![]() I’ll be on carbs! Roast potatoes, bread sauce, parsnips. It’s usually my mum but I’ll be earning my keep and shouldering the burden this year. The person who does most of the cooking on Christmas Day will be… a total team effort. Which I am sure was not their intention on writing it – soz! But that’s why I did a blast of it in Miranda. It has always made me laugh for some reason. The Christmas track that is guaranteed to get me dancing is… ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’. It’s a true joy to see The Vicar of Dibley back on screen – a reminder of the character comedy inspired by that Morecambe and Wise era. He was the last key connection to ‘the boys’. It was very sad to lose Des O’Connor recently. But for anyone over 40 they were Christmas and the absolute heroes of many comedians of my generation. I meet people in their 20s who don’t know their work. My favourite ever Christmas telly was… Morecambe and Wise. Obvious choice, but I love James Stewart (a fellow tall actor) and the message is very much on theme as regards to counting the everyday simple things and the people around us as the miracles they are. The Christmas movie I always have to watch is… It’s a Wonderful Life. My dream kiss under the mistletoe would be… the one who accepts me, loves me despite all and encourages me and inspires me to freely be me. ![]() My favourite ever cracker joke is… ‘How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizzas? Deep pan, crisp and even.’ OK, it’s TERRIBLE! But there’s something satisfying about it. We would chat all things comedy, in particular the technical aspects of writing and performing it – that’s my favourite subject – and discover who they were behind closed doors. Eric Morecambe, Joyce Grenfell, Victoria Wood, Peter Cook, Tony Hancock, Tommy Cooper. Other than family, my dream Christmas guests would be… all my comedy heroes. (PS I might have had quite a lot to do with this tradition.) ![]() The best Hart family Christmas tradition is… silliness. And my dear best friend Peggy is still with me. I asked every year until I was 35 then finally got one myself. I think my mum has always felt guilty about this. The present I always wanted but never got was… a dog. I think this was something to do with being tall, rather than looking angelic. In my school nativity I was always… Angel Gabriel. I go for it on the ‘Gloria’ bit! Any wildlife within a ten-mile radius beware… The Christmas carol I can’t resist belting out whenever I hear it is… ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’. Not that I have ever lain down on either. It’s honestly like lying on a cloud crossed with a golden retriever puppy. And I gave it to myself! It’s the most expensive thing I’ve ever bought. ![]() The best Christmas present I ever got was … a bed. In fact, I shall try that every day from now on. So, to stop all the adult gripes and before the to-do list of the big day comes in, I just breathe and smile. I started it about 15 years ago when I realised I’d lost the childlike excitement of Christmas Day. The first thing I do every Christmas Da y i s… smile. And, lovely reader, do join me if you wish answer them yourself as a route to finding joy this Christmas. As I answer these questions now, I will joyfully savour all they bring up. That is pure joy because it’s happening in the middle of your dark patch. Joy knows life is bittersweet that you might be in grief, illness or disappointment but that within the day there will still be moments that make you smile. ![]() Happiness is circumstantial and fleeting. A couple of years ago I finally understood the true meaning of joy. ![]()
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