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Wales Online
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Megan Nisbet

Holly Willoughby on Christmas tradition and her relatable festive fail as This Morning cast share plans

Holly Willoughby has shared what Christmas looks like at the home she shares with Dan Baldwin and their three children. The This Morning presenter, along with co-stars Philip Schofield, Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary has shared her festive plans.

It comes as the popular ITV1 daytime programme prepares to air for a Christmas Day morning special once again and for the first time, the show will also be on air throughout the Christmas period between December, Wednesday 28 and Friday, December 30.

Speaking about her Christmas traditions and relatable family debates, Holly said: "Yeah, it's sort of that debate around what is the right time to put the tree up and my sister went mid-November so I already felt quite twitchy about putting baubles up.

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"Last year I went too early and it was practically just arms and pine needles on the ground, so I was like 'right, I can't do that again' so I'm going to have to hold off but I have been listening to Christmas music since August!

She added: "I also love going to see something really Christmassy like The Nutcracker, I love going to do that, we tend to do that every year. Plus seeing how many times I can watch Elf in the month of December, which is surprisingly a lot - that's the kids favourite Christmas movie!

"We always go to our local church on Christmas as well, they do a really lovely nativity and all the kids from the area dress up as whatever animal they like."

Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond (ITV)

Speaking about Christmas Day, Holly said: "I have got a houseful this Christmas! My family on my side are all coming on Christmas Day so I’m cooking a full turkey and all the trimmings, I will absolutely be doing Phil Vickey’s recipe.

"Then Boxing Day, I have all of Dan’s side of the family coming over and that’s a lot more chilled so obviously anything that’s left over from Christmas Day but I always do a big fish pie and a big shepherd’s pie and plonk them on the table."

Speaking about his own Christmas traditions, Phillip said: "Traditions wise for me is just having family time, that is always essential. My daughters are both Christmas fiends - and although they are now 26 and 28 - they still put an oat arrow out on the lawn pointing Santa to the house! So that’s a family tradition and I know Molly, who we call Mrs Christmas, wouldn’t want it any other way."

While Alison added: "Aside from loving all the decorations, I love going to the German markets in Birmingham - I treat myself to a sausage, have a look at the gifts, enjoy the smell of the chestnuts roasting… I just love the atmosphere, it makes me feel so Christmassy. It feels like it could be Munich! I always do that every single year so I guess that’s a tradition for me and my son."

And Dermot commented: "I think London comes alive at Christmas too, it has that lovely Victorian Dickensian feel, and the last few years I’ve been to see things like The Christmas Carol at The Old Vic. Some years you just don’t get the chance but I love to do that when I can.

"My sister lives in York and that’s a lovely place to be at Christmas too, and we’ve had Christmases in Ireland with mum and dad and we’d always go for long walks along the coast and if we’re brave enough go for a cold dip in the sea!"

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 & ITVX. This Morning will air on Christmas Day from 10am on ITV1 & ITVX. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.

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