Nigella Lawson reveals what she’ll be having for Christmas dinner… and it isn’t turkey

Nigella Lawson said she will not cook a turkey "for the first time ever" this Christmas as she unveiled her personal festive dinner plans.

Millions of Britons will not be allowed to spend the coming days with their loved ones owing to strict new coronavirus restrictions.

The celebrity chef, 60, said she felt that sticking to traditions while not being able to enjoy "a family Christmas" would remind her of “what's missing".

So, instead, she and her household bubble will be tucking into pork.

Revealing that she “only made the decision a couple of days ago” Nigella told the BBC’s Newscast podcast:  “For the first time ever, I am not going to do a turkey – and I always do.”

She continued: "It's not going to be a normal family Christmas, therefore I think I will feel less sad doing something that is just a lovely lunch, that takes in a few Christmas traditions from elsewhere that interest me, but (does) not... make me feel what's missing."

She added: "One of the things I think we've all realised is how we miss having people round our table.

“Therefore all that worrying over 'is this perfect, should we do this or that' you realise is actually secondary to the feeling of eating with other people."

But Nigella acknowledged that many people would take the opposite approach and cling to their old routines on December 25.

"I would have thought, for many people, the strange conditions under which we live will make them want to cleave to the traditions, and not add new and different things," she said.

Nigella hosted a Christmas special of her BBC Two series Cook, Eat, Repeat last night.

Tweeting a sneak preview of the hotly anticipated episode, she wrote: “Please bear in mind it was made a few months back when the rule of 6 applied; all guidelines at the time were followed.

“Please do join me for an hour of deliciousness!”

Alongside the recipe for her “Norwegian pork ribs” centrepiece, the domestic goddess delighted viewers with “luscious vegan gingerbread”, a “chip gratin” and some “immodestly named perfect roast potatoes".

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