Christmas with . . .

Are you a fan of Christmas?

I've always loved Christmas, and my fiancée Rachel and I just a baby in May so this will be our first Christmas with a child. Growing up, we'd have a tradition to put the Christmas decorations up on the night of The Late Late Toy Show, when it aired later in the year. And the older I've gotten, the more Christmasy I've become, as I've been in panto every year since I was 18.

What’s on your wishlist?

Rachel is good at picking out winter coats and nice shoes, so that’s what I’ll be hoping to get. If money was no object? A yacht. I like the idea of a nice bit of luxury you can take anywhere around the world.

This year’s most covetable beauty treats

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Global warming puts Santa’s delivery system at risk

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Stefanie Preissner: I never forgave Santa for taking my soothers

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How will you spend the day?

We used to visit my family one year and see Rachel’s family the next. Some years, we’d try to do both in the same day and get back in the evening so we could have a drink at home. But this year we’ve decided to stay in Wexford, so it will be our first time away from home. We’re looking forward to that – it means we even don’t have to worry about cleaning the house ahead of visitors, we can just put the feet up and relax.

Memorable Christmas incidents?

When I was 17, my sister was travelling around Australia and I decided I was going to surprise her, so I jumped on a plane for Christmas and New Year in Sydney. The highlight was New Year’s Eve by the harbour. We watched the fireworks, which were brilliant, but I ended up getting lost – at that time, mobile phone networks used to get clogged up so you couldn’t call or make texts. I ended up wandering the streets and made my own party!

George McMahon appears in Sleeping Beauty at the National Opera House, Wexford, December 27th to 30th, and INEC, Killarney, January 3rd to 5th