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Jarlath Regan: ‘If I can get back to Ireland for Christmas, I’ll go big’

‘We’ll have a Christmas tree with a compulsory Lego Christmas village underneath’

London-based Irish comedian Jarlath Regan: ‘I’m pushing for people not to spend money on me because not everyone is saying how hard they are finding it financially.’

Shilpa Ganatra's face
Shilpa Ganatra
Tue Nov 30 2021 - 06:00

How big are you going on Christmas this year?
If I can get back to Ireland, I'll go big. I'll see everyone possible and go to every old haunt I used to. You really appreciate it more because you missed out on it last year.

What decorations do you go for?
Here in England, the biggest part is lighting the house because the street does an advent calendar of windows. And we'll have a Christmas tree with a compulsory Lego Christmas village underneath.

Best and worst Christmas films?
Home Alone and Die Hard. Die Hard isn't one you'll show toddlers but Home Alone probably has as much violence. The absolute worst film is Love Actually – it falls in to that category of pre-engineered Christmas schmaltz.

Best Christmas present?
My then girlfriend and now wife Tina got me a pair of Clarks Wallabees. I didn't think they were a possibility because I had no money, she had no money, and they were expensive. It caught me off-guard how well she knew me, and how far she would go to make me happy that Christmas.

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What's on your wish list?
I thought I was over my sneakers addiction, but then I started running and a whole new vault of running shoes that I would never have previously considered are now in the offing. Outside of that, I don't want anything for Christmas. I'm pushing for people not to spend money on me because not everyone is saying how hard they are finding it financially. There's always a quietness to that struggle.

Favourite part of the Christmas meal?
The anticipation. In so many scenarios, the anticipation is better than the thing itself. And the preparation is far more fun than the savagery that takes place at the table.

What's the most irritating thing about Christmas?
It has to be the lingering sense of panic beforehand that never really subsides. I suffer with anxiety a bit, but the panic of Christmas is unique because even when you think you've got it all done, it doesn't feel like it, and there's a chance it can all go wrong.

What's on your Christmas jumper?
Last year I invested in a Christmas Hawaiian shirt, which was way better than the Christmas jumper, which is always too hot and itchy. The shirt was a game changer. It's basically Christmas wrapping paper in shirt form and I adore it.

For Jarlath Regan's Christmas cards, visit jigser.com.

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