We have chocolates for BREAKFAS

TV cooking stars John Torode and Lisa Faulkner reveal their blended family Christmas plans and why you should ask guests to bring a plate of food

For John Torode and Lisa Faulkner, Christmas chitchat starts in August.

'The "What are we doing at Christmas?" conversation always happens quite early with John,' says Lisa, 52, of her MasterChef chef husband. 'At the end of summer he'll start talking about it and I'm like, "Really? We're there already?""" By this point, Australian-born John, 59, has started Christmas shopping, as well. 'Through the year, if I see something I like, I pick it up and tuck it away in the cupboard,' he tells Woman.

Then talk turns to the festive preparations, and how the pair are in harmony in the kitchen.

'We cook Christmas lunch together and we're a great team,' says Lisa. 'We divide and conquer!' So how do the feast-loving duo, who released their first joint cookbook, John & Lisa's Kitchen, in September, spend Christmas? Here, the couple reveal how the big day is spent with their blended family, including John's four kids from previous relationships, Lisa's daughter and, of course, their beloved dog, Rory!

You've released your first book together, which will be in a fair few Christmas stockings this year...

Lisa: I really hope that people will be unwrapping us on Christmas morning!

John: People actually getting our book for Christmas? That's the dream!

Lisa: We're very proud of it. We've been talking about it for a long time, and people who follow us on social media had been saying, 'When are you going to do a book?' And, finally, the stars aligned. It's got all the recipes from our series, then 60 of our favourite recipes from the past eight series.

Do you have a work Christmas party for two?