This Morning’s Christmas Day special

This Morning’s Christmas Day special

10am on ITV1 and ITVX

This Morning then returns Wednesday 27th December from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX

• ALISON HAMMMOND, DERMOT O’LEARY, JOSIE GIBSON AND CRAIG DOYLE DELIVER CHRISTMAS DAY SPECIAL PACKED WITH FESTIVE FUN, HEARTWARMING SURPRISES AND STAR-STUDDED GUESTS 

For the fourth year running This Morning will deliver a special two hour This Morning Christmas show packed with treats and this year's show is no exception featuring plenty of festive fun! 

Fronted by a sequin-clad Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary - in a jumper knitted by his Norwegian mother-in-law - the duo are also joined in the studio by Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle, gamesmaster Gyles Brandreth, and John Torode MBE in the kitchen with his top tips on how to upgrade your Christmas Dinner. 

The show will head ‘Down Under’ to speak with British expats wanting to wish their families a Merry Christmas and meet Neighbours legend Alan Fletcher, viewers will also get to see Santa Claus himself and an unforgettable Lapland adventure with some Make-A-Wish UK families before Alison, Dermot, Josie, Craig and Gyles sit down to open their presents to one another.
 

Whilst all were grateful for their gifts, it was Alison who was the most surprised by hers.

Dermot: “You’ve got something lovely. So, at the moment you’ve got the day off but where are you performing panto right now?” 

Alison: “In Birmingham.” 

Dermot: “Yeah, whereabouts?” 

Alison: “The Hippodrome.” 

Dermot: “The Birmingham Hippodrome. Well it’s a very special place for you and a lifelong dream that you’re performing there.” 

Alison: “Massively!” 

Dermot: “So we took the liberty of doing something… Can we just take a look at this?”

“So, we’ve named a seat ‘Alison Hammond, TV Queen and pantomime star’. That’s named after you in perpetuity forever. 

Alison breaks down in tears and explains: “I’m so sorry I’m crying, you don’t understand what that would have meant to my mum.” 

Dermot: “With that in mind, we know you used to go there with your mother so we’ve got the next seat along, we’ve just named it after your mother. 

“Now, we know also, we’ve talked about it many times that one of her favourite musicals was West Side Story so we’ve put ‘the most beautiful sound I ever heard, Maria’ on there.” 

Dermot leans in to give his friend a big hug and an emotional Alison says: “Thank you so much, that’s the best Christmas present I ever had. I love it, sorry I didn’t realise it was going to be a lovely present… I love it, thank you.”

Alexandra Burke and twice Grammy Award winning Gregory Porter provide some magical music performances, plus TV legends Brian Conley and Brenda Blethyn pop by to discuss what to watch this Christmas - including the EastEnders Christmas special and a Vera Christmas special - before Dermot, Alison, Josie and Craig go head-to-head playing some brilliant party games! 

Please credit: This Morning’s Christmas Day special, 10am on ITV1 and ITVX

This Morning then returns Wednesday 27th December from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX

Images available from Shutterstock