Steve
Typical Christmas Day routine?
Hosting the breakfast show means I get up at 3.30am during the week. Nothing different for Christmas Day either! Except this time it’s being awake from excitement. No matter how old you are, it never wears off. Before opening my presents I’m in the kitchen beginning to prepare the dinner ahead. Presents get opened mid-morning, then family arrive for food which always gets served at 1.30pm. Normally by 6pm everyone has left and the rest of the night is spent slumped on the sofa.
Any Christmas traditions?
Wherever I go on holiday I go out of my way to find baubles for the tree. One of my favourites is a cable car bauble from San Francisco. I also have a sausage shaped one from Munich.
Favourite Christmas TV viewing?
It’s all about the festive music channels for me. I avoid Eastenders at all cost – it spoils the mood!
Favourite Christmas song?
There is only one for me and that’s The Pogues ‘Fairytale of New York’
Most memorable Christmas present?
My dad hand made the most amazing train set when I was about 10 years old. He built mountains, tunnels, little houses, trees, all sorts. He must’ve spent weeks putting it all together.
Your perfect Christmas dinner?
It’s my favourite meal of the year and I love spending time making it. Roast parsnips are a MUST along with the roast potatoes – goose fat makes them taste so much better. You have to have a turkey, slow cooked. Definitely NO Yorkshire puddings.
The best thing about the festive season?
The food and spending time with family. Oh, and there’s always loads of football to watch too!
Karen
Typical Christmas Day routine?
Even though we don’t have kids and it’s just me and my husband at home I’m still like a kid at Christmas so get up really early to see if Santa has been! Stockings in bed first followed by a Bucks Fizz breakfast and dinner prep in our pyjamas (if we’re hosting). Then no opening presents until we’re dressed. We then usually pop into our friend’s to wish them a Merry Christmas before back home to finish the dinner. We always say we’ll eat around two but realistically we never sit down before 3pm! Lazy dinner then cheese board and board games on the evening.
Any Christmas traditions?
I always leave a carrot for Rudolph and a wee dram for Santa. And of course the aforementioned stockings. We also always set aside the Sunday two weeks before Christmas for mulled wine while we decorate the tree. And is HAS to be a real tree!
Favourite Christmas TV viewing?
We don’t really watch much TV at Christmas but normally record all the comedy specials to watch on cosy nights between Christmas and New Year.
Favourite Christmas song?
All of them! I really love everything about Christmas, especially the songs but there’s a special place in my heart for both The Pogues – ‘Fairytale of New York’ and Jona Lewie – ‘Stop the Cavalry’.
Most memorable Christmas present?
When I was younger and still lived at home I loved the film Four Weddings and a Funeral. It wasn’t out to own by Christmas but my brilliant mam persuaded the lad in the local video shop to sell her the rental copy! As we popped it in the VHS we realised it wasn’t exactly family viewing when the first few lines were very sweary. I will never forget that.
Your perfect Christmas dinner?
We always do turkey and ham, there’s something really festive about a glazed ham with cloves. There has to be mashed potato and Yorkshire puddings yet the whole family argue about this every year. I’m not fussed on sprouts but we try to do something creative with them every year like walnuts and pancetta, but they still end up in the bin. I don’t really like puddings but proper Christmas pud is a must, although we rarely have room on the day and often end up eating it on Boxing Day.
The best thing about the festive season?
The smell of a real Christmas tree, you just cant beat it.
[the_ad id=”3407″]
