O come, all ye Faithful

Claudia Winkleman bans her family from watching her on TV at Christmas – but there will be singing, bridge and burnt gingerbread

You’re on our screens this Christmas with Strictly and The Piano, and then The Traitors in the new year. Will your family be gathering round to watch your shows? Absolutely not. They aren’t allowed to watch anything I do. This year we filmed Traitors when the little ones weren’t at school, so they came to visit me. “Why are we in a castle, Mum?” They’ve never seen it. Much better.

What do you enjoy watching at Christmas?

We love Home Alone and I used to always watch ET at this time of year, so we’ll do that, too. We start listening to Christmas music with real gumption from 1 December and I put brandy butter on my toast every single morning. We love this time of year and still have the same decorations that I and my husband had as kids. They’re very moth-eaten and worn out, but who doesn’t like half a crocheted mouse hanging off a tree branch?

Was Christmas a big celebration in the Winkleman household when you were growing up?

We loved Christmas. I’ve kept some of the same traditions, but have skipped one that I used to love. My mum would make a massive pot of chilli con carne – I’ve literally only just remembered this – on Christmas Eve, so if anyone was peckish in the week after Christmas (we inhaled the turkey), there was always something on the stove that could be heated up and covered in cheddar. Maybe I’ll do that this year. I also make gingerbread every year and it’s always, without fail, slightly burnt and slightly raw. It’s like I’ve broken science.

Where and how will you be spending Christmas this year?

Christmas Eve with family and Christmas Day with even more family. My brother and I are gravy obsessives and he’s a brilliant cook, so I ask him to make an extra batch and by 5pm we’re just drinking it like lemonade. Repulsive, but true. It’s also my mum’s birthday on Christmas Day, so after mince pies there’s cake and singing. We generally don’t move on Boxing Day.

Do you cook the turkey with all the trimmings?

Nobody wants that. I’d manage to ruin it. My brother makes it beautifully. I’m in charge of booze and cheese, so fewer things to mess up.

The Traitors is now a play-at-home board game. Will you don your velvet hood and have a go with your family? Or stick to charades?

We play bridge. My husband and I are obsessed and when I get fired from TV, I hope we can go on the bridge circuit. I’m being perfectly serious.

How will you be bringing in the new year?

The usual. With great friends and asleep by 12.04am.

What are your plans and hopes for 2024?

Health and happiness for my family and friends.

And finally, are you a Traitor or a Faithful?

That would be telling…

‘Am I a Traitor? That would be telling…’