MY PERFECT XMAS

My favourite Christmas involves all the usual things – a tree and decorations, favourite food and drink.

I find a nice champagne cocktail on Christmas morning always gets things off to a good start.

Then, of course, the Christmas lunch – turkey, roast potatoes, stuffing and all the trimmings, followed by mince pies and Christmas pudding with brandy butter. Mmm… this is making me hungry just thinking about it!

My ideal gift would be a vintage bottle of Pétrus, a gorgeous red wine made entirely from Merlot grapes. Delicious.

For me the spirit of Christmas is summed up by how we all seem so much friendlier to each other, which is as it should be – but wouldn’t it be nice if we could keep the same spirit all year long?

Elaine stars in Dick Whittington at the London Palladium til January 14. Go to dick whittington palladium.com for tickets