SSAFA announces Rob Rinder MBE as VIP guest speaker at Christmas Carol Concert

13 November 2025

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity’s annual Christmas Carol Concert at The Royal Military Chapel in London is a traditional evening of wonderful music and prose in support of the Armed Forces community. This year’s concert will feature a special reading from Rob Rinder MBE. 

Rob Rinder is an award-winning broadcaster, barrister and multi-Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author. Fronting hit BBC shows including Rob and Rylan’s Passage To India, Amazing Hotels and the 2025 BAFTA winner Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour, Rob’s broadcasting career spans genres, hosting ITV’s Good Morning Britain, creating documentaries including The Holy Land and Us: Our Untold Stories and My Family, the Holocaust and Me along with numerous critically-acclaimed history programmes for Channel 4, Channel 5 and more. With three Sunday Times bestselling novels and a long career as a practicing barrister, Rob was awarded an MBE for his services to Holocaust education in 2020. Rob Rinder will conduct a special reading during SSAFA’s Christmas Carol Concert, which brings together the Armed Forces community and supporters. 

SSAFA has also announced that SSAFA ambassador and acclaimed mezzo-soprano, Friederike Krum, will perform during the service, as will Royal Academy of Music alumnus, Thomas Elwin. 

Verity Harding, Head of Events at SSAFA, commented: “Our Christmas Carol Concert is a popular date in people’s calendars every year. Moving speeches encourage moments of pause and reflection, while beautiful musical performances leave spirits lifted. 

“We are incredibly grateful to Rob Rinder, Friederike Krum and Thomas Elwin for participating in this year’s concert – their support is sure to make it a memorable evening for all who attend. I’d encourage anyone interested to book their ticket soon, as tickets are expected to sell out.” 

Tickets are priced from £40 per person and can be purchased online. Every ticket purchased directly supports SSAFA’s invaluable work, delivered by trained volunteers and employees, helping serving personnel, veterans and their families through some of life’s most difficult moments. 

Tickets are also available for an exclusive drinks’ reception, which includes front of chapel seating. The reception is held in the officer’s mess immediately after the concert, continuing until 10pm. It gives guests the opportunity to meet some of the concert’s performers and speakers while enjoying a selection of canapés and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. 

SSAFA has gratefully received sponsorship from several corporate partners for this year’s Christmas Carol Concert: The Gosling Foundation (Platinum Sponsor), Trailfinders and BAE Systems (Gold Sponsors). Their support will enable SSAFA to maximise the fundraising impact of the event.