It may come as a surprise to fans of Blue that fun-loving singer Lee Ryan is planning a quiet Christmas, but for the family-focused star there’s nothing better than spending the festive season with his loved ones.
“It’s just me and my mum this Christmas Day, so we’ve decided not to cook; we’ll go the pub and let someone else cook for us,” says Lee in his Christmas message for HELLO!, adding that Christmas morning is reserved for his son Rayn, eight.
“I’ll be with my little boy in the morning opening presents,” he says, “then come down [to lunch], and my family all come in later. So a bit of a staggered Christmas.”
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That’s not to say he couldn’t create his own festive feast. Lee, 33, loves cooking so much that he even offered to make breakfast for the HELLO! team while treating us to a snippet from his upcoming holiday concert.
“I’m doing a gig and I’m meant to be singing Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song. I’ve got to learn it. I know ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…’, but that’s the only bit I know!”
The singer and actor had no qualms getting into the holiday mood with our selection of festive props – and to our delight went straight for the Christmas Pudding costume.
Lee’s own favourite Christmas memories are full of laughter, especially with his mum Sheila and sister Gemma.
"When I was younger we lived in a block of flats. We were opening up our Christmas presents, I must have only been about 10, and there was this kid [in the flat] below us and every time he opened up a present he [whooped] because he was so excited. I just remember me, mum and my sister laughing our heads off because he sounded like a choo-choo-train."
And it was his previous visits to Great Ormond Street Hospital that inspired him to support their campaign to help keep families together this Christmas.
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“I’ve worked with Great Ormond Street loads of times, through our career with Blue and by myself,” he tells us.
“They’re a great charity, they do so much. If anyone’s out there that would like to donate then please, anything small or big helps to make a bigger pie. A Christmas pudding pie!”
Lee and his Blue bandmates
We hope that you will join Lee and HELLO! by supporting this very worthy cause. We all like to be with our loved ones this time of year. For the families of patients at Great Ormond Street Hospital, this is especially true.
With your support, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity could help fund family accommodation so mums, dads, brothers and sisters can stay close by, or help fund the creation of bigger rooms in new hospital wards so parents of the most seriously ill children can stay by their bedside 24 hours a day.
The charity also funds play specialists so that children can enjoy some festive fun despite going through very difficult times, and funds research and equipment that will enable the hospital to find new cures and save more lives.
Every donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity will help keep families together this Christmas. And be sure to check back tomorrow to find out which of our wonderful celebs will be popping out from door number 10!
Make a donation to GOSH CC online, or by texting FIVE to 70111*
Check back tomorrow to see who's behind door number 10!
*Texts cost £5 plus your standard network rate. Please ask the bill payer’s permission. Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity will receive 100% of your gift. We may contact you to tell you more about our work; if you would prefer we didn’t text NOCALL GOSH to 78866. Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Registered charity no. 1160024