People Are Sharing How Their In-Laws Are P*ssing Them Off At Christmas, And I’ve Got My Popcorn Ready

Posted on 25/12/2024 by Boris Clair

A 2018 study found that about 10% of Millenials were hoping their in-laws would disinvite them from Christmas dinner at the last moment.

Regardless of which age group you’re in, you may know the feeling ― whether you outright hate your in-laws or just wish for the comfort of your own Crimbo traditions, it’s no secret some struggle to deal with spouses’ parents at Christmas.

If you’re among them, I can at least assure you you’re far from alone.

In a post shared to the Reddit forum r/AskUK, site user u/ohshititsthefuzz asked: “What have the in-laws done to annoy you over the Christmas period?”.

Here are some of the most-upvoted responses:

1) “Bought my toddler a gigantic John Deere ride-on tractor toy which is now taking up my entire lounge.”

2) “My MIL bought me a hair brush set. I have alopecia.”

“And I shave the rest so definitely do not need it. She also bought my male partner I floral bath bomb and a Christmas candle set. She does it on my purpose and it winds me up because my partner spends so much time looking for the perfect gifts for them!” Abz75

3) “Mother-in-law (who lives in a posh apartment and dresses in Gucci) arrived at my daughter’s for Christmas day. Her contribution was a bottle of lime cordial.”

“Which she took home with her.” u/cloche_du_fromage

4) “My in-laws are great but God the food is mediocre.”

“Can’t wait to get down to my mum’s for a real spread.” r/luala

5) “Called me fat. Even though I’ve lost weight since knee replacement surgery in October.”

“I’m doing my best.” u/EuroBella

6) “Gifted us a family photo. Without me in it.”

u/DontCatchThePigeon

7) “Tried to physically take my newborn from me after I’d already said no to holding him.”

u/Chinateapott

8) “They turned up just in time to sit on their arses scrolling for an hour while we prepared both days’ Christmas meals, and returned to the couch immediately when it was time to clear up.”

“Then when we’d waited until after lunch and a walk to open the presents so that everyone would be there, they decided they needed a snack and made the rest of the family sit waiting for them to work out where the snacks were, then they returned with their snack without even considering asking if anyone else wanted anything.” u/bluntbangs

9) “Argued that all TV on Christmas day had to be live, and not recorded months before.”

u/hundreddollar

10) “MIL saw the mountain of ingredients and other things I had bought for Christmas dinner and desserts. She was happy with our plan and didn’t want to change anything.”

“As I’m assembling a massive trifle (made from scratch), after cooking for hours, she waltzes in with a huge jelly dessert and a prepared ham under the other arm.

There’s obviously no room in the fridge and of course, absolutely no way the FOUR of us will be in any way able to eat all of it.

I didn’t say anything of course but I’m mightily pissed off.” u/daniel625

11) “We woke up early to FaceTime them when they were all together for Christmas and my MIL then spent 25 minutes going one by one through the Christmas cards one of them made with AI.”

“She’d already shared all of the images via text.” u/annedroiid

Do you have anything to add? Let us know in the comments!

Hugh Grant’s Reaction To Seeing Love Actually For The First Time Was Anything But Festive

Posted on 24/12/2024 by Boris Clair

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="3754" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","index":0,"contentIndexByType":1,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

","type":"video","meta":{"author":"ABC News","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBi2mrWuNuyYy4gbM6fU18Q","cache_age":86400,"description":"Celebrate 20th anniversary of \"Love Actually\" – featuring interviews with Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Laura Linney, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Olivia Olson and more. Tuesday at 8/7 on ABC.\n\n#abcnews #loveactually #anniversary #movie","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fiQit65oLAQ/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"\"The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later – A Diane Sawyer Special\"","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiQit65oLAQ","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"676a5e50e4b0a116ab69102d","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/hugh-grant-first-reaction-love-actually_uk_676a5e50e4b0a116ab69102d","entryTagsList":"ukfilm,christmas,hugh-grant,emma-thompson,love-actually,@clone_of_uk_637dd34be4b06ef4a53ee211","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":9},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"676a5e50e4b0a116ab69102d","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"ukfilm","slug":"ukfilm","links":{"relativeLink":"news/ukfilm","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/ukfilm","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/ukfilm"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Film","slug":"ukfilm","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/ukfilm/"},{"name":"Christmas","slug":"christmas","links":{"relativeLink":"news/christmas","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas"},"relegenceId":5556441,"relegenceSubjectId":978615,"section":{"title":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"topic":{"title":"Christmas","slug":"christmas","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas/"},{"name":"hugh grant","slug":"hugh-grant","links":{"relativeLink":"news/hugh-grant","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/hugh-grant","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/hugh-grant"},"relegenceId":2800666,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/hugh-grant/"},{"name":"Emma Thompson","slug":"emma-thompson","links":{"relativeLink":"news/emma-thompson","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/emma-thompson","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/emma-thompson"},"relegenceId":6096528,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/emma-thompson/"},{"name":"Love Actually","slug":"love-actually","links":{"relativeLink":"news/love-actually","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/love-actually","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/love-actually"},"relegenceId":2925361,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/love-actually/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline\", \"entry_paragraph_2\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>

[embedded content]

Two decades years after Love Actually first graced our screens and became one of the most beloved – and successful – Christmas films of all time, some of its stars have been doing a bit of reminiscing.

In a 20th anniversary special released in 2022, cast members including Bill Nighy, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant came together to take a trip down memory lane.

Thankfully, most of them have long memories – including Emma, who recalls the first time that she and Hugh watched the finished version of the festive film.

Although Hugh’s response, according to Emma, wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy.

Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant at the premiere of Love Actually in 2003

“Hugh came up behind me as we were walking out and said, ‘Is that the most psychotic thing we’ve ever been in?’” Emma recalled in the special.

Hugh then responded sheepishly: “Did I say that?”

Love Actually may be ingrained in the public consciousness, but a year earlier Hugh admitted he is a little less familiar with the details of the 2003 film – revealing he can’t actually remember what happened to his character.

Martine McCutcheon, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson in Love Actually

Asked about the possibility of a Love Actually sequel in an interview with Digital Spy in 2021, Hugh replied: “I don’t know. I’ve never thought about that… I can’t even remember what happens in the film.”

He explained with a laugh: “It’s so long since I’ve seen it. You’d have to remind me. How do I end up?”

The Bafta wi played the UK prime minister, David, who falls for Downing Street staff member Natalie, played by former EastEnders star Martine McCutcheon.

In one of the film’s most memorable scenes, Hugh, as the PM, can be seen prancing about No.10 to the Pointer Sisters’ Jump (For My Love), which the actor later described as “absolute hell”.

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="9676" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","index":18,"contentIndexByType":2,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

","type":"video","meta":{"author":"Movieclips","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3gNmTGu-TTbFPpfSs5kNkg","cache_age":86400,"description":"Love Actually movie clips: http://j.mp/1JcUxve\nBUY THE MOVIE: http://amzn.to/rGtBlD\nDon’t miss the HOTTEST NEW TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/1u2y6pr\n\nCLIP DESCRIPTION:\nThe Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) takes advantage of a quiet moment to dance through 10 Downing Street.\n\nFILM DESCRIPTION:\nAll of London is in love — or longing to be — in Four Weddings and a Funeral writer Richard Curtis’ first directorial effort. Billed as \"the ultimate romantic comedy,\" Love Actually involves more than a dozen main characters, each weaving his or her way into another’s heart over the course of one particularly eventful Christmas. The seemingly perfect wedding of Juliet (Keira Knightley) and Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) brings many of the principals together, including heartsick best man Mark (Andrew Lincoln), who harbors a very unrequited crush on Juliet. There’s also recent widower Daniel (Liam Neeson), trying to help his lonely stepson Sam (Thomas Sangster) express his true feelings to a classmate. Across town, devoted working mother Karen (Emma Thompson) tries to rekindle the passion of her husband, Harry (Alan Rickman), who secretly pines for a young colleague of his. In the same office, the lonely Sarah (Laura Linney) not-so-secretly pines for a man just a few desks away (Rodrigo Santoro), who returns her affections but may not be able to dissuade her neuroses. Providing the unofficial soundtrack for all of the couples is an aging rocker (Bill Nighy) who just wants to cash in and get laid — but even he might find a meaningful relationship in the most unlikely of places. A working print of Love Actually premiered at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival.\n\nCREDITS:\nTM & © Universal (2003)\nCast: Hugh Grant, Meg Wynn Owen\nDirector: Richard Curtis\nProducers: Eric Fellner, Liza Chasin, Debra Hayward, Duncan Kenworthy, Chris Thompson, Tim Bevan\nScreenwriter: Richard Curtis\n\nWHO ARE WE?\nThe MOVIECLIPS channel is the largest collection of licensed movie clips on the web. Here you will find unforgettable moments, scenes and lines from all your favorite films. Made by movie fans, for movie fans.\n\nSUBSCRIBE TO OUR MOVIE CHANNELS:\nMOVIECLIPS: http://bit.ly/1u2yaWd\nComingSoon: http://bit.ly/1DVpgtR\nIndie & Film Festivals: http://bit.ly/1wbkfYg\nHero Central: http://bit.ly/1AMUZwv\nExtras: http://bit.ly/1u431fr\nClassic Trailers: http://bit.ly/1u43jDe\nPop-Up Trailers: http://bit.ly/1z7EtZR\nMovie News: http://bit.ly/1C3Ncd2\nMovie Games: http://bit.ly/1ygDV13\nFandango: http://bit.ly/1Bl79ye\nFandango FrontRunners: http://bit.ly/1CggQfC\n\nHIT US UP:\nFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1y8M8ax\nTwitter: http://bit.ly/1ghOWmt\nPinterest: http://bit.ly/14wL9De\nTumblr: http://bit.ly/1vUwhH7","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zcgxBHBsl-4/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Love Actually (3/10) Movie CLIP – The Dancing Prime Minister (2003) HD","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcgxBHBsl-4","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"676a5e50e4b0a116ab69102d","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/hugh-grant-first-reaction-love-actually_uk_676a5e50e4b0a116ab69102d","entryTagsList":"ukfilm,christmas,hugh-grant,emma-thompson,love-actually,@clone_of_uk_637dd34be4b06ef4a53ee211","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":9},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"676a5e50e4b0a116ab69102d","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"ukfilm","slug":"ukfilm","links":{"relativeLink":"news/ukfilm","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/ukfilm","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/ukfilm"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Film","slug":"ukfilm","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/ukfilm/"},{"name":"Christmas","slug":"christmas","links":{"relativeLink":"news/christmas","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas"},"relegenceId":5556441,"relegenceSubjectId":978615,"section":{"title":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"topic":{"title":"Christmas","slug":"christmas","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas/"},{"name":"hugh grant","slug":"hugh-grant","links":{"relativeLink":"news/hugh-grant","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/hugh-grant","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/hugh-grant"},"relegenceId":2800666,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/hugh-grant/"},{"name":"Emma Thompson","slug":"emma-thompson","links":{"relativeLink":"news/emma-thompson","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/emma-thompson","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/emma-thompson"},"relegenceId":6096528,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/emma-thompson/"},{"name":"Love Actually","slug":"love-actually","links":{"relativeLink":"news/love-actually","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/love-actually","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/love-actually"},"relegenceId":2925361,"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/love-actually/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline\", \"entry_paragraph_2\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>

[embedded content]

He said: “There was this dance written and I thought, ‘That’s going to be excruciating’ and it has the power to be the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid.

“I certainly dreaded filming it and Richard (Curtis) kept saying, ‘Don’t you think we’d better rehearse the dancing scene’ and I’d say, ‘Uh yes I’ve just gotta learn some lines…my ankle hurts today’. So it was never rehearsed.”

“It was absolute hell,” he added.

29 Funny Tweets About Santa, From Parents Keeping Up The Charade

Posted on 24/12/2024 by Boris Clair

Parenthood comes with many different responsibilities, but one of the most challenging and hilarious is definitely the Santa Claus charade.

Parents have a complicated relationship with the jolly old man in red. After all, saying he exists is a lie, and lying is wrong. But so is ruining the joy of Christmas …

It takes work to keep the magic of Santa Claus alive, which inevitably leads to a lot of funny moments (and a lot of funny tweets). Here are 29 tweets from parents about keeping up the Santa charade. Enjoy!

How To Cope At Christmas When You’re Consumed By Grief

Posted on 23/12/2024 by Boris Clair

As the office radio blared the Christmas classic “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” by Wizzard, I was racing outside to take a call from my mum telling me that my nan had been taken to hospital and it wasn’t looking good.

My nan, who had played a huge part in raising me, had called me her ‘one true friend’ and who shamelessly loved Christmas more than anybody I knew, died four days later. She didn’t make it to Christmas but the celebrations went on, even as I felt my world had stopped.

Seven years later, I sat in a taxi as the driver blared ‘Stay Another Day’ in what was a cruel twist of fate as I’d just learned that my uncle was going to die within days from an aggressive form of cancer.

The song that was once a tacky festive favourite of mine was almost mocking my unthinkable situation.

Thankfully, my uncle did see Christmas that year but had spent it knowing he was about to die and he left us on December 29th.

Now, Christmas feels like a very different beast than it used to. Instead of wandering mindlessly around festive markets, I instead feel suffocated by the ‘joy’ that this season supposedly brings. I feel sick to my stomach with grief and nostalgia for a time when my family was bigger, happier and not in an apparently endless state of mourning.

A time when December didn’t fill me with dread.

According to Bianca Neumann, Assistant Director of Bereavement at Sue Ryder, my experience is common. She said: “The anticipation of Christmas can often be worse than the actual day itself. But unfortunately, for many, it is very common that grief is more intense and harder to deal with throughout the holiday season.”

It’s a complex mix for me, at least. Not only do I not feel like celebrating but even when I try to, all I can think about is how they should be here with us, celebrating too.

Neumann urges that this grief can come in many forms, saying: “Maybe you’re bursting into tears when you least expect it, perhaps you feel angry at the people around you, or maybe you’re feeling anxious, worrying about how you’ll feel or how you’ll get through it.

“Know that these feelings are all normal, and that you’re not on your own this Christmas.”

How to cope with Christmas when you’re grieving

Bianca Neumann shared her tips for getting through this not-so-festive season if you’re missing somebody:

Think about what you want to do

Neumman says: “You shouldn’t feel pressured to have Christmas as usual if it doesn’t feel right, although celebrating as you normally would, might be a comfort to you.

“This will be different for each person after a bereavement, so plan for a Christmas you feel comfortable with and give yourself permission to do what you want to do.”

Of course, no plan has to stay firm, either. Neumann urges that if you’re finding things difficult, you have the right to step away from the usual traditions and rituals until you feel that you’re ready to pick them up again.

She added: “Remember that all emotions, whether they are ones of sadness, joy or any other, take up energy. You might not know how you’ll be feeling from one day to the next, so be kind to yourself and try not to ‘over-do’ things.

“Take a break and, if you’ve got a hectic couple of days ahead of you, schedule in some quiet time – whether that’s going for a walk if you need to, setting aside a few minutes to yourself with a cup of tea, or spending some time writing in a journal.”

Forget the ‘should’

While it’s easy to get caught up in the expectations of Christmas, Neumann says: “Don’t feel guilty about the things you think you ‘should’ be doing and know that it’s okay to not be okay.

“Christmas can be a difficult time for anyone grieving and it can be tricky to escape with festive songs playing in every shop, cards coming in the post and re-runs of old favourites on TV.”

Let the tears flow if you need to

Neumann says letting yourself feel your feelings is essential: “As much as you may fear that you won’t stop crying once you start – you will, and you may even feel a little better for doing so. Tears can make us feel relaxed and less anxious, that’s why we often feel relief after a good cry.

“They are also a visible sign to others, signalling the need for support.”

Be open about your decisions

Once you’ve had a think about how you want to approach the holiday season, you may find it helpful to be open with those close to you.

Having conversations with friends and family about how you feel and what your plans are can help everyone support you in ways which are sensitive to your grief.

Consider old and new traditions

Neumann advises: “For many people, Christmas comes hand in hand with a number of traditions that can be linked to memories of the person you are grieving. This can leave you feeling upset, especially when you aren’t able to do these traditions in the same way.

“To help you get through this difficult time, consider the traditions and what they mean for you and those around you.”

She suggests that changing old or creating new traditions may help the children in your family, particularly if they’re struggling, too.

Some ideas include:

Buying or making your own Christmas ornament or bauble to remember those who have died. If a photograph feels too much, then perhaps use a ribbon of their favourite colour or a sentimental object.
Bringing out the person’s stocking, or make one for them, so that you, your friends and family can fill it with cards, messages or letters. You can decide as a family whether you then would like to share these out-loud or keep them private.
Having a small Christmas tree or memory wreath set up somewhere within your home in honour of the person who has died. You could decorate this tree or wreath with their favourite colours, photographs or any meaningful objects or messages.
Making a paper chain with a message or memory of the person written on to each ‘link’.
Buying a big candle in honour of them and lighting it for periods of reflection and remembrance.
Making an object or cash donation to a charity you know the person you are mourning would have supported in their honour.
Setting a place at the dinner table for the person who is not there or making a toast to them at the Christmas meal.
Decorating their headstone or plaque on Christmas Day.
Representing the person who has died through an object or symbol in your annual family Christmas photograph, if that’s something you do.
Do something from your own bucket list or something the person who has died has missed out on. For example, join an annual Christmas/Boxing Day swim, volunteer on Christmas Day or spend it in nature and go for a hike. Whatever you choose, it is OK to do something that makes that time meaningful to you.

Sue Ryder offers a range of online bereavement support.

Help and support:

Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.

Mary Berry’s Unexpected Secret Ingredient For Delicious Turkey Skin

Posted on 23/12/2024 by Boris Clair

With Christmas day being only days away, it’s almost time to start prepping the turkey. It’s not often the most pleasant of activities, what with the uh, giblets removal and all but with the right preparation comes the most succulent of Christmas meats.

This year, we’re looking to none other than the queen of the kitchen herself, Mary Berry, for our turkey recipe. After all, who better to help us cook up a storm and impress our family with our kitchen tricks?

Of course, by this point we all have our own traditions for cooking the Christmas turkey but this year, we’ll be adding a little of Mary Berry’s finishing touches to the skin with orange slices.

The perfect finishing touch to roast turkey

So, in Mary Berry’s turkey crown recipe as featured on Mary Berry’s Absolute Christmas Favourites, she has two oranges ― one cut into slices and one cut in half and these add finishing touches to the cooking of the turkey.

So, once you’ve done your own preparations, loosen the skin on the turkey using your fingers or a spatula, gently so as not to tear anything. Then, mix two teaspoons of thyme leaves with 50g of softened butter and smear the mixture underneath the skin of the bird.

Then, arrange orange slices in two neat rows, under the skin and on top of the herb butter.

As for those orange halves? Place one under the skin at the neck end of the bird and any orange trimmings in the cavity.

This mix of citrus and herbs gives a perfectly Christmas flavour to the tastebuds and with not-too-much effort.

Plus, if you have any leftovers, these can be frozen for up to a month. Just make sure you wrap them up well!

Now just to follow Mary’s perfect cooking method for turkey…

This Is Why The Original Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special Is Still A Festive Masterpiece

Posted on 22/12/2024 by Boris Clair

While every year there are the same moans and groans about the Christmas TV schedules being packed with repeats, there’s one show that we definitely don’t mind watching again and again – the original festive special of Gavin & Stacey.

The BBC sitcom had been running for two seasons by the time we got the first festive episode in 2008, and what a seasonal delight it was.

While we’d seen plenty of interactions between the entire Shipman and West clan in the years previous, there was a real moment of joy seeing them all prepare for their first Christmas together following Gavin and Stacey’s wedding.

Not only did the hour-long episode deliver on comedy and plot, but it also highlighted all those little Christmas foibles that go on in households up and down the country come 25 December.

And as much as we loved having the gang back together in 2019 for the much-anticipated reunion episode, there’s something magical about the original that made it such a festive masterpiece.

Here’s why it’s a show that’s worthy of repeat viewing every December…

1. Pam’s stance on Christmas cards

Pam had strong views on when to send Christmas cards

Prior to 2008, we were always baffled as to why some people would send their Christmas cards before December had even rolled around, but Pam Shipman imparted some serious wisdom on us that made us completely reverse our stance.

“What is the point of sending cards that arrive on Christmas Eve? They’ll get taken down in a few days. That’s why I send all mine on the first of November. Gives people seven weeks to enjoy them,” she said.

You have to admit, she has a point, right?

2. John who?

Speaking of Christmas cards, Pam and Mick also tapped into something we’ve all heard our parents say when they receive a festive greeting from someone they cannot quite place.

“Oh, look at that, ‘From John’… It could be mechanic John… It won’t be John from Ann and John.”

3. Doris being ‘absolutely twatted’ before lunchtime on Christmas Eve

A relatable queen.

4. Nessa in the grotto

An inspired piece of writing from Ruth Jones and James Corden.

5. Gavin and Smithy’s sing-a-long

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="9973" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","index":27,"contentIndexByType":2,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

","type":"video","meta":{"author":"BBC","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCj956IF62FbT7Gouszaj9w","cache_age":86400,"description":"Subscribe and 🔔 to OFFICIAL BBC YouTube 👉 https://bit.ly/2IXqEIn\nStream original BBC programmes FIRST on BBC iPlayer 👉 https://bbc.in/2J18jYJ\n\nGavin, Stacey, Smithy and Nessa have a Christmas to remember and not necessarily in a good way in a special festive edition of the award-winning comedy.\n\nGavin & Stacey | Christmas Special 2008 | BBC\n\n#BBC #BBCiPlayer #GavinandStacey\n\nAll our TV channels and S4C are available to watch live through BBC iPlayer, although some programmes may not be available to stream online due to rights. If you would like to read more on what types of programmes are available to watch live, check the ‘Are all programmes that are broadcast available on BBC iPlayer?’ FAQ 👉 https://bbc.in/2m8ks6v.","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lcAUKOICPn4/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Smithy and Gavin’s Christmas sing-a-long | Gavin & Stacey – BBC","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcAUKOICPn4","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"6762fb1ce4b01905cf3ff03d","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/gavin-and-stacey-original-christmas-special-masterpiece_uk_6762fb1ce4b01905cf3ff03d","entryTagsList":"uktv,we-love-tv,christmas,nostalgia,gavin-and-stacey,@clone_of_uk_61a8cc52e4b044a1cc1facf4","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":6},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"6762fb1ce4b01905cf3ff03d","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"uktv","slug":"uktv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/uktv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv"},"relegenceId":4255579,"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"UK TV","slug":"uktv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv/"},{"name":"we love tv","slug":"we-love-tv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/we-love-tv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv"},"section":{"title":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"topic":{"title":"We Love TV","slug":"we-love-tv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv/"},{"name":"Christmas","slug":"christmas","links":{"relativeLink":"news/christmas","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas"},"relegenceId":5556441,"relegenceSubjectId":978615,"section":{"title":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"topic":{"title":"Christmas","slug":"christmas","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas/"},{"name":"nostalgia","slug":"nostalgia","links":{"relativeLink":"news/nostalgia","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Nostalgia","slug":"nostalgia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia/"},{"name":"Gavin and Stacey","slug":"gavin-and-stacey","links":{"relativeLink":"news/gavin-and-stacey","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/gavin-and-stacey","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/gavin-and-stacey"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/gavin-and-stacey/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline\", \"entry_paragraph_2\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>

[embedded content]

It’s the scene that inspired James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke, and despite the fact he was eventually joined by the likes of Adele, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga in his car to sing along to their biggest hits, it’s still Smithy’s duet down the phone on Do They Know It’s Christmas? that remains the original and the best.

We’ve also never been able to say Midge Ure’s name the same way since.

6. The mint Baileys scene

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="8449" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","index":32,"contentIndexByType":3,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

","type":"video","meta":{"author":"geoffe333","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEtj_ufea4cv6UobHc8xuQ","cache_age":86400,"description":"Mint baileys scene! Classic","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/82qleyt6m68/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Gavin and Stacey Xmas special mint baileys","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82qleyt6m68","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"6762fb1ce4b01905cf3ff03d","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/gavin-and-stacey-original-christmas-special-masterpiece_uk_6762fb1ce4b01905cf3ff03d","entryTagsList":"uktv,we-love-tv,christmas,nostalgia,gavin-and-stacey,@clone_of_uk_61a8cc52e4b044a1cc1facf4","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":6},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"6762fb1ce4b01905cf3ff03d","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"uktv","slug":"uktv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/uktv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv"},"relegenceId":4255579,"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"UK TV","slug":"uktv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv/"},{"name":"we love tv","slug":"we-love-tv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/we-love-tv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv"},"section":{"title":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"topic":{"title":"We Love TV","slug":"we-love-tv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv/"},{"name":"Christmas","slug":"christmas","links":{"relativeLink":"news/christmas","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas"},"relegenceId":5556441,"relegenceSubjectId":978615,"section":{"title":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"topic":{"title":"Christmas","slug":"christmas","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas/"},{"name":"nostalgia","slug":"nostalgia","links":{"relativeLink":"news/nostalgia","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Nostalgia","slug":"nostalgia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia/"},{"name":"Gavin and Stacey","slug":"gavin-and-stacey","links":{"relativeLink":"news/gavin-and-stacey","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/gavin-and-stacey","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/gavin-and-stacey"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/gavin-and-stacey/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline\", \"entry_paragraph_2\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>

[embedded content]

The scene where Gwen and Bryn share their first ever mint Baileys before boarding the coach to Essex wasn’t big or flashy, but it had a quiet comfort and poignancy about it, which Gavin & Stacey always nails so perfectly.

7. Mick’s turkey saga

Are you basting it? Are you soaking it overnight? Are you doing it the Nigella way? Or are you sticking to Jamie Oliver, because you “know where you are with him”?

Through the characters of Mick and Pete, the Christmas special managed to perfectly encapsulate the bizarre obsession and competitiveness dads have with other men about their turkeys each year.

8. The fight

Pam wasn't exactly thrilled with Gavin's news — Pam wasn’t exactly thrilled with Gavin’s news

Pam’s eruption after finding out her “little prince” was planning on relocating to Barry set off a chain of events that made this scene one of the most memorable in Gavin & Stacey history.

Not only did Alison Steadman absolutely commit to the moment, but we also saw Gwen finally stand up to Pam, Nessa threaten to “see her outside” (and Pam stupidly believe she could take her on), before Pete went toe-to-toe with Dave Coaches to defend Dawn’s honour.

Admittedly, there’s some language that we’d hope wouldn’t make it into the script in 2024, and we were very pleased when they all put the row behind them. But it has to be said, this scene shook up the dynamic between all the characters and also sent up those fights that happen in every family each festive season.

9. Pam and Mick’s royal romp

We learned that Pam’s royal obsession translated into the bedroom as she prepared to be “knighted” with Mick’s “special sword” – all while he was wearing a comedy pair of King Charles ears.

10. Pam’s vegetarianism comes unstuck

As “Three Steaks Pam” faced the prospect of a turkey-less Christmas after her long-standing lies about being a vegetarian, it transpired she hadn’t fooled anyone with her stance on meat – except for Gwen that is, who had bought her a vegetarian cookbook for Christmas.

11. The opening of the ‘presents’

Nessa and Dave gifted everyone a single chocolate from a box of Celebrations

Never before had we been so eager to see which Celebration someone was eating, and we definitely still relate to Smithy wrapping all his presents in tin foil for ease.

Doris gifting Gwen talcum powder, despite her still having a stack of it unused at home from previous years, was also a foible we’ve seen play out during present openings over the years.

12. The Nessa and Smithy sexual tension

Smithy didn't want Nessa to marry Dave — Smithy didn’t want Nessa to marry Dave

Years before we got the 2019 Christmas proposal, there was a special moment between Nessa and Smithy that gave fans hope that the characters would finally end up together as Smithy urged her not to marry Dave Coaches.

13. The end song

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="32" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","index":63,"contentIndexByType":5,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

","type":"video","meta":{"author":"Happy Channel","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq7pHF-RwHRfy1GrEzNRhjA","cache_age":86400,"description":"Mick trying out his new Keyboard in Gavin & Stacey scene from the Christmas Special","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":360,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P0lwgN0eo4o/hqdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":480,"title":"Gavin & Stacey – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0lwgN0eo4o","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"6762fb1ce4b01905cf3ff03d","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/gavin-and-stacey-original-christmas-special-masterpiece_uk_6762fb1ce4b01905cf3ff03d","entryTagsList":"uktv,we-love-tv,christmas,nostalgia,gavin-and-stacey,@clone_of_uk_61a8cc52e4b044a1cc1facf4","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":6},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"6762fb1ce4b01905cf3ff03d","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"uktv","slug":"uktv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/uktv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv"},"relegenceId":4255579,"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"UK TV","slug":"uktv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv/"},{"name":"we love tv","slug":"we-love-tv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/we-love-tv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv"},"section":{"title":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"topic":{"title":"We Love TV","slug":"we-love-tv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv/"},{"name":"Christmas","slug":"christmas","links":{"relativeLink":"news/christmas","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas"},"relegenceId":5556441,"relegenceSubjectId":978615,"section":{"title":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"topic":{"title":"Christmas","slug":"christmas","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/christmas/"},{"name":"nostalgia","slug":"nostalgia","links":{"relativeLink":"news/nostalgia","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Nostalgia","slug":"nostalgia","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/nostalgia/"},{"name":"Gavin and Stacey","slug":"gavin-and-stacey","links":{"relativeLink":"news/gavin-and-stacey","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/gavin-and-stacey","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/gavin-and-stacey"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/gavin-and-stacey/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline\", \"entry_paragraph_2\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>

[embedded content]

No, you’re crying.

All episodes of Gavin & Stacey are available to watch on BBC iPlayer. The final episode of Gavin & Stacey will air on Christmas Day at 9pm on BBC One.

I’m A Doctor ― Here’s How To Deal With Social Anxiety This Christmas

Posted on 22/12/2024 by Boris Clair

I know that socialising is good for us and is meant to be one of the best parts of the festive season, but I have to be honest with you: I can’t think of a worse time to face a chock-full social calendar.

Not only is the weather dark and rainy, but I’m constantly bloated from the endless festive treats, I have loads of little Christmassy tasks to complete, and ― like many of us in the UK ― seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is making my social anxiety even worse.

So, I thought I’d speak to Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, about how to manage the added stress.

“During Christmas, these feelings can become heightened due to the increased social interactions, family gatherings, and heightened expectations of being cheerful and sociable,” she told HuffPost UK.

“The pressure to perform in a festive environment, combined with the potential for awkward encounters or family tensions, can make people with social anxiety feel overwhelmed and vulnerable,” she added.

Here are her 10 tips for making the period more manageable:

1. Plan ahead

“Preparation can alleviate much of the stress associated with social events,” Dr Wylie shared.

She adds that it’s a good idea to set boundaries and say “no” to events you know you’re going to hate.

“Familiarise yourself with the location and attendees of each event, and mentally rehearse conversations or scenarios that might arise,” she shared.“Knowing what to expect helps reduce uncertainty, a common trigger for social anxiety.”

2. Practise mindfulness

Deep breathing and grounding exercises might sound a little woo-woo, but the GP says they can really help.

“Before entering a social situation, spend a few minutes focusing on your breath or anchoring yourself in the present moment,” she advised.

“These exercises calm the nervous system, making it easier to engage with others.”

3. Take small steps

Ever let “current you” burden “future you” with endless engagements, only to realise to your horror that those are actually the same person?

Well, the doctor says what I wish I’d heard years ago; there’s no point stacking your calendar if you’re not usually interested in socialising too much.

“Start with smaller, low-pressure gatherings to build confidence,” she recommends.

“If large family events feel daunting, consider arriving early when there are fewer people, allowing you to acclimatise before the crowd grows.”

And don’t downplay your achievements: “Celebrating small victories, like initiating a conversation, can build momentum for bigger challenges,” the GP says.

4. Use a social buffer

A supportive friend or family member can make all the difference, Dr Wylie says.

“Alternatively, having a “safe zone” in mind, such as a quiet room, gives you a retreat when needed,” she told HuffPost UK.

5. Set realistic expectations

If you’re not a fan of the limelight, there’s no point pretending to be a social butterfly, the GP stated.

“Don’t pressure yourself to be the life of the party. Acknowledge that it’s okay to feel anxious and remind yourself that most people are too focused on their own experiences to scrutinise yours,” she commented.

“Giving yourself permission to be imperfect can lessen self-critical thoughts.”

6. Practise active listening

“If initiating conversation feels challenging, focus on listening,” Dr Wiley stated.

“Asking open-ended questions “can take the pressure off you and foster genuine connections, often reducing social anxiety.”

7. Limit alcohol and caffeine

You might think that that shot of Bourbon is your only possible path through your work Christmas ’do, but the GP advises against it.

“While alcohol may seem like a quick fix for nerves, overindulgence can worsen anxiety and impair judgment,” she said; “Similarly, caffeine can heighten symptoms like a racing heart.”

Dr Wiley says plain ol’ water might lead to less stress in the long run.

8. Use positive visualisation

Manifesting isn’t just for six-bedroom homes and a glizty job, the GP says.

“Spend time imagining yourself navigating social situations successfully. Picture yourself smiling, feeling at ease, and enjoying interactions,” she told us.

“This mental rehearsal can build confidence and counteract negative anticipations.”

9. Leverage technology

If you’re really dreading that meet-up, the doctor says you can set up a video call or online get-together instead.

“Video calls or group chats provide a way to stay connected without the intensity of face-to-face interactions,” she shared.

10. Seek Professional Support

If you’re seriously struggling, the doctor says speaking to a pro might be necessary.

“Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based approaches can equip you with tools to manage anxiety more effectively, ensuring you enjoy the festive season,” she told HuffPost UK.

She added that some signs you may need professional help include:

Avoiding all social situations, leading to isolation.
Persistent distress that doesn’t improve with self-help measures.
Physical symptoms, like panic attacks, that feel unmanageable.
A sense of hopelessness or a negative impact on mental health overall.

Help and support:

Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.

Mary Berry’s Unexpected Secret Ingredient For Crispy Roast Potatoes And Parsnips

Posted on 22/12/2024 by Boris Clair

It takes a lot for me to change my tried-and-tested roast parsnip recipe, but if there’s anyone who can convince me to alter my beloved roaster routine, it’s Mary Berry.

Writing for Love to Cook, the author and cooking guru shared that “Crunchy sweet parsnips are the perfect side dish. The addition of semolina gives them a lovely crispy outside.”

The trick works for spuds, too, she says ― “With the addition of semolina, these golden parsnips become extra crisp in the oven. Throw some in with your roast potatoes for something a bit different this Sunday.”

So, we thought we’d share why it works, as well as some other root veg-roasting tips:

Semolina has a moisture content of around 14%, which is why you need to hydrate it with milk or another liquid to access its fluffy deliciousness.

Meanwhile, spuds sit between 75% and 85% moisture. Parsnips are 80% water. That means that both veg tend to steam a little as they bake, providing the softer, fluffier texture we love on the inside of our roasters.

So, when you coat either option in small, dry semolina, the cereal stays dry and crispy when you bake them while the insides of the veg grow fluffy.

And because the grain is so fine and small, it clings easily to the outside of your roasted roots.

Yep! Mary Berry recommends cutting your parsnips into eighths rather than quarters for that extra-crisp finish, as you’ll have a larger surface area (and corners) for the oil to cover.

For both parsnips and potatoes, the semolina trick takes a similar pattern. Par-boil the veg (par-boiling should take four minutes for parsnips and up to ten minutes for spuds).

Cool them a little before placing some oil in a baking tray to get hot when you’re ready to prep the veggies for roasting.

Then, coat the parboiled veg salt, pepper, and a little oil before adding semolina and your herbs of choice. Cook until golden and deliciously, perfectly crisp.

Mary Berry’s 15-Minute Secret To The Juiciest, Crispiest Turkey

Posted on 21/12/2024 by Boris Clair

It’s not just down to your cooking skills; turkey really is a naturally drier bird as its both large and relatively lean, which makes even cooking difficult.

The usual solutions to this problem ― spatchcocking the bird or cooking only its fattier parts, like legs ― are sensible, but feel patently un-festive.

After all, what’s more Christmassy than lifting a plump golden turkey crown from the oven, stuffed with citrus and slathered in butter?

So it’s a good thing former Great British Bake-Off judge Mary Berry has a 15-minute trick that allows you to keep your turkey crown intact while adding some much-needed moisture and flavour.

What’s the trick?

Mary Berry uses a multi-pronged approach; not only does she stick to a crown rather than a whole bird so it cooks more evenly, but she also stuffs the bird with citrus fruits, places butter under the skin, and bastes the meat every so often.

She recommends placing tinfoil on the top of the crown if you notice it browning too quickly, too. This traps the moisture in and prevents a dry top layer.

But the real secret to tasty, juicy, perfectly crisp success happens 15 minutes before she removes the poultry from the oven.

She suggests we “squeeze the juice from the remaining half-orange over the turkey” a quarter of an hour before its cook time ends.

Then we should “Return the turkey to the oven, uncovered, to allow the skin to crisp up.”

That’ll provide an extra last-minute boost of flavourful moisture, and the sugar in orange juice will caramelise into a thin, crisp layer that adds an extra crunch to the bird’s delicate skin.

Any other tips?

Yes ― you absolutely have to rest your turkey, even if it’s just a crown or legs, for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Mary Berry covers her turkey crown in tinfoil while it rests, trapping even more steam and moisture.

That helps the turkey to re-absorb its juices, ensuring it’s mouthwateringly juicy.

Gordon Ramsay also adds butter on top of his turkey breast before drizzling it with olive oil ― the more fat, the juicier the bird will be.

And for what it’s worth, I’m with Nigella Lawson on the meat’s prep ― “For me the only turkey is a brined one,” she shared on her site.

“Not only does it tenderize and add subtle spiciness, but it makes carving the turkey incredibly much easier.

1. Jim Carrey underwent torture endurance training to help him tolerate the Grinch prosthetics

2. Director Ron Howard became The Grinch on set for a day

3. The Grinch is actually an Oscar-winning film

4. The film almost featured a cameo from another Dr Seuss creation – The Cat In The Hat

5. Bryce Dallas Howard appears in the film

6. Eddie Murphy auditioned for the role of The Grinch

7. Welcome Christmas was written to mimic Latin

8. The Who actors were sent to Who-School

9. Jim improvised some of the film’s most iconic lines

10. The movie was filmed behind the iconic Bates Motel

11. Multiple extras were hired from Cirque du Soleil

12. Jim Carrey took method acting a bit too far – and wasn’t exactly a delight on set

13. The film was released under a different name in the US

14. And yes… Cindy Lou Who did, indeed, grow up to be a rock singer

1) “Bought my toddler a gigantic John Deere ride-on tractor toy which is now taking up my entire lounge.”

2) “My MIL bought me a hair brush set. I have alopecia.”

3) “Mother-in-law (who lives in a posh apartment and dresses in Gucci) arrived at my daughter’s for Christmas day. Her contribution was a bottle of lime cordial.”

4) “My in-laws are great but God the food is mediocre.”

5) “Called me fat. Even though I’ve lost weight since knee replacement surgery in October.”

6) “Gifted us a family photo. Without me in it.”

7) “Tried to physically take my newborn from me after I’d already said no to holding him.”

8) “They turned up just in time to sit on their arses scrolling for an hour while we prepared both days’ Christmas meals, and returned to the couch immediately when it was time to clear up.”

9) “Argued that all TV on Christmas day had to be live, and not recorded months before.”

10) “MIL saw the mountain of ingredients and other things I had bought for Christmas dinner and desserts. She was happy with our plan and didn’t want to change anything.”

11) “We woke up early to FaceTime them when they were all together for Christmas and my MIL then spent 25 minutes going one by one through the Christmas cards one of them made with AI.”

How to cope with Christmas when you’re grieving

Think about what you want to do

Forget the ‘should’

Let the tears flow if you need to

Be open about your decisions

Consider old and new traditions

Help and support:

The perfect finishing touch to roast turkey

1. Pam’s stance on Christmas cards

2. John who?

3. Doris being ‘absolutely twatted’ before lunchtime on Christmas Eve

4. Nessa in the grotto

5. Gavin and Smithy’s sing-a-long

6. The mint Baileys scene

7. Mick’s turkey saga

8. The fight

9. Pam and Mick’s royal romp

10. Pam’s vegetarianism comes unstuck

11. The opening of the ‘presents’

12. The Nessa and Smithy sexual tension

13. The end song

1. Plan ahead

2. Practise mindfulness

3. Take small steps

4. Use a social buffer

5. Set realistic expectations

6. Practise active listening

7. Limit alcohol and caffeine

8. Use positive visualisation

9. Leverage technology

10. Seek Professional Support

What’s the trick?

Any other tips?