David and Libby Koch

Tradition is important in the Koch household, and every Christmas is steeped in history and ritual. “We’re a very close, very loud family,” David “Kochie” Koch says.

Every year, December 25 means pantomimes, costumes and attending church together. The Sunrise co-host says he and his wife Libby – pictured with grandsons Jaxon, five, and Teddy, 16 months – make it a priority to ensure the special day is a time for reflection, celebration and family.

“Dad would dress up as Santa when the kids were smaller, and then when they grew up and knew it was him he would dress in a Christmas theme,”

David says. “It was everything from a reindeer, to a Christmas pudding, to the archangel Gabriel. When he died, I took it over. Our Christmas is full of tradition.”

It starts on Christmas Eve with a reading of the classic tale The Night

Before Christmas. Come Christmas morning, the whole troupe heads off to church. Christmas lunch is followed by performances by the children, and the exchanging of gifts.

David, 61, who marks 15 years as co-host of Sunrise this year, has a tradition of giving matching themed pyjamas to every family member each year.

“In the past we’ve had cows and superheroes, and circus performers and dogs,” he says. It’s a tradition cherished by the big and little kids.