With many of us thinking about how we’re going to spend this Christmas in light of the various restrictions currently in place around the country, Victoria Derbyshire has admitted she won’t be playing ball.

The presenter says she intends to spend the festive period with her relatives and is willing to break the rules to do so.

She told Radio Times: “If the rule of six is still in place at Christmas, we’re breaking it to have the rule of seven. We just are. 

“Joining me, my husband and our two boys will be my mum, her partner and my husband’s dad.”

The presenter admitted she felt “irresponsible” getting together with more than six people from different households but would be taking precautions.

“It’s fine,” she said. “We’ll do it knowing what the risks are. We’re not stupid. We’re going to be sensible and buy a thermometer gun. But we have to be together at Christmas.

“It feels almost irresponsible saying that, but I don’t think we’re alone in feeling that way. We need to see my elderly mum and my husband’s elderly dad. We just do.”

Victoria has since apologised for her comments in Radio Times.

Victoria also told the magazine that it was family she has missed the most during the pandemic.

“What I’ve missed most is having loads of people round my house and seeing family,” she said.

“My mum lives in Bolton, I live in London, so I’ve not been able to see her much. We do Zoom calls every Saturday, but that’s it. It’s mad.”

Read the full interview with Victoria in this week’s Radio Times, out now. www.radiotimes.com