‘Our teenagers still hound us first thing’

NINA WADIA Actor Nina Wadia on trying to smuggle Christmas crackers into Canada, and how she ended up with a miracle turkey.

Christmas at home or away?

Away. We go to Montreal, where my husband is from. It’s stunning there, but it’s freezing, too! There’s usually about 28 of us at my in-laws’ table.

Party dress or pyjamas? Every year my niece chooses a different theme. One year it was onesies; this year, who knows?!

What are your morning rituals? Being hounded by our teenage kids [Tia, 17, and Aidan, 14], who we have to drag out of bed at midday every day of the year apart from Christmas Day, when they wake us up ridiculously early! What are your festive essentials?

Christmas crackers, which they don’t have in Canada. I once put a box in my suitcase, but they were confiscated at security because of the explosive stick – duh! What’s your favourite tradition?

I do love mistletoe. Mostly to irritate my husband, but also my son, who I’ll chase around with it. He’s like, ‘Mum, I’m a teenager – go away!’

Worst festive disaster? Last year was almost a disaster. We weren’t sure we’d get to Montreal because of Covid, so I ended up in Waitrose on 23 December asking if they had any turkeys left. They looked at me as if I was mad, but just as I was leaving, they said they’d found one that someone hadn’t collected. They gave it to me for £7: a Christmas miracle!

Best-ever gift? Years ago, I’d had a tough time because I’d lost my dad. My daughter, who was about five, and my son, who was about two, got two cardboard boxes and wrote ‘dressing room’ on one and ‘spa’ on the other. They were treating me to a spa day and massage. It was so thoughtful.

Your Strictly wish? To have stayed in longer!