From his unusual family tradition to his controversial Christmas tipple, chef Rick Stein left his fellow radio guests stunned with his revelations
Samantha Masters Content Editor
14:02, 28 Nov 2025
Rick Stein left guests stunned with his family tradition (Image: ITV)
Rick Stein stunned BBC Radio 2’s Scott Mills and his guests this morning when he disclosed his family’s “dangerous” Christmas tradition. During a discussion about putting up the Christmas tree, the celebrity chef revealed how dramatically different things were during his 1950s childhood.
Speaking live on air to Scott, Maisie Adam, and Rag’n’Bone Man, Rick disclosed that his parents would place real candles on their festive tree.
The 78-year-old elaborated: “It’s interesting actually, one of the things when I was little, we didn’t have electric candles on the Christmas tree, right, because it was in the 50s.
“Other people didn’t, maybe they were around, but my father was of German origin, although he was born in England, so he had real candles.”
Seeking clarification on what she’d just heard, Maisie responded: “On the tree?”, to which he said: “Yeah.”
Recognising the potential hazard this could present, Scott proceeded to playfully warn listeners. He chimed in: “Please don’t try that at home, it was the 50s.”
Ricks Stein also shared his controversial Christmas drink(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Remaining astounded, Maisie pressed him further. “Real candles on a pine tree? That’s an absolute recipe for disaster,” she remarked.
Rick elaborated: “The point was, me and my sister Henrietta, we just weren’t allowed to see the tree until everything had been put on there and the lit candles, and then we were allowed into the room and the effect on us was just mesmeric.”
Following Maisie’s suggestion that it could’ve triggered a forest fire, Rick responded: “It could’ve been, but they were only on for 20 minutes, somebody was keeping an eye on them.”
Subsequently, the celebrity chef shocked his fellow participants even more by revealing that his preferred festive beverage is a Negroni.
Rick maintained that the cocktail was particularly popular amongst chefs and, during gatherings, would be presented in a “big jar”.
“One of those big glass jars with a little tap underneath,” he clarified. “So you don’t have to wait while the cocktail maker makes it, so it’s there.”
Scott playfully responded with: “It’s genuinely dangerous around Rick Stein, if it’s not candles, forest fires, there’s like free-pouring of Negroni!”.
Scott Mills swiftly issued a warning to listeners after Rick’s admission (Image: BBC)
Disclosing another festive tradition, the chef admitted he loves to go to his local pub on Christmas Day.
While discussing his publication Rick Stein’s Christmas, he said he aimed to be relatable by sharing not only recipes, but also occasions “when things go wrong”.
“I always find it fascinating that chefs still have festive failures,” Scott acknowledged.
Rick answered: “I think in my case, I’m quite prone to accidents, but also, I guess one of the problems with my Christmas is, what I love on Christmas day is going to the pub just for an hour.
“But it slightly unhinges the rest of Christmas, and what is supposed to be a Christmas lunch ends up being served about half past three.
“The pub on Christmas Day, everybody comes in and it’s just really special.”
