'Christmas is ALL IN THE PLANNING'

Woman talks to legendary chef Jamie Oliver about preparation, cutting costs and appreciating a good whisky!

- STEPHEN LENG

For any celebrity chef, Christmas is, of course, a busy time of year. So we were delighted when we got the opportunity to speak to Jamie Oliver to find out his tips and tricks for making what can be a very stressful meal into something more joyful. Because with five children, it's no surprise this is an area that Jamie, 50, and wife Jools, who turns 51 this month, are experts in. We caught up with Jamie to find out more.

What are your five top tips for getting Christmas dinner ready?

Prep, prep, prep, prep and prep! It really is all in the planning. This will save you time on the day, so you can actually enjoy yourself! That's what my festive TV show, Jamie's Cook-Ahead Christmas, is all about.

JAMIE'S FAIL-SAFE TIPS

1 Plan your oven space. It's really important you take the time to work out what needs to go in the oven and when, so you're not left with a dilemma like having to choose between cooking the roasties or cooking the stuffing! Start with the time you want to sit down to eat, and work backwards.

2 Cook your gravy ahead of time. A good gravy will hide a multitude of cooking sins, so make it a couple of weeks before, getting it perfect, and freeze it. Then heat it up on the day.

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