Photo by Gemma Hall

Have yourself a merry little Christmas present from Gabby Young, also featuring vocals from Stephen Ellis of Revere, available to listen to here, and download here! Gabby's love of Christmas is legendary, so we chatted to her about her favourite festive activities. See in the New year with her at The Southbank Centre.

RR:What's your earliest Christmas memory?

GY: My sister and I were up very late on Christmas Eve when I was about 7 and we heard sleigh bells and what sounded a lot like a sleigh land on our roof - still to this day I swear that was Father Christmas! I just think he ran out of presents years ago and now he likes to just go down our chimneys for fun!

RR:Favourite Christmas food?

GY:Well my mum does the best roast(ed:she really does) so Christmas Day lunch is incredible every year. We normally have Turkey but this year I hear it's Beef-mas which is fine by me as steak is my favourite food anytime and it means Yorkshire puds too!! I'm not so into mince pies but I love the pastry so mum always makes me little pastry balls with powdered sugar - yummy!

RR:The best Christmas present you've ever been given?

GY:I was about 6 and we got one of those kids' kitchens with plastic food and saucepans- it kept me happy and occupied for years so that has to win. Last year I got a Hammer Dulcimer from my boyfriend that my parents had been hiding for weeks before Christmas and it was a total surprise!

RR:How do you spend Christmas day?

GY: I'm a bit ridiculous around Christmas - still like a kid. I can't sleep on Christmas Eve and I wake really early and run round the house screaming 'IT'S CHRISTMAS'! I insist on only listening to Christmas music on the way to Church, sing the descants loudly and excitedly talk the whole way through the sermon about opening presents. After lunch it's all about games and a family dog walk. It's very traditional but full of laughter and silly hats!

RR: You're curating and performing at the New Year's Eve celebrations at The Southbank centre this year,what can we look forward to?

GY: Ooh so much - I was so honoured to be asked to do this; I've been working really hard with the team to throw the best NYE party ever. There will be all sorts of amazing bands, comedians, magicians, dancers, marching brass bands, silent discos with my favourite DJs and the whole thing is old school Hollywood themed so hopefully everyone will get dressed up and into the spirit of things. Because we are in the Royal Festival Hall we all go outside to watch the fireworks at midnight. It's going to be magical.

RR: Any New Year's resolutions for 2012?

GY: I have decided to get fit. I have always avoided any form of exercise and 2012 is the year to embrace it - it's probably due to the fact that I suddenly feel like I need to take better care of myself - I'm no longer a spring chicken and I've got another very busy year ahead of me!!