends Christmas Day with his famous dad, Cold Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes, and his half-siblings, he reveals things will be a little different this year.
“A lot of my family will be away which is very unusual,” he tells. “So we’re going to start Christmas morning like we always do with the kids, who – no matter what – get on our bed and open presents.”
He and his wife Lisa have been busy buying presents for their three kids – Leo, 15, and twins Betty and Billy, 10.
“They all want very different things, my daughter has decided she wants a Theragun, and my son, who’s a pianist, is really into guitar at the moment, and lots of sneakers,” he says. “But board games are back as the kids got into Monopoly this year. My son thinks he’s in Succession whenever he buys a hotel… I’ve raised a little Kendall Roy!”
NEW TRADITIONS
David reveals he’s also set himself an exciting Christmas challenge this year.
“I’m starting pav[lova] month,” he laughs. “I’m going to practise making one up until Christmas Day so I can nail the pav and make it a new tradition!”
While 2025 has been busy for both Sarah and David, who host Today and Today Extra respectively, both are grateful they’ll be spending the holidays with loved ones.
“My little sister had her daughter this year and I’m obsessed with her – so that’s a special gift,” says Sarah.
“I’ve got a teenager who still wants to hang out with me and the twins are into doing different things, so I’m grateful to be able to live through their lives,” David adds.
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