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Maura Derrane’s Christmas: ‘I don’t think it’s good for kids to get a million presents’

The RTÉ presenter on Bad Santa, her best gifts and reliving the magic through her child

Maura Derrane

Shilpa Ganatra's face
Shilpa Ganatra
Mon Dec 6 2021 - 00:00

How big are you going on Christmas this year?
Big! We're much more home-orientated because we've been forced in our homes, and so we appreciate them more. For years, my husband, John [Deasy], and I used to go to exotic places. I loved going into the balmy waters of the Caribbean on Christmas morning. But it's a different dynamic when you have a seven-year-old child – you see the magic of Christmas through their eyes.

What decorations do you go for?
I love buying a decoration every year for the tree. I've got some from the Caribbean, Finland and New Zealand, and my sister got a Newbridge decoration for my son on his Christening day. John is a former TD, so he has amazing ones, like a White House decoration. As I hang them on the tree, I think about all the moments they mean.

Best and worst Christmas films?
It's the time of year when you indulge in laugh-out-loud films. I love Bad Santa, and Christmas cartoons too. I have a love/hate thing with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – that was all that was on in the 1970s, so I'm almost allergic to it now.

Best Christmas present?
The game Operation, and a doctor's kit. I bought my son a doctor's kit thinking he'd love it as much, but he was like, "What? I don't want to be a doctor."

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Operation

What's on your wish list?
I know it sounds boring, but one of the best things to get is a voucher. I'm very practical about presents. For years, John gave me jewellery that I didn't like, and now I just tell him what I want.

Favourite part of the Christmas meal?
I adore Christmas cake. I love the icing, I love the marzipan. I'll be eating Christmas cake from the start of December.

‘I adore Christmas cake.’ Photograph: Getty

What's the most irritating thing about Christmas?
There's so many ads for kids' toys, and it puts so much pressure on parents to buy them. I don't think it's good for kids to get a million presents – they won't appreciate them. Just get them one thing they want, and a few other treats.

What's on your Christmas jumper?
People sent me Christmas jumpers in the last few years and there's some funny ones, like one that says "All I want for Christmas is Prosecco".

Christmas