Stars’ festive memories

We asked some of our favourite celebrities to share their most cherished childhood Christmas moments…

Bernard Cribbins

I was back in Oldham in Smith Street where I grew up and I don’t know how old I was but I was given a little red pedal car for Christmas. It must have been a huge effort for my parents to buy this as we were very working class and not wealthy. But I got in this car on Christmas Day and, whoopee, I was off. I didn’t know what on earth I was doing and in no time at all I crashed it off the kerb, got out crying, kicked it and didn’t go near it again for a week. I just remember being so very cross with this silly car and giving it a really

good old kicking!

Nick Hewer

One Christmas, I told my younger brother Fergus that there was no such thing as Father Christmas. My father was so furious with me; I would have been about nine and my brother six so he was horrified and upset. My father was so cross I had spoiled it for him and I very much got a telling off.

Dame Julie Walters

On Christmas Eve my brothers would call me to the bedroom window claiming Father Christmas was crossing the night sky on his sleigh – and each time I missed him. One particular Christmas I was given a fabulous scooter. I knew I was getting it as I’d seen it, wrapped in brown paper, in my parents’ wardrobe when they were out. I didn’t usually snoop around looking for presents but I must have done on this occasion!

Susan Calman

Even as a child, Christmas wasn’t really about the presents for me. It was more the lovely, special feeling you got about all the family being together. The best childhood Christmases to me were the ones when both of my grandmothers would be there for the entire day.