It’s a very different Christmas this year

Dan Gordon, actor and producer

“I don’t mind admitting Christmas this year will be very different.

“Normally there’d be up to 20 folk through the house on Christmas Day. Christmas dinner is always a dazzling display of emergency chairs that stops just short of garden furniture and picnic cutlery. However our household like most has spent this year weathering Storm Covid and we’re very conscious it’s still raining.

“We’ve all been extra careful and ‘touch wood’ – we’ll soon get the vaccine and continue to avoid the virus.

“Work has been from home, shappin’ has been local, present buying online and we still haven’t ventured out for a tree… yet.

“We have two neighbours in their 80s – they both live alone and will count as our ‘two additional households’ – so that’s our guest-list complete.

“Christmas this year will be very small, low-key, quiet and safe. Next year though – our luck is bound to change in which case – when I win the lottery next Christmas I’m buying a circus, an orchestra and a tanker full of Bushmills Whiskey. Then I’m hiring Van Morrison for the month of December and everybody’s invited to ours!”

Denise Watson, sports presenter

“Christmas has always been a time to see family in the Scott and Watson households.

“We haven’t properly seen my parents or in-laws for dinner or a catch-up in months. We stay in touch by phone and sometimes they call by in the car and we keep our distance, especially as the girls are still at school and we don’t want to pass any germs or viruses onto them.

“We hope to have my in-laws Eileen and Evan to our house for dinner on Christmas Day. My husband David cooks turkey dinner and my daughters Samantha and Beth make pavlova. On Christmas night we will visit my sister and her two boys - they are in our bubble and live down the road - then my parents will come on Boxing Day. We do roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.

“It hasn’t been difficult who to bubble with as our families are quite small and we don’t venture out much. I learnt how to cook during lockdown and I’m enjoying trying new recipes.

“I’m taking a couple of weeks off the U105 Breakfast show from Dec 23 to Jan 5. It’s a busy week as my eldest Samantha turns 16 on December 30, so we always have a celebration to mark her birthday too. Usually we went to see the Giants play and have dinner in Belfast. This year she will stay here though. Bless her! It’s been tough. I’m really looking forward to Christmas as it’s been an awful year and we need something gleeful in our lives. I’m so lucky being able to still do my radio show (even though it’s now nine months working remotely in my house!). I lost all my event hosting work but fingers crossed it comes back in 2021. I adore hosting sports awards all over NI.

“I’m looking for some good recommendations on Netflix. We love having some wine and chilling in the house with the kids and our one-year-old German pointer Eddie. That’s a perfect Christmas.”

Brian Kennedy, singer

“Well, my biggest plans are to stage a big Christmassy special show on my Facebook Live page tomorrow, it’s a ticketed event so it will feel even more like a proper gig in many ways.

“This has been the most challenging of times for lots reasons. Suddenly my diary disappeared and as much as I was able to be creative and release a single with Boy George, ironically titled ‘Things are gonna change around here’, and boy did they change.

“In the week building up to the big day there’s often little charity appearances to film, because now, of course, we’re restricted.

“Last year I was in Gortahork in Donegal with my old friends, the Learmont family, and that was extraordinary - even the goose wandered into the kitchen to eat with us at various stages.

“This year is a little different, so instead of travelling I’m staying in Dublin and gathering with close friends at one of our favourite Dublin hotels and we’ll spend the day slowly catching up with a few delicious pre-lunch drinks and go into the main event around 5pm. We’ve done it before over the years and it always feels like such a treat to be able to do it.

“Normally I get right back into Gigs in Derry around the 27th but Covid has put the kibosh on that so I’ll be freer to go for walks and then light the fire and take it easy.

“The two things I’m most looking forward to for 2021 is a return to the stage and for the first time ever, my tax bill!”

*Brian Kennedy will be playing an intimate, socially distanced gig at The Ballygally Hotel, Larne on Feb 20, 2021.

Vinny Hurrell, BROADCASTER

“I’m a bit of a Christmas fanatic and always have been. I blame my mum for that - she always made it special (and still does).

“Due to work and family chaos, the decorations in our house went up a fortnight late this year, on December 1.

“Like so many - 2020 has been difficult for our family on a range of levels, so we are determined to make this Christmas a good one.

“This Christmas Eve I’ll be in my own house with my family, then we’ll head to my mum’s for a big traditional family dinner. Extra sprouts. My dad rears his own turkeys.

“For me it’s not Christmas Eve without some bourbon and cola, cold turkey and mustard sandwiches and some festive TV.

“The Snowman, Christmas Vacation and Only Fools and Horses. One TV rule, no Nolan. 2020’s been hard enough lol!!

“Being together this Christmas will be extra special after a year where we spent so much time apart.”

*The BBC Radio Ulster Christmas Quiz, BBC Radio Ulster, Christmas Eve, 4pm

Pamela Ballantine, TV presenter

“Christmas this year is definitely a lot more low key. Normally by now I would have been flat out at various parties and charity events or even just meeting friends for drinks but these of course are not happening.

“We are a small family so I will be at my sister’s on Christmas Day for dinner. Boxing Day is usually a big day for me working at Down Royal Racecourse followed by a party with friends but race-goers are still not allowed at the races so I won’t be there and obviously the party won’t be happening either.

“However even though it will be a different Christmas I do hope it will be a happy one.”

Paula McIntyre, chef

“Normally if I’m in NI for Christmas the house is like Piccadilly Circus with people popping in for a glass of fizz or dinner.

“This year is going to be very different - I’ll spend Christmas Day with my parents after a morning dip in the sea.

“I think we all now really appreciate the value of being able to spend time with loved ones.”