What Aussie stars will do on Christmas Day 2018
Whether it’s an early champagne breakfast, midnight mass with the folks or a day by the pool with family, the Aussie stars will be putting their feet up and a Santa hat on for Christmas Day celebrations. FIND OUT HOW THEY’LL SPEND CHRISTMAS.
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Ever wondered what Alf from Home And Away gets up to on Christmas morning or what 2019 Gold Logie winner Grant Denyer will to do after a big lunch with his family?
Some of Australia’s biggest celebrities have shared their favourite Christmas traditions with Confidential.
Whether it’s an early champagne breakfast, midnight mass with the folks or a day by the pool with family, most stars will be putting their feet up and a Santa hat on tomorrow. A few others will still be hard at work.
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Here’s how your favourite celebs will spend, and celebrate, their Christmas — plus a few festival wishes and fond memories of years gone by.
BRUCE HOPKINS — BONDI RESCUE
I will be working through the Christmas period as head lifeguard at Bondi.
My partner and I celebrate Christmas with our families up in Port Stephens or here at our home in Woollahra either just before or after, so we don’t miss out.
GRANT DENYER - TV PRESENTER
The Denyers are road trippers. We drive for two days through the country to meet family up on the Gold Coast for Christmas and we basically chill the hell out.
No phones, just beach, pool, theme park and that’s about it for us.
It’s been a really amazing year. I’ve had some amazing experiences, winning the Gold Logie, best newcomer in radio, released a song, won some car races, watch two beautiful girls grow up in front of my eyes.
There’s lots to celebrate.
DAMI IM — SINGER
My Christmas wish would be the superpower to be able to eat everything.
My favourite memory of Christmas is when we went to visit our grandma in Korea and it started snowing on Christmas Eve.
It is the only time when freezing weather is forgivable.
MEL MCLAUGHLIN — SEVEN SPORTS ANCHOR
In the McLaughlin household there’s always some sort of sporting event going on.
Now with the next wave of grandkids, it brings a whole new meaning.
There’ll definitely be a game of backyard cricket, kicking the football or soccer ball around and jumping in the water.
BOGART TORELLI — SMOOTHFM RADIO HOST
For Christmas, I wish everyone good health, happiness and lots of laughter. To hold close to our hearts, our loved ones no longer with us and a warm hug to the lonely.
SAMANTHA ARMYTAGE - SUNRISE HOST
We will be celebrating Christmas in the country with a hot lunch, prawns, champagne and a million flies.
The Armytage tradition is to go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. I insist on it, even though I’m a lapsed Catholic schoolgirl.
Then we put out peanuts and beer for Santa and carrots and water for the reindeer, then everyone heads off to bed with much excitement.
On Christmas morning we unwrap presents with a glass of champagne — I started that tradition!
Then it’s all hands on deck in the kitchen to put together a huge hot lunch.
SUSIE PORTER — WENTWORTH ACTOR
Christmas is family. We have a Kris Kringle, where we pick a name out of a hat and buy a really lovely present.
ANDREW WINTER — SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA & LOVE IT OR LIST IT AUSTRALIA
Where I am age-wise and career-wise, I have absolutely no ambitions other than to carry on with what I’m doing.
I’ve got the job I love and I just want to continue with that until I retire.
DAVID KOCH - SUNRISE HOST
It’s no secret that I’m absolutely mad for Christmas. And the Koch Family Christmas is full of traditions.
I always read The Night Before Christmas to my five grandchildren on Christmas Eve, right before we leave carrots out for the reindeer and some port for Santa.
The entire family stays the night and I buy everyone matching PJs in a new theme every year. We love it.
It’s all hands on deck at Christmas. Eggnog, fruit mince pies, lunch with all the trimmings.
It really is the most wonderful time of the year, and a time when we should all stop, put the baggage of the year behind us and realise what’s important in life — having your loved ones around you.
DAVID BERRY — OUTLANDER ACTOR
I feel like I’m hitting my stride. As an actor, you always have to relish the moments that you’re in work, because it’s such a privilege, and even more so when you’re on two shows at the same time — two very well-loved shows. So I’m very thankful for that.
BRETT LEE — FOX CRICKET
We have some pretty epic games.
My older brother Shane played for Australia and my younger brother Grant played NSW under-17s.
My young one (Preston) is a very good cricketer. He’s made the junior state team.
There’s no love lost when there’s cricket on in the Lee backyard.
LAURA JAYES — SKY NEWS
I love being a mum — I find my daughter to be such a joy and it makes everything really worth it. It makes your job so much more satisfying.
You’re always tired and you’re always busy, but there’s always something exciting going on — and you’re coming home to that little face.
RYAN JOHNSON — ACTOR
I hope that everyone feels safe inside and outside their house this Christmas. It’s something I often take for granted.
I’m spending the day with family and I’m cooking this year. It’ll be a seafood lunch, whole snapper (I hope I can pull it off), prawns, salad, crusty bread.
I’ll have a pork shoulder in the oven all day, to shred up on rolls with coleslaw for mates that evening.
DR HARRY — BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
At 74, I believe I have all the tangibles that I need. I wish, as I have always wished, for Peace in the World. I think that’s what John Lennon wanted too.
LAURA GORDON — ACTOR
I will always remember dancing around the presents under our tree with my brothers, singing Rock Around The Clock, in an attempt to pass the time until it we were allowed to unwrap them.
JOHANNA GRIGGS — BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
My Christmas wish is to finish planting my fruit trees, and the fencing for my bee hives. I’m obsessed.
We will have part of the family over for breakfast and then all the family over at ours for a big Christmas dinner and evening celebration.
The day itself (and the lead-up days) will be in and out of the pool, and food prep time.
I can’t wait.
JIM WILSON — SEVEN SPORTS EDITOR
My favourite Christmas memory is all about family, laughter, banter and a game of backyard cricket in the late afternoon.
They were special times growing up on the Gold Coast with the extended family all living nearby.
TIM BAILEY — TEN WEATHER PRESENTER
Christmas trees means palm trees to me. We go chasing Santa in the South Seas and ride his reindeers to Raratonga. It’s a Cook Island Christmas for us.
I want nothing more than cherished, quiet time with my wife Sam — a fish burger and a cold beer.
OSHER GUNSBERG — BACHELOR HOST
All I want for Christmas is to be with my family. Stuff is just stuff. Time with people you love however, that you cannot buy.
That is what makes my heart sing and gives me memories to treasure.
My wish would be that our country will lead the world in tackling climate change — through energy policy, environmental policy and caring for the people in our community who are affected the most.
It is not a future thing, it is happening now and we would do well to get to work.
NATARSHA BELLING — STUDIO 10 PRESENTER/NEWS READER
Peace and more compassion is my wish for Christmas. Seriously, the world seems a little off balance at the moment, so peace and more compassion on both the national and international stage would be a welcomed change.
MIGUEL MAESTRE — THE LIVING ROOM PRESENTER
I’ll be spending Christmas with my family, at home. It’s the best way to spend Christmas.
I try not to go anywhere and just enjoy my children and beautiful wife — just cooking a massive feast as always.
I want health, I want all the people surrounding me to be happy. Health and happiness are the two biggest things I want for Christmas.
SAMANTHA JADE — SINGER
I have so many great memories of waking up on Christmas morning.
It was alway the best feeling to wake up with my family and unwrap gifts.
JAMES STEWART — HOME AND AWAY
Christmas food is delicious in our house.
The ham lasts for about three or four days — you have it on Christmas Day and then the morning after with eggs, at lunch in a toasted sandwich and at night with salad.
DAVID CAMPBELL — SINGER
Setting up the tree this year with the kids was the first time we didn’t have to put a baby guard around the tree, constantly worry about the toddlers breaking it or the tree breaking them!
It’s made me excited for the tradition of setting up the tree in the coming years.
TIM FRANKLIN — HOME AND AWAY
Every Christmas me and my family put on our Santa hats and go out for a surf.
ADAM HYDE — PEKING DUK MUSICIAN
Being a kid and getting a PlayStation with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 is my best memory.
I can remember it like it was yesterday. Great times.
PATRICK O’CONNOR — HOME AND AWAY
Dad and me like to get around the eggnog come Christmas Day, throw that in with a few Moreton Bay bugs and we’re set for the day.
JAI WAETFORD — SINGER
My grandad once dressed up as Santa and came to the front door with one of those old school car rugs that you could drive your little matchbox cars around and I was in heaven.
SOPHIE DILLMAN — HOME AND AWAY
My family always watch Christmas movies — we love The Grinch.
MICHAEL FALZON — ACTOR
It’s funny to think back on all our family Christmases — it’s been such a long time since I’ve been home for it as I’m always away performing somewhere.
I do remember being in my early teens though, back when my mum was alive, we — all her six kids — were running amok as we awaited a roast lunch.
She was adamant we couldn’t come into the kitchen but couldn’t help laughing so much when we blazed through, shouting and chasing each other.
KATE RITCHIE — NOVA RADIO HOST
My Christmas wish is for my parents to worry less!
BOGART TORELLI — SMOOTHFM RADIO HOST
For Christmas, I wish everyone good health, happiness and lots of laughter.
To hold close to our hearts, our loved ones no longer with us and a warm hug to the lonely.
SARAH ROBERTS — HOME AND AWAY
I love the whole Mariah Carey Christmas album, it reminds me of family time growing up.
MELISSA DOYLE — SMOOTHFM HOST/HOST OF SEVEN’S SUNDAY NIGHT
This Christmas my wish is for some downtime. Endless warm summer days by the pool with a stack of novels. And I’ve given up the New Year’s resolutions as I never keep them.
RAY MEAGHER — HOME AND AWAY
For 20 years I went to the UK over Christmas to do pantomime … but last year I experienced my first warm Christmas at home in years and thought, this is all right, so this year I’ll be relaxing and catching up with family and friends.
CAMERON DADDO — SMOOTHFM HOST
It’s my first Christmas in many years where I have not had a job or something major (like emigrating back to Australia) to contend with.
I plan to enjoy every minute of my time with my wife and kids, and all manner of family members!
Christmas is a special time to me simply for the opportunity it presents to be with family and friends.
Coupled with the new year, it’s a great time to give some love, receive some love and make a plan for the future.
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