A starry CHRISTMAS

‘OUR CHRISTMAS STARTS IN AUGUST!’

Actor Shobna Gulati, 54, lives near Manchester. She has a son, Akshay, 26.

For me, Christmas starts just after my birthday in August! Every year, I’m like, ‘Right, my birthday’s over, what are we doing for Christmas?’ I love birthdays and Christmas because it’s just so much fun. We definitely need that most in the deep, dark winter. I like the festive traditions, I love singing carols and I love attending midnight mass.

Before she died in November last year, we always spent our family Christmases with Mum. I’d cook dinner and we’d get her cross by making lots of noise – we’d take over her house! After we lost Dad, as a family, we all went our different ways, but we would gather at Christmas. We’ve already had one Christmas without Mum now – Akshay and I decided to spend it together with my sister, her mother-in-law and her family.

I love to cook at Christmas, hopefully I won’t be too traumatised by Celebrity Best Home Cook [Shobna took part in the show this year], and will carry on cooking for family and friends.

My earliest Christmas memory –