What's not to love about three grown men searching for Father Christmas?
TV CHEFS GORDON RAMSAY AND GINO D’ACAMPO AND FIRST DATES’ FRED SIRIEIX ARE OFF ON A LADS’ ROAD TRIP TO LAPLAND. JANE HAASE FINDS OUT MORE
WE CAN all agree that 2020 has been a bit bleak. However, Gordon Ramsay, Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix have stayed in touch with each other throughout the year, and are now keen to end it with a bang.
You may recall that Family Fortunes host Gino led his pals to the deserts of Morocco for their misadventure last year. But this time, Gordon is determined that they celebrate the season properly.
For Gordon, Gino and Fred: Desperately Seeking Santa, the Scots superchef has arranged for them to take a trip to the ultimate winter wonderland and home of Santa – Lapland.
Here the trio tells us what’s in store...
2020 has been pretty tough. What can we expect from the Christmas special to cheer us all up?!
Gordon: What a year, who would have known the rollercoaster we were going to ride in 2020!
Christmas is absolutely the time to try and forget the dark moments and focus on festive cheer, which is exactly what we are going to do when we get together and get out to Lapland. What’s not to love about three grown men going in search of Father Christmas!?
Gino: Do you know what, it’s good timing for everybody, even for me personally, it’s a great time to be able to get out and try and forget about everything. Because when you film Gordon, Gino, Fred, you kind of have to put everything behind [you].
That’s the secret of the show for us. You’re going to have a fantastic time.
How are you feeling about getting back on the road?
Gordon: I cannot wait to see Gino and Fred, they are like my crazy Euro Italian and French brothers, hanging out with them is one of the highlights of my year. Fred: I really can’t wait to see the boys. I have GGF tattooed on my heart.
What are you most looking forward to for this trip?
Gordon: This whole trip is going to be epic, I cannot wait to hang out with the guys, road-tripping across the snow is going to be pretty cool and freezing. And after the pretty crazy lows of this past year it will amazing to have some real fun all together.
Fred: The snow and Father Christmas, and also watching the Northern Lights with the boys.
Have you been to Lapland before? Gino: No, never. My daughter, Mia, knows I am going to Lapland, so she wrote a letter to Santa Claus and she asked me to personally deliver it. So I’ve got that job to do.
Which one of you would win if you had a snowmobile race?
Gino: Fred. I tell you why. Because me and Gordon would be so competitive, so what’s going to end up is one of the snowmobiles is going to break down and one is going to go off road and break.
What do you know about the local food and drink in Finland? What are you interested in exploring?
Gordon: I’m interested to know more about the Sami people, the last remaining indigenous people in Europe, seeing how they survive the harsh winters, curing and pickling, and the different ways they use reindeer meat throughout the year. Fascinating!
Have you all stayed in touch during lockdown?
Gordon: Of Course, Gino is always face timing me for cooking tips and help in the kitchen and Fred has been like Mr Google planning our trip sending me endless pictures of Rudolph and Christmas jumpers!
Christmas will obviously be a bit different for us all this year, but how are you hoping to celebrate?
Gordon: Family time. It will be a time for giving thanks that we are all happy and healthy at the end of such a crazy year. Gino: I will be on the island of Sardinia with my family. This year we also have my mother-in-law and father-in-law, Elizabeth and Malcolm, who are going to come with us, Covid permitting.
We are going to have a beautiful roasted piglet, that’s our tradition. Every Christmas. We all sit down as a family, lots of fish, seabass, lots of seafood, all the salami and all the cheese. I can’t wait. Fred: I will be cooking a feast. Sadly, I will not be able to see my parents this year. My Christmas present is watching my children open their presents.
What gifts would you buy the other two for Christmas?
Gordon: One each of my cook books so they y can learn how to cook! ! Gino: Well last year I bought them a ‘GGF’ bracelet. This year, I haven’t decided yet but maybe some nice thermal pants?
Any tips for Christmas Day?
Gordon: For me preparation is key, get what you can done ahead of time, so you don’t spend all your time in the kitchen. And get help, it should be a family/team effort, don’t feel you need to do it all yourself, get everyone involved!
Gino: Wine. Drink a lot of wine. I think that is the best way to start.
Don’t panic. Drink and forget – everything is going to be okay.
Finally, any Christmas message for viewers watching the programme?
Gordon: I hope the programme is as much fun for everyone to watch as it will be for us to film. I want to wish everyone a Happy Christmas at the end of a difficult year, here’s hoping 2021 is a better year.
Gino: I mean, this is the show that’s going to start Christmas. Gordon, Gino, Fred is going to start Christmas. From then onwards, everything is going to be brilliant.
Fred: It’s GGF, the party never ends.
We are going full on!
■ Gordon, Gino and Fred: Desperately Seeking Santa, ITV, Wednesday, December 16, at 9pm and on catch-up services.