‘I’m like Santa’s little helper!’

ROB BRYDON Comedian and actor Rob Brydon indulges in cocktails and his wife’s chocolate yule log.

Christmas at home or away? At our home in Strawberry Hill, London. We’ve never gone away, although we sometimes go abroad for New Year. Who’s invited? My wife, Clare, and our children. Beyond that, the invites will be to extended family: we’ll see who comes and who gets a better offer! What’s your favourite tradition? Buying our Christmas tree from the same place every year and tying it to the roof of the car to bring it home. Then we’ll decorate it together while watching Elf. Who’s cooking? My wife, who is a fantastic cook. I’m more like Santa’s little helper – tidying away, lighting candles and making everything look nice. What’s your guilty pleasure at Christmas? My wife’s chocolate yule log is spectacular.

Your tipple of choice? A Kir Royale. The Champagne comes out at about 11am and I’ll add crème de cassis to make the cocktail. I’m not a big drinker because it sends me to sleep, so I have to pace myself.

Worst Christmas disaster? I once got the turkey out of the oven and dropped it on the floor. In doing so, some of the juice spilled on the gas oven and it went out. It was a proper crisis!

What’s on your festive TV planner? For the last couple of years, I’ve been starring in something on Christmas Day, so the family tends to want to watch that. The Gavin & Stacey reunion in 2019 was a nice one. My wife and I knew what was coming, but nobody else did, so it was fun to see their reactions.

What’s on your wish list this year? Just normality. Life pre-pandemic, like those heady days of 2012.

 Rob will be in Magic Light Pictures’ new film Superworm, based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, on BBC One this Christmas