TV presenter Laura Hamilton is swapping A Place in the Sun for – fingers crossed – a white Christmas as she prepares her London home for a family Christmas. Laura and husband Alex Goward are parents to Rocco, three, and 18-month-old Tahlia, and she has been delighted to get the children into the festive spirit, making gingerbread houses and mince pies in preparation for the big day.
"Traditionally as a kid I remember getting up at three or four in the morning, so excited it was Christmas day," Laura tells HELLO! in her special Christmas message in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital. "This is the first year Rocco really gets it, and he's very excited about Father Christmas coming."
Taking to the screen like a natural, Rocco explains what happens on Christmas Eve. "When Father Christmas comes, he jumps down the chimney and into my room when I'm asleep and delivers a present," he said, adding that he's hoping for a gingerbread man this year.
"A gingerbread man – it's Rocco's favourite thing," says his doting mum.
"It's such a magical time of year. For me it's all about spending time with family, not necessarily about how many present you get or what they are," she continues. "It's being surrounded by the people you love and I feel really lucky that I've got Rocco, Tahlia and my husband Alex with me this year and we're going to be at home in our house in the UK."
With her own family in mind, Laura is keen to help others stay together over the holidays, and appeals to HELLO! readers to join our campaign for Great Ormond Street Hospital. "Merry Christmas everyone. Don't forget to donate to Great Ormond Street," she says.
We hope that you will join Laura 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 15!
Make a donation to GOSH CC online, or by texting FIVE to 70111*
*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