Christmas with the stars
Eight well-known Irish faces tell us about their festive plans
✱Pat Shortt Actor, comedian and host of ‘Music from D’Telly’ What are you most looking forward to this Christmas? “This is the first year that one of our children is away at college, so it will be extra special to have everyone home together under the one roof.” What’s your fondest Christmas memory? “About 20 years ago, there was a power cut in the village I live in which lasted for a few days. The whole village spent Christmas by candlelight. We barely got Christmas dinner cooked with one gas oven! But, it was magical walking to neighbours’ houses and the local pub when everywhere was only lit by candles.” What is your favourite Christmas song? “The ‘Jumbo Breakfast Roll’ Christmas Edition. I wake the family up to it every Christmas morning!” Pat is on tour for his show How’s Tings, which is on nationwide, and in Vicar Street on Friday 6th and Saturday 6th January 2018. See patshortt.com for full tour listings
✱Rosanna Davison Author of ‘Eat Yourself Fit’ and ‘Eat Yourself Beautiful’ What’s your favourite Christmas memory? “One of my earliest Christmas memories remains one of my favourites to this day. I was three or four years old and woke up on Christmas morning to find a huge Fisher Price kitchen from Santa in my bedroom. It was incredible. It had an oven, microwave, sink and various cookery utensils, pots and pans. I think it helped to kick off my passion for food.” How do you keep healthy and active over Christmas? “I enjoy indulging on Christmas Day but try to be sensible with alcohol and snacks during the lead-up to Christmas, as there are plenty of temptations on offer at festive parties and gatherings. I keep up my fitness regime and I enjoy walking after Christmas dinner.”
✱Dustin the Turkey Singer, megastar, politician, ladies’ man and writer of new book ‘Wikibeaks’ What’s on your Christmas wish list? “The Seoige sisters.” Do you hide away during Christmas dinner? “Of course! I tried dining with the Happy Pears twins, who are vegans, before. But, after ten minutes of listening to them I just turned theovenupto 180°C and jumped in, a lot less suffering!” Catch Dustin in Polly and The Beanstalk at The Olympia Theatre from Friday 15th December until Sunday 14th January
✱Lucy Kennedy Presenter of TV3’s ‘Ireland’s Got Talent’ What is your fondest Christmas memory? “Now that I have children, every year is my favourite, but last year was particularly special because I came home from the Coombe with our little baby Jess. She was a gift to my children, Jack and Holly, and we were all so excited.” What do you like most about Christmas? “My favourite part of Christmas is actually the build up to Christmas Day. Picking the tree, decorating it, and watching my son Jack sitting on my husband Richard’s shoulders trying to place the star! I love buying and wrapping presents, then there’s the anticipation of Santa and being with family and friends, I love it all.”
✱Stefanie Preissner Writer and creator of RTE’s ‘Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope’ and author of ‘Why can’t everything just stay the same?’ What are you most looking forward to this Christmas? “Sitting in nana’s warm living room, watching mam potter around the kitchen, watching ‘Muppet Christmas Carol’ on TV, a warm drink in hand and putting the feet up. No doorbells, phones or otherwise. Although, CCWC season 2 is filming now and there are often lastminute re-writes that need to happen quickly, so I’ll be keeping a close eye on my emails over the holidays.” What’s on your wish list? “My mam says I am notoriously difficult to buy for, so she will be reading this to get ideas for a present. So, mam – stick to vouchers please! I’d like a Sprout & Co gift card. I also know what I don’t want... ‘NOW! That’s what I call music’. I haven’t had a CD player for about five years and mam still buys the CD every year!”
✱Francis Brennan Hotelier and television personality What do you like about Christmas? “I spend every Christmas and New Year with my brother John and all the team working in Park Hotel Kenmare. I love getting the hotel ready and welcoming guests on Christmas Eve. We use real trees and decorations such as holly and ivy, so the hotel looks magical.” What’s on your wish list this year? “I want for nothing and really appreciate the smallest gesture. My niece and nephew gave me a voucher for Specsavers a few years ago, and it was only then I realised I needed glasses! That was a great gift. John gives me concert tickets and my friends always keep me well stocked with books. Christmas is a good time to give back and that is very important.” Catch Francis in an ‘At Your Service’ Christmas Special (based on CareBright in Bruff) on RTE 1 over the festive season
✱Lisa Cannon Presenter and producer of weekly movie show ‘Box Office’ on TV3 What are you most looking forward to this year? “Spending Christmas with my husband Richard and my dad, and my family. It’s been a busy year so I’m looking forward to some downtime. I’m planning a trip to Bristol for a friend’s 40th birthday just before Christmas and myself, my dad and Richard are also heading to Mount Juliet Estate in Kilkenny. It will be a Christmas present for all of us to each other! I’m also thinking of bringing Richard to Liss Ard in Skibbereen, Co Cork. He already knows about it, so I’m not worried if he reads this!” Whatare your favourite Christmas movies? “I love the classics, such as ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘ET’, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘Scrooge’. I watch ‘Elf ’ every year and I recently interviewed Will Ferrell, who told me his own kids have it on a loop over Christmas!”
✱ Mark Feehily Singer, songwriter and former Westlife star What is your favourite part of Christmas? “The Christmas dinner, of course. And, just when you think you can’t eat any more, out comes the selection box! I love spending Christmas with loved ones. But this year, instead of Frank Sinatra singing Christmas carols, it will be my album on repeat, whether they like it or not. I try to get a Christmas Day walk on Strandhill beach too.” What’s on your Christmas wish list this year? “A number one album!” Mark’s new album ‘Christmas’ is out today