James Kavanagh
ENTREPRENEUR AND TV PRESENTER
Christmas for us is always family orientated. We used to go to my parents’ house and have Christmas there, but now that my parents have moved to a side house beside my brother John in Saggart, we all head to his house. Last year was the first year we had Christmas outside of the house that we grew up in, which is different. It’s kind of strange, because you’re so used to your childhood home.
I know it sounds bad, but I never see my family. We are never all under the same roof — especially John, since he’s constantly travelling with work — so Christmas is the guaranteed time of year that we will all catch up.
My parents are very protective over the cooking. Dad likes carving the turkey and ham, and Mum does the roast potatoes, so I just like sitting back and eating, to be honest. I might make a dessert, because I despise Christmas desserts. They all tend to be full of raisins, which I call the devil’s droppings. I can’t stand them. So I’ll make something like a flourless chocolate cake.
I know I’m 30 now, but I still feel 19, and it’s so specific that I feel exactly 19. I’m still as naive and irresponsible as I was back then, and feel that I don’t really have ‘it’ together. I don’t ever feel that I’m in a solid position.
Because I work for myself, I never know what the next project is. I recently filmed a pilot for a travel show with Anne Doyle. I had the opportunity to go to Dusseldorf with her and get tipsy at 11am. We met a few years ago, co-hosted a wine event together, and I invited her to my 30th birthday party in July. She came and read the news, but read it about my life. That was definitely a big moment in the year for me.