Gareth Malone is one of Britain's best known choirmasters, and certainly no stranger to the battle for Christmas number 1s, after storming the charts in 2011 with the Military Wives Choir. Now Gareth, who has spent much of his career bringing choral music to the masses, is releasing his first Christmas album, A Great British Christmas, which has seen him travel the country to capture the sound of musicians from local communities.
Read our exclusive interview with Gareth in this week's issue, on sale now
Joining HELLO!'s campaign to support Great Ormond Street Hospital, Gareth reveals his personal favourite carols. "I mean, I do love a bit of Jingle Bells, but I really love In The Bleak Midwinter, I think that's my favourite," he tells us in his exclusive video message.
Out of limelight, the 41-year-old choirmaster will be spending Christmas at home with his family, wife Becky and children Esther, six, and Gilbert, three.
"Generally my wife is more a cook than I am but at Christmas I get heavily involved and prepare the Christmas goose," he tells us, admitting that music plays a big part of their family day. "For me Christmas every year starts very early on Christmas Eve with the cooking of the goose and then we listen to Carols from King's every single year."
"Santa in our house always gets a carrot and mince pie and large glass of whisky," he adds. "The whiskey always gets drunk."
Gareth has long supported children's charities through his work, and was delighted to get involved in our campaign to help keep families together with Great Ormond Street. "If you feel able to, Christmas is a very important time for giving. Please donate the Great Ormond Street Hospital to help keep families together at Christmas," he says.
We hope that you will join Gareth 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 20!
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
With thanks to London Marriott Hotel County Hall.
