Michael McIntyre reveals secret to giving perfect Christmas presents
His wife Kitty is never disappointed and here's why...
Michael McIntyre lets TV Mag in on some festive Big Show secrets – and reveals how his gift buys are always just right...
Were you happy with how last year’s Big Show festive special on Christmas Eve was received?
More people watched our show than anything else! All the soaps were on but we won the night. And I’m really glad because it was a Christmas entertainment show. One of the weirdest things about Christmas in this country is that people love to watch EastEnders when everyone’s in floods of tears and there’s a huge row. I don’t know if watching it makes them feel better about their own day. Personally, I would rather try to be a bit more positive!
The Midnight Game Show was a new addition to the Big Show this year – will there be a festive edition of that?
We might have done a Christmas Midnight Game Show… There will be a lot of people coming through the bedroom for that: ‘Name this reindeer’ would be a fun quiz question. I can’t reveal too many details about the show – there will be lots of surprises – but Bill Bailey’s going to be doing some comedy and I think Seal is singing a Christmas song. I have done so many jokes about Christmas, though, so I have no idea what I’m going to say this year.
Who’s easier to buy Christmas gifts for – you or your wife Kitty?
I buy what Kitty tells me to buy! There are no surprises. She tells me the shop. She normally puts it aside in the shop. She basically goes shopping for herself but doesn’t take it home. So then I go round all the shops going: “There should have been something left here?” Christmas Day is just her opening presents going: “Correct.” I usually do quite well with presents, but the problem with Christmas is it’s such a big build-up and such a big day that if someone tests you the year after, you’ve got no idea what you got. A lot of people don’t even go in their living room outside of that time of year.
People have their special room for Christmas. One year my mum left her present on the arm of the sofa
and it was still there the following Christmas! I was like: “That was last year’s!” It actually made it back into the pile again. That’s another thing that doesn’t change at Christmas – the pile. It doesn’t matter if you’re eight or 88, you will open your presents and then keep a very protective watch over your pile. Then you will gather your pile and take it to your room: “These are my winnings.”
Michael Mcintyre’s Big Christmas Show Christmas Eve, 8.30pm, BBC One
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