Comedian Harry Hill does Christmas in his own unique way in this week's HELLO! magazine – in an outlandish, spoof 'at home' shoot; complete with an enormous tree, silly presents and… a rubber duck. Celebrating his new film The Harry Hill Movie, the star was full of energy and laughs as he larked about on set, clad in a sequin suit and sharing his plans for the festive season.
Christmas is very much a family affair for the comedian, 49, who will spend the day at home in Kent with his wife Magda and three daughters Kitty, 16, Winifred, 15, and nine-year-old Frederica. "It can all be a bit of a faff," he jokes. "But I've got three daughters so they enjoy it. We wake up, stockings for the kids and all that (Satsuma in the bottom, depending on what Santa decides of course), then my mum or my wife's mum will turn up. "There's always something going off but they're pretty good," he says of his girls. "We're more like friends."
The zany comedian says his dream Christmas dinner guests would be his comedy heroes. "Laurel and Hardy, Tommy Cooper," he says immediately. "Best get some live ones in. Who would I have that's alive? Jennifer Saunders. "Famous duo Laurel and Hardy were also inspirations for Harry's new film, which hits cinemas on 20 December and also features BIFA winner Julie Walters, Sheridan Smith and Matt Lucas as Harry's evil twin. In the adventure, Harry heads off on a madcap road trip with his nan when the comedian is told his pet hamster Abu is dying. Harry describes it as the perfect Christmas film, and in particular praises his co-star Julie, who plays Nan. "I can't see it, but she reckons there was a family resemblance," laughs Harry, "and that wig is the same wig Helen Mirren wore as the Queen. So Nan is what the Queen would look like if she didn't put her hair in curlers!"See the full exclusive article in HELLO! magazine, issue 1308, out now.