It was a family affair on Lorraine’s Christmas Day special this year…
Lorraine Kelly was joined by granddaughter Billie and her dog, Ruby the dachshund. Social media sensation KSI, Coronation Street actress Jane Danson and pop icon Katy Perry also featured in the festive episode broadcast this morning.
The show also wouldn’t be complete without three wise men, of which Lorraine enlisted the help of experts Dr Hilary, Dr Amir and Mark Heyes, plus, a sprinkling of Hollywood sparkle from showbiz guru Ross King.
Taking viewers behind the scenes of the recording of their chart-topping version of ‘Love is All Around’, Lorraine partook in a festive performance with Scottish singer Marti Pellow and the Change + Check Choir.
Joined by Marti on the sofa, they looked back on the collaboration, with Marti noting: “I always say ‘Love is All Around’ is like a wee tree and this is another branch to it. It had a message and a purpose and I’m so grateful for the experience because I had so many memories tied up with that song and to have another extension with a sense of purpose and a mission and working with all of those powerful women.”
Marti discussed the WhatsApp group he is in with the members of the Change + Check Choir and joked: “The wee WhatsApp group, I always jump in to say, ‘How are the girls today? What’s going on?’.”
During the show, Lorraine was also joined by global music star and social media sensation KSI. Talking about his upcoming role on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, KSI said: “It was amazing, I had the time of my life, got to see all sorts of talent. It was also funny as well, I don’t want to spoil it but I got to see a lot of funny talent.” Lorraine asks: “Were you sort of verging on more Simon Cowell-esque, than nicey nicey?” KSI says: “Yes… I guess I was maybe a bit too harsh at some points but I meant well.”
Also popping onto Lorraine’s festive sofa was Coronation Street regular Jane Danson. Lorraine suggested a soap collaboration: “Has anybody ever thought of doing this, obviously there are these worlds, there’s Coronation Street and there’s Emmerdale, would you not love to do a merger? Do you not think it would be really good?”
Jane responds: “I’ve always said, soap and television are changing so who knows what would happen, but I’ve always quite liked the idea of Cain Dingle coming over to have a pint in the Rovers and Leanne could have a little date with him, she needs a bad boy I think.”
Finally, in an exclusive interview with Katy Perry, Ross King sat down for afternoon tea with the global pop icon ahead of her Katy Perry: Night of a Lifetime special.
Sharing her Christmas traditions, Katy said: “We open a present the night before, as Daisy is four, she’s becoming more aware of it and all the traditions, she’ll be writing her letter to Santa. We have an elf on the shelf, do they have elf on the shelf in the UK? It’s really a wonderful tool for being on the nice list I will tell you.”
The Christmas special also featured cameos from a number of famous faces with festive well wishes for viewers from: Luke Evans, Amy Dowden, Donny Osmond, Stephen Fry, Boy George, Martin Clunes, Mary Berry, Bob Geldof, Sarah Ferguson Duchess of York and Lulu to name just a few.
Lorraine, weekdays, 9am on ITV1, ITVX, STV & STV Player
