All I want for Christmas … celebrities set to celebrate

Sydney Confidential caught up with music, acting and fashion celebrities to ask about their plans for Christmas. Every single one of them had the same number-one wish.

There is no doubt about it, Aussies do Christmas well.

Whether you’re more of a traditionalist and it is a time for reflection, or it is just a day off, enjoying a yummy meal with family and friends was the common theme as Confidential caught up with music, acting and fashion celebrities’ plans for the festive holiday.

HOME AND AWAY ACTOR EMILY WEIR

I will be in sunny Queensland, the backyard buzzing, seafood, fresh ham, salads galore, extended family all stay together at my mum’s, water fights with hose and water bombs with kids, Secret Santa, Christmas carols, laughter, and at dusk the smell of mosquito coils and the sound of the crickets.

I love eating all the seafood — oysters especially — and drinking sparkling water, lots of it.

Home And Away star Emily Weir is heading north to her mum’s in Queensland.

SINGER BUDJERAH

I just go home and spend it with my family.

We all live in the same town, Fingal Head, and we just go to the beach and we spend all of the holidays together at home.

I grew up in church so Christmas is a special occasion.

We have church together, that is what it is about, being appreciative of what you have and the gift that was given.

Singer-songwriter Budjerah will make time for church with his family. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge still looks forward to Santa’s arrival. Picture: Tim Pascoe

CELEBRITY CHEF COLIN FASSNIDGE

This year we will be spending Christmas at home.

Sydney is beautiful at Christmas time — especially as it gets quiet when everyone else goes away.

We will spend Christmas Day at the beach with the kids.

Growing up as a kid, Christmas in the snow in Dublin was amazing — before it melts and turns to slush.

Going to bed and waiting for Santa to come with presents is still a highlight.

THE CHALLENGE HOST BRIHONY DAWSON

I’ll be spending Christmas up at my brother and sister-in-law’s property in the Yarra Valley, with them, my mum and her partner.

We’re a small family but we certainly give Christmas Day a nudge.

We always end up hosting a “stragglers’ Christmas” gathering on Christmas night. Somewhere everyone can end up, laze around and enjoy the rest of the night away from troublesome family members and Melbourne traffic.

The Challenge host Brihony Dawson likes to escape city traffic. Picture: Supplied

Masterchef’s Jock Zonfrillo will be jetting off on Christmas night. Picture: Supplied

MASTERCHEF HOST JOCK ZONFRILLO

I’ll be at home with family in Melbourne on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with a full schedule of delicious treats from stuffed turkey to negroni-baked ham to an apple and Christmas pudding tarte tatin, followed by an international flight out of Australia Christmas night.

I think Christmas as a kid will always be the best memory, snow outside, leaving out whisky and shortbread for Santa and his reindeer, proper excitement!

NOVA RADIO HOST TIM BLACKWELL

We’ve finally finished our renovation after two years of stop-starting! We’re going to enjoy the house finally and stay local.

We used to travel every year to see family all over the country, the best has been the last few years just staying home and opening presents with the kids under our tree and not from a suitcase!

Nova’s Tim Blackwell is happy to stay home. Picture: Jerad Williams

Sunrise sports presenter Mark Beretta will be working. Picture: Channel 7

SUNRISE SPORTS PRESENTER MARK BERETTA

I will be working on the Sydney-Hobart yacht race on Seven on Boxing Day, so we will be home with immediate family, but we will probably have lunch over at friends, and then the highlight — street cricket!

A few years ago, we did Christmas with Rach’s family in the north of England. It snowed, and it was so beautiful.

MASTERCHEF HOST MELISSA LEONG

I am always a last-minute Christmaser!

No doubt it will involve a mixture of friends and family, good food — and hopefully plenty of awesome leftovers.

My favourite memories of this particular holiday are ones that happened to be obligation-free. We often put so much pressure on this one day to be perfect, yet humans really aren’t. So I think the kinder we are to ourselves, the better memories we create in the long run.

MasterChef host Melissa Leong’s advice is to be kind … to yourself. Picture: David Caird

Channel 10 sports presenter Tara Rushton is keen to catch up with family. Picture: Supplied

FOOTBALL COMMENTATOR TARA RUSHTON

Lots of turkey, prawns and lots of noise!

With the NSW border reopening to Queensland, we are hosting all the family this year.

I am truly just looking forward to spending time with family and seeing my sons Lennox and Harley being reunited with their cousins.

NETWORK 10 PRESENTER OSHER GUNSBERG

This Xmas we’ll be spending time with family (some born during lockdown so we have not met them yet!).

I’m looking forward to lots of bike rides with the kids, reclaiming my Marco Polo world title, and going to bed very early.

Channel 10’s Osher Gunsberg will be cycling and splashing around the pool with the kids. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Home And Away’s Matt Evans has asked Santa for some stellar weather. Picture: Getty Images

SAS Australia’s Ant Middleton is looking forward to some quality time with his wife and kids. Picture: Justin Lloyd

HOME AND AWAY ACTOR MATT EVANS

I will be heading to the Gold Coast and lapping up the beautiful sun with my sister!

It doesn’t quite compare to Perth summer, which is my home, but Gold Coast is more than OK.

My favourite Chrissie memory is watching The Grinch as a family at our holiday home when we were kids.

My favourite Christmas gift I’ve received was a foot drum pedal for live gigs which my dad bought me last year. It made my gigs so much more fun! I lived off gigging when I first moved to Sydney, so it was an amazing gift.

My Christmas wish is for some 10 out of 10 weather so I can chill at the stunning beaches and work on my tan!

SAS AUSTRALIA CHIEF INSTRUCTOR ANT MIDDLETON

I will be with my wife and children and I can’t wait. We will probably go away for a bit and just spend a good few weeks of quality time together.

Having been away for a few months consecutively filming and touring, I am really looking forward to it.

I think because I’ve spent so much time away, my wishlist is just to spend some time with my wife and babies!

Home And Away’s Jacqui Purvis and Ethan Browne are ready for a feast!

HOME AND AWAY ACTOR ETHAN BROWNE

What I love about Christmas is whanau (family), food, and chilling out watching movies and eating chocolate.

I’ll be spending Christmas in beautiful, sunny New Zealand.

HOME AND AWAY ACTOR JACQUI PURVIS

I’m going to Melbourne for Christmas to spend it with the family.

We usually wake up and make our traditional brioche french toast with poached peaches — it’s delish!

Then we open pressies and get ready for our family lunch, maybe do some cooking prep, then usually family will start to arrive, so we just enjoy and have fun!

Favourite thing to eat is probably our traditional French toast breakfast because it tastes like home.

Favourite thing to drink is anything my dad brings to Christmas lunch. He owns a wine cellar.

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Originally published as All I want for Christmas … celebrities set to celebrate