‘I I go all out at this time of year’
Former Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh loves a traditional Christmas surrounded by her husband, their two boys and her best friend, Cheryl
They’ve been best friends since 2002, when Girls Aloud was formed – and their friendship is stronger than ever, as Kimberley Walsh recently told Closer that Cheryl and her two-year-old son Bear will be marking the festive season with her family, saying, “She’ll come over to mine and just chill.”
Kimberley, 38, has been with her husband Justin Scott for more than 15 years, and relishes family time, sharing all of her favourite festive traditions with their two sons, Bobby, five, and Cole, three.
Last Christmas, Kimberley, Justin and the boys opened their presents in matching polar bear pyjamas, and this year will be no different. She says, “We always decorate the tree together, because that’s a nice thing to do as a family. I always put Christmas music on and get into it as much as possible. I love Christmas, so we go all out! We decorate the house like a grotto.
It’s just about family and kids.”
CHAOTIC
Kimberley shares occasional glimpses of her family home on social media, and their Surrey abode features a large dining room and a huge table for entertaining guests. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Girls Aloud star is preparing for a chaotic Christmas Day of entertaining.
She says, “I have young kids, so we do presents first, because they’re not going to wait for anybody! Then we have some sort of nice breakfast, and then people get ready. People will be cooking, and the kids will be playing with their toys. We then have lunch at 2pm and, after lunch, we get started with the games and the drinks.”
This family Christmas is a stark contrast to the years before the couple’s boys came along. In 2014, Kimberley admitted she and Justin had never spent a Christmas together, because he always went to visit his daughter Chloe, now 21, from a previous relationship. At the time, Kimberley said, “This will actually be the first Christmas Day Justin and I have spent together in 11 years. He’s always travelled to Bristol to see Chloe. This year’s different as Bobby’s here, so we want to be together as a family.”
FAMILY MEMORIES
As one of four siblings (Kimberley has two sisters and a brother), she’s used to large family gatherings – and sharing the spotlight. Her younger sister, Amy, is best known for playing Tracy Metcalfe on Emmerdale, while their elder sister,
Sally, also starred in the soap from 1997 to 2000. And Kimberley has caught the acting bug as well, starring in Big: The Musical on the West End stage, with another musical romance, Sleepless, in the pipeline for next year.
Family has always been a key component of Christmas for Kimberley. “I have nice memories of when my grandma and grandpa were around,” she says. “Those are the most memorable Christmases to me.”
And when it comes to getting into the
‘Cheryl will come over and just chill’
yuletide spirit, Kimberley still loves the movie classics that remind her of being a kid. “I used to watch Santa Claus: The Movie every Christmas growing up. That always makes me feel really Christmassy.”
Although Kimberley is a big fan of this time of year, she’s more concerned about treating her kids than drawing up her own present wish lists.
She reveals, “I really don’t care about presents at all at my age. People ask me and I’m like, ‘I don’t think it’s relevant.’ For me, it’s all about the kids. I’m not bothered at all. I haven’t asked for anything. I do like buying for other people, though.”
LONELY
In the season of goodwill, Kimberley is keen that people come together and help out those in need. She says, “I think it’s important at any time of the year, but it’s nice at Christmas to bring people together who might be a bit more lonely.
“It’s nice to try to get that community spirit back. We might have lost that a little bit over the years. Anything you can do to create that, it just makes people happy.”
By Rebecca Calderwood
● Kimberley is supporting #CelebrateNational Lottery25, which is giving away £2m to help bring people an communities together. Visit Celebratenationallottery25.com
She’s endured a famously rocky relationship with
James “Arg” Argent – who was hospitalised earlier this month following a suspected second drug overdose – but Gemma Collins describes him as “the love of her life”, and reveals the pair will be spending this Christmas together.
And Gemma, 38, has high hopes that before New Year, she’ll have a ring on her finger. She’s even hinted she’d be willing to dump Arg, 31, if he doesn’t get down on one knee, saying recently, “I can’t wait much longer. It’s either soon, or I’m out of here.” And she’s clear about the kind of ring she wants, telling Closer, “I was hoping for a pink diamond last year, but I think I’ve changed my mind to a big yellow one.”
UPS AND DOWNS
While Gemma has made no secret of her wish for a big white wedding, she wants to make sure Arg – who’s had a tough few months, after Gemma was forced to call the emergency services in October when he failed to return any messages – gets his dream gift too.
“I am a huge giver – I treat everyone at Christmas,” she says. “I like to see people happy. I am only too pleased to be able to do that for other people. There might come a time when I won’t be able to do it, and then everyone will remember when I did. Then, they will be able to make me a little bit of dinner, do you know what
I mean? You never know how your life is going to go!”
Despite all the ups and downs between the couple, there’s still an incredible amount of love between them.
PASSIONATE
She says, “There is a lot of fire and ice with us – definitely. There is a lot of passion there. I think we’ve always had so much amazing chemistry. That’s what keeps us together, to be honest!”
And, like the true diva she is, Gemma will be pulling out all of the stops for Christmas. She says, “I just love living in a magical, fairy tale world. I zone out sometimes, because the reality of life is tough – I work very hard. So, come Christmas, I love all the sequins and the glitter and a chance for people to be happy! For me, it’s about being with the family. I am lucky – in some ways, every day is like Christmas to me. What I mean is that I have a good family, good friends, and I love my job. I am very lucky and fortunate. And people get the wrong idea about Christmas – it’s not always about yourself. I’m Christmas crazy! I contacted people to do up my home back in September. I live in the country now, and the decorations went up in the last week of November – it’s an extravaganza!
“I went a bit pink and gold with my theme last year. It was the candy canes. I always get my inspiration as the time goes on. This year, it’s fabulous again!”
By Jane Oddy
‘We’ve always had amazing chemistry’