The Saturdays singer Una Healy and husband Ben Foden tell us what Santa has planned this year for their children


December 20, 2016

For Saturdays singer Una Healy and her rugby player husband Ben Foden, Christmas this year is all about their children Aoife, four, and Tadhg, who will be two in February – and a couple of Santa's little elves.

"Christmas in our house has obviously changed an awful lot since having kids," Una tells HELLO! in the family's Christmas message. "It's become a lot more exciting."

"This year Aiofe has got this little Elf on a Shelf and he's going to watch her all month – and Tadhg as well – to make sure they're a very good girl and boy," she says of their Christmas plans. "Santa then obviously will come on Christmas Eve, the kids will have to go to bed early and while they're sleeping he's going to arrive and bring them all their toys if they've been good."

"I'm going to call him Spike," Aiofe says of her elf, clearly looking forward to showing him why she deserves to be on Father Christmas' Nice List.

This year, the family is playing host to Una's family, who are visiting from Ireland.

"It's just about being a big kid again, isn't it?" says Ben. "These guys running around opening stockings, presents under the trees, the dog chewing everything up as usual, but it should be a good day – something to look forward to."

For chart-topping singer Una, her favourite Christmas songs reflect her Irish upbringing.

"My personal favourite Christmas song has to be the Fairytale Of New York; I just absolutely love it. The Pogues and Kirsty McCall, it's just such a beautiful song," she says.

"Is it really?" laughs Ben. "Isn't it a bit doom and gloom?"

"No, it's really festive," Una protests. "Another great Christmas song is by my Uncle Declan [Nerney] in Ireland. He's a country singer and he's got the Christmas Hooley. That's a great one as well."

And while the family gets ready for an indulgent Christmas, Ben admits he will be keeping away from the egg nog while he trains for holiday matches.

"I always play on boxing day or new years day, this year the day before Christmas Eve," he says. "So usually I'm working all the way through [Christmas]. It's not really a time for me to sit around and get fat eating turkey, drinking in the festive spirits for me, it usually involved training and playing, so I have to stay on my mantle. I always get Christmas day off, so it's not so bad."

Una and Ben are helping HELLO! support Great Ormond Street Hospital this year, and we hope that you will join us in 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 21!

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

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