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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Rich Pelley

‘Fairytale of New York is so boring’: Liam Gallagher, Joe Lycett and more share their Christmas honest playlists

Honest Playlist Composite: Guardian

Liam Gallagher

Britpop icon

Liam Gallagher

The song that best sums up my 2022
Too Good for Giving Up by yours truly.

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade and Fairytale of New York by the Pogues.

The Christmas song I can’t stand
There’s none I can’t stand, I’m all for it.

The best bit of a Christmas dinner
The sprouts, stuffing and obviously the bird.

Favourite Quality Street
The purple ones.

The best Christmas present I’ve ever received
Me mam scrimped and saved for a sky blue Raleigh Chopper when I was about eight. That’s not been beaten yet.

The Christmas carol I know all the words to
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

My new year resolution(s)
There’s no such thing as resolutions, only solutions.
Liam Gallagher: Knebworth 22 is available to stream now on Paramount+.

Charlene White

Journalist and I’m a Celebrity … contestant

Charlene White

The song that best sums up my 2022
Break My Soul by Beyoncé is about breaking out of your comfort zone and trying new things – which was behind my decision to go into the I’m a Celeb jungle this year.

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
Anything Bublé-related gets played on repeat when I’m cooking for Christmas.

The Christmas song that reminds me of being a child
Pure Lovers Rock by Barrington Levy reminds me of my parents and their friends at house parties, dancing away downstairs while all the kids hung out upstairs.

The Christmas song I can’t stand
Do They Know It’s Christmas? by Band Aid.

My favourite Christmas film
My girlfriends and I all went to see Love Actually. It still has me shedding a tear, 19 years later.

My favourite Christmas tradition
Growing up, we would go to church every Christmas morning after breakfast. It was a short service, but so full of love.

The worst Christmas present I’ve ever received
I really wanted a pair of Doc Martens because all my cool friends had them. My parents got me a cheap version with the wrong colour stitching, which kids would point out every time I wore them.

My new year resolution(s)
To stop going to bed after midnight because I want to watch “one more episode” of whatever nonsense I’m bingeing.

Joe Lycett

Crusading comedian and Beckham-botherer

Joe Lycett

The song that best sums up my 2022
Fuck the Pain Away by Peaches.

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
Fuck the Pain Away by Peaches.

The Christmas song I can’t stand
This is sacrilege as a part-woofter, but I’m totally over All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey. It was included on a Spotify playlist called Songs That Make Gay People Scream that I used for the pre-show music for my latest tour, so I’ve heard it to death all year.

My favourite Christmas film
I have a real soft spot for It’s a Wonderful Life and can do an objectively excellent impression of Jimmy Stewart.

My favourite Christmas tradition
My non-religious godson – I’m referred to as his “odd father” – comes to stay every December and we decorate the tree together. It feels peak Christmas.

The best bit of a Christmas dinner
Everyone knows it’s pigs in blankets.

Favourite Quality Street
The green one. Anything with a nougat filling is a friend of mine.

My new year resolution(s)
To listen less to Fuck the Pain Away by Peaches.

Joe Lycett: More, More, More! How Do You Lycett? How Do You Lycett? is streaming now at watch.joelycett.com

Lauren Hemp

England Euro 2021 winner

Lauren Hemp

The song that best sums up my 2022
Cheesy, but Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond reminds me of my best summer ever. It’s such a feelgood song.

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
I’ve usually got Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson on repeat from the end of November.

The Christmas song that reminds me of being a child
Singing along to Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms while putting up the tree with my family.

The Christmas song I can’t stand
Baby It’s Cold Outside by Idina Menzel & Michael Bublé is just too slow for me.

My favourite Christmas film
I watch Love Actually and Home Alone with a mug of hot chocolate every year without fail.

The best bit of a Christmas dinner
Pigs in blankets, but I also love Yorkshires!

The worst Christmas present I’ve ever received
I guarantee I’ll get socks every year.

My new year resolution(s)
I would like to get into the habit of keeping a diary. I say this every year but normally stop before the start of February.

Sam Ryder

The UK’s Eurovision runner-up

Sam Ryder

The song that best sums up my 2022
What’s Up? by 4 Non Blondes, because of the lyrics: “I said hey, what’s going on?” My 2022 has been bonkers with plenty of “pinch me” moments.

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
All Alone on Christmas by Darlene Love [from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York] is so catchy. The bombastic saxophone sounds like shopping down Fifth Avenue in the 80s or 90s.

The song that reminds me of being a child
There’s a line in Christmas Star/Preparing the Trap by John Williams that’s really sweet: “Star light, shine bright, see me through the dark night.” It’s so lullaby-ish, peaceful and magical. That’s from Home Alone 2, too.

My favourite Christmas film
Home Alone, obviously. Uncle Frank is the best character ever. He’s such a tight bugger, like an American Jim Royle from The Royle Family.

Favourite Quality Street?
It used to be the caramels, but now I’m vegan. Most vegan chocolate is naff, but Tony’s Chocolonely is wicked.

The best bit of a Christmas dinner
Roast tatties and stuffing, absolutely rinsed with gravy and salt.

The worst Christmas present I’ve ever received
I order all my online shopping to my mum’s, which she’ll wrap, so on Christmas Day I’ll open something like a guitar cable I paid for myself. And she puts my parking tickets in my Christmas card.

My new year resolution(s)
Get fewer parking tickets!

Sam’s debut album There’s Nothing But Space, Man! is out now.

Sir David Jason

Three-wheeling national treasure

Sir David Jason

The song that best sums up my 2022
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor, following a bad case of Covid in the summer.

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea reminds me of hectic Christmas schedules and getting home just in time to enjoy the holiday.

The Christmas song I can’t stand
Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade has become too popular for its own good.

My favourite Christmas film
The 1951 version of Scrooge. I vividly remember heading up the street, twice a week, sometimes even three, to “the pictures” with my mum, and being completely spellbound by Alastair Sim’s performance.

My favourite Christmas tradition
Watching a DVD of Laurel and Hardy.

Favourite Quality Street
Strawberry delight.

The best Christmas present I’ve ever given or received
I like practical gifts, so my Champ Swiss army knife was probably my best, gifted by my wife, Gill. She tells me that the full-sized piano keyboard I gifted her can never be beaten.

My new year resolution(s)
To try to get a part in a movie – what a year that would be!

David Jason’s new memoir The Twelve Dels of Christmas is out now.

Rina Sawayama

Genre-shmooshing pop phenom

Rina Sawayama

The song that best sums up my 2022
Man I Feel Like a Woman by Shania Twain. I got to speak to her for Rolling Stone and it was a dream. That song is played after my set finishes on tour and everyone stays to dance and sing along and it’s super cute.

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
Loneliest Time of the Year by Mabel – its such a good Christmas song!

The Christmas song I can’t stand
I can’t remember the name of it but there’s one that’s quite shouty and a bit annoying.

My favourite Christmas film
I don’t think there’s a Ghibli Christmas film – I might be wrong! – but I love watching them at Christmas as it reminds me of childhood and properly relaxing. I just rewatched Kiki’s Delivery Service.

My favourite Christmas tradition
Turn my phone off and watch loads of films and series I need to catch up on.

The best bit of a Christmas dinner
Pigs in blankets, which is quite a weird thing when you think about it. But they are so good.

The best Christmas present I’ve ever received
Some Christmas-scented Zoflora. If they want to sponsor me that would be great.

My new year resolution(s)
Some time off. I need to remember to schedule in more breaks.

Hold the Girl is out now.

Mini Bounty bar

Celebrations tub outcast

Mini Bounty bar

The song that best sums up my 2022
All By Myself by Eric Carmen. I seem to stir up such controversy just by existing; now I’ve left the tub, I’m living alone, thinking of all the friends I’ve let down.

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey is so iconic and upbeat. I like to think someone will be singing it about me.

The Christmas song that reminds me of being a child
Dancing With Myself by Billy Idol.

My favourite Christmas film
Die Hard.

My favourite Christmas tradition
Definitely not roasting anything by an open fire … I don’t do well in the heat.

The best bit of a Christmas dinner
A brussels sprout. Some don’t understand why, but I think they’re delicious.

The Christmas carol I know all the words to
A cover of In the Bleak Midwinter became quite popular last year when it was used in an advert I starred in. It speaks to me in ways I didn’t know were possible.

My new year resolution(s)
To try to get on better with Milky Way. Some say he hasn’t got much substance. I’d like to move past our differences.

#BringBackBounty

Suzi Ruffell

Pompey standup

Suzi Ruffell

The song that best sums up my 2022
Crocodile Rock by Elton John.

The Christmas song that reminds me of being a child
8 Days of Christmas by Destiny’s Child is still an absolute banger.

The Christmas song I can’t stand
I can stand all of them. I’m totally gay for Christmas.

My favourite Christmas film
I always look forward to crying to It’s a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve. “Attaboy Clarence.”

My favourite Christmas tradition
Giving new pyjamas on Christmas Eve so we all go to bed wearing the same ones.

The worst Christmas present I’ve ever received
When I was eight, I was given a headband with my name on it. Sadly my name was spelled incorrectly.

The Christmas carol I know all the words to
O Holy Night, but only because Queen of Crimbo Mariah Carey did a version on her Christmas album.

My new year resolution(s)
Be on my phone less – oh wait, I’m on my phone right now.

Suzi Ruffell tours her new show, Snappy, from March.

Adam Peaty

Brit breastroke champ

Adam Peaty

The song that best sums up my 2022
Fred Again..’s new album reminds me of all the hard work I’ve put in.

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
The tinsel comes out as soon as I hear Last Christmas by Wham!.

The Christmas song that reminds me of being a child
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday by Wizzard. The video is really fun and iconic.

My favourite Christmas film
I remember renting Home Alone on VHS from Blockbuster. I used to get called Macaulay Culkin because I looked like him when I was younger.

My favourite Christmas tradition
Spending quality time with my family.

The best bit of a Christmas dinner
I like the sludge when everything has been on the plate for a while when the caramelised onion, Yorkshire pudding, potatoes and gravy have all dripped into one.

Favourite Quality Street
The pink fudge one!

The best Christmas present I’ve ever received
A picture of a Spitfire given to me by my nan.

Adam Peaty drives the CUPRA Born, the brand’s first fully-electric performance-driven hatch. See cupraofficial.co.uk

Christopher Biggins

Panto ledge

Christopher Biggins

The song that best sums up my 2022
I’m Still Here by Stephen Sondheim from his musical Foliies: “Good times and bum times, I’ve seen them all / And, my dear, I’m still here.”

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) by Spike Jones and his City Slickers.

The Christmas song that reminds me of being a child
Away in a Manger, because we had to sing it in the choir at school.

The Christmas song I can’t stand
Fairytale of New York by the Pogues is just so boring. I never understand why everybody loves it.

My favourite Christmas film
White Christmas is so camp, it’s not true. I love that they’re putting on a show and it’s all to do with showbiz. The 40s and the 50s made those wonderful films superbly.

My favourite Christmas tradition
I’ve been doing panto now for 46 years, and only missed one when I was on I’m a Celebrity… This year I’m in Darlington where I started my career, as Mrs Smee in Peter Pan.

The best bit of a Christmas dinner
Turkey! I’m breast man, not a leg man.

My new year resolution(s)
There are so many things wrong in this world. I can’t believe that in 2022, countries in Europe are at war. I would love Putin to give out turkeys rather than bombs.

Biggins is an ambassador for The Lewy Body Society, helping raise awareness of Lewy body dementia. See lewybody.org

Ellie Rowsell

Wolf Alice frontwoman

Ellie Rowsell

The song that best sums up my 2022
I’ll always think of 2022 when I hear Blue Weekend by Paul Denver, because we used it as the intro music for our shows this year.

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
The first time you hear All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey, it’s like you’re in your very own Christmas movie, full of nostalgia and excitement.

The Christmas song I can’t stand
All I Want For Christmas can make you want to tear your hair out when you’re no longer in the Christmas mood.

My favourite Christmas film
I was given Chicago on DVD, which may be about murder but also has lots of sparkles, drama and singing, so I think it can pass as a Christmas film.

My favourite Christmas tradition
Terry’s Chocolate Orange.

The best bit of a Christmas dinner
Terry’s Chocolate Orange.

The best Christmas present I’ve ever received
Terry’s Chocolate Orange may seem underwhelming if it’s from someone you love, but when you put those little slices of heaven in your mouth, you wonder why you’d ever wanted anything else.

My New Year’s resolution(s)
To use the guitar and piano not just as a tool for songwriting, but to also to play for pleasure.

Wolf Alice’s cover of In The Bleak Midwinter is out now.

Jools Holland

Piano man

Jools Holland

The song that best sums up my 2022
There’s a line in My Fault by the blues artist Brownie McGhee that goes: “I know it’s all my fault. Just one more chance and I’ll correct it all.”

The song that gets me in the Christmas mood
Ain’t It Grand to Be Blooming Well Dead by Leslie Sarony gets me in the Christmas knees-up mood. I also love What Christmas Means to Me by Stevie Wonder.

The Christmas song I can’t stand
I went into my local pharmacy and they were playing Christmas songs. I said: “That’s a bit soon, it’s not even December yet.” He said: “You’re only in here for five minutes. I have to listen to it for eight hours a day.” So, sorry to everyone who works in Boots.

My favourite Christmas film
I used to watch David Lean’s Oliver Twist with my mother as a child in the 1950s. The archetypes are great, like the kindly gent.

My favourite Christmas tradition
Going to the pub and seeing people in their new Christmas jumpers.

The best or worst Christmas present you’ve given
I’ve given a lot of shit presents to people, let’s face it.

The Christmas carol I know all the words to
Everybody starts off … “Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen.” And it soon peters out because no one knows the rest of the words.

My New Year’s resolutions
I’m not really a resolutions person, even though I always ask people on the Hootenanny. I make them but five minutes later they’re completely forgotten.

Jools’ Annual Hootenanny is on BBC Two on 31 December at 11.30pm

Brett Gelman

Murray from Stranger Things

Brett Gelman

The song that best sums up my 2022
Love by Ari Dayan kept me focusing and thinking: “No matter what’s happening, let’s keep the brightness up and the love out there.”

The song that gets me in the Hanukkah mood
I’m a Jew, but I am also an American, so I do know that Jews wrote all the Christmas songs. Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel and Frosty the Snowman both bring out the simple pleasure of the holidays – building a snowman or spinning a dreidel.

The Hanukkah song I can’t stand
I don’t know too many Hanukkah songs, but if I listen to too many Christmas songs, I just start thinking about death. The Twelve Day of Christmas is like walking the plank: it keeps promising a gift, but the gift isn’t that good.

My favourite Hanukkah film
I do love a great Christmas movie, so it’s a toss up between Scrooged, Die Hard and It’s a Wonderful Life.

Best Hanukkah chocolate
The Hanukkah gelt – chocolate wrapped in gold coins in a yellow net.

The best bit of a Hanukah dinner
The latkes. I like a little bit of apple sauce, but mostly I’m a sour cream guy.

The best Hanukkah present I’ve ever received
The Nintendo Power Glove was like the lost ark, so I was so excited to get it. But it was far too complicated and not really as good as the regular controller, so I only used it about three times.

My New Year resolution(s).
To do everything better than I did this year, in all aspects of my life.

Stranger Things is on Netflix

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