In the UK and presumably wherever else in the world people are interested, the Queen traditionally broadcasts a Christmas message to the Commonwealth at 3pm (UK time) on Christmas day.

Since 1993, the British Television station Channel 4 have broadcast an “alternative Christmas message”, usually controversial, and frequently featuring a celebrity. The Channel 4 Alternative Christmas Message has been presented by a wide variety of people, including the Rev Jesse Jackson, Ali G, Sharon Osbourne and Marge Simpson (yes, that Marge Simpson).

So I was thinking that would be a nice idea for a Christmas post — my own Christmas message to my readers.

However, I’d also come across cartoonists drawing each other’s strips before in a bizarre “exchange-day” idea, so I thought why not combine the two? I’ll write a Christmas message to post on someone else’s website, and someone else can write a message to post on mine…

… I just need to find someone stupid enough to let me deface their site with my pointless meanderings …

This would serve twin purposes of giving my readers someone new to read for a change, and giving me someone new to talk to at the same time.

And so I asked my readers if any of them would like to take part. I had three other people willing to take part — Dan Champion, Mike Cherim and Stephen Lang, and so there we were. Using a very high tech method (torn up bits of paper with names on it), I drew out who was to write the Christmas message for each other’s site, we established a few ground rules, and off we went.

So, keep your eye out on Christmas Day for the alternative messages. Also, feel free to let me know if you’d be interested in taking part next year — if other people think it’s fun, I’m happy to make this an annual event. The Christmas Blogswap…