'There are teary moments for everybody'

From the joy of singing with Sir Rod Stewart to exploring Floella Benjamin's painful past, Anita Rani's new series is full of emotion

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When Anita Rani found herself belting out Christmas carols with none other than Sir Rod Stewart, all her festive dreams came true.

The presenter, 48, interviews the Maggie May singer and his wife Penny Lancaster for the first episode of My Life At Christmas With Anita Rani. Broadcaster and Paralympian Ade Adepitan features in episode two and children's TV icon Baroness Floella Benjamin closes the series, in which famous faces share their festive traditions, give thanks for their blessings and reveal what brings their joys and heartaches.

Sir Rod and Penny's episode reveals how the whole Stewart family clan gathers in the UK with a bagpiper kicking things off before Sir Rod, 80, starts jamming with his old Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood. But it's Anita who sings with Rod on this show - to her delight and embarrassment.

"I got to sit with Rod and Penny and chat with them about their individual lives and their lives together," says Anita. "Then Rod started singing and I joined in and my brain was going, 'Anita, shut up! Why am I singing with Rod Stewart?' But also it was magic. It was We Wish You A Merry Christmas."