{"id":70777,"date":"2023-11-30T16:19:57","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T16:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geels.net\/?p=70777"},"modified":"2023-11-30T16:19:57","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T16:19:57","slug":"my-life-at-christmas-host-adrian-chiles-reveals-one-condition-that-would-make-him-do-strictly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geels.net\/beauty\/my-life-at-christmas-host-adrian-chiles-reveals-one-condition-that-would-make-him-do-strictly\/","title":{"rendered":"My Life at Christmas host Adrian Chiles reveals one condition that would make him do Strictly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas for most of us means feet up in front of the telly enjoying a mince pie \u2013 but what does it entail for some of our best known celebrities?<\/p>\n

In his new series, presenter Adrian Chiles is about to find out, as he chats to four famous faces and hears how their festive memories have impacted their lives. <\/p>\n

Adrian, 56, confesses, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say I\u2019m a particularly big fan of Christmas. But what I\u2019ve become a big fan of is that the best way to get a handle on a person and find out about someone is to talk about the Christmases of their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a brilliant way of seeing where people are, not just in terms of faith, but in terms of work and family life.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

During the three-part series Adrian talks to former Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse \u2013 who is expecting her first baby very soon] \u2013 foreign correspondent John Simpson, plus pop stars Martin and Shirlie Kemp. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey all have fascinating lives in different ways,\u201d explains Adrian. \u201cI thought I knew a lot about John, but I\u2019ve learnt so much more about his life. And then the Kemps and Oti \u2013 I loved talking to them. There\u2019s something about Christmas that makes you generous, open and candid \u2013 it leaves some very profound memories from all of them. It\u2019s uplifting but also very moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cOti is the youngest of the people I spoke to \u2013 but she has had a dizzying and breathtaking journey,\u201d adds Adrian. \u201cShe went from growing up in a township in South Africa, being a dance champion there, leaving everything to go and live in Germany, and then ending up here a big star.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two years ago, Adrian competed in the Strictly Christmas special, and he puts on his dancing shoes again for this episode.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still triggered by dancing,\u201d admits Adrian. \u201cBeing on the Christmas special was so stressful. I always try to resist being forced to do any dancing, but they insisted, so I had no choice I\u2019m afraid.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only way I\u2019d go back to the series is if Oti came out of retirement and said she'd only do it if I was her partner then, yes, I\u2019d probably have to think about it. But otherwise, not in a million years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chatting to his next guest, John Simpson, has had a lasting impact on Adrian. \u201cJohn is going into his 80th Christmas, and a good three quarters of that time he\u2019s been an eminent foreign correspondent,\u201d says Adrian. \u201cHe\u2019s been around the world a million times, he\u2019s seen everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what I learnt was that all the times he\u2019s come back from a war zone for Christmas, he\u2019s been disoriented walking into the family home with things twinkling and the tree in the corner and carols playing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adrian\u2019s final guests, Martin and Shirlie, are missing one special celebrity who has been a big part of their lives over the festive season.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t realise how close they were to George Michael,\u201d says Adrian. \u201cAnd also, with sort of bitter irony, given the poor man died on Christmas Day, what a massive part he was of their Christmas. Whatever presents they bought for each other or their kids, they were always trumped by George\u2019s gifts.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd George had a big party on Christmas Eve, which was always wonderful, and he\u2019d also send all his closest friends, among them the Kemps, a hamper. They remember all this with smiles on their faces, heartbroken as they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

He adds, \u201cI think with all of us, we\u2019ve got people like that in our lives, not necessarily international superstars, but we\u2019ve got those who are superstars to each of us, in our own way.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As for his own Christmas, he reveals some traditions that have endured \u2013 and some not.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have little Croatian cakes that my nan made, and my mum still does,\u201d he says. \u201cIt shows Christmas has come. Something I used to make was sprout pur\u00e9e which everyone liked, but it made for horrific flatulence. I had to stop making it, unfortunately \u2013 the aftermath was too awful.<\/p>\n

\u201cHosting the show has made me ask myself questions about Christmas, wondering what I\u2019ve got wrong and right as an adult. Christmas can be stressful. This show gives a bit of room to stop, think and listen to stories.\u201d<\/p>\n

My Life at Christmas begins on Sunday 3 December, 10.30am, BBC One<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n