Back in November, singer-songwriter Tom Grennan turned on the iconic Oxford Street Christmas lights with GOSH patient Emily to kick start the festive season in the UK. We managed to get an exclusive interview in which he shares with us memories of Christmases gone by, his love of Oxford Street and the best Christmas presents! Read on to find out more…
You’ve just turned on the iconic Oxford Street Christmas lights, how do you feel?
It’s amazing, it’s an iconic moment and a massive honour to be asked to do it, and to be doing it with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity) is even better. I just met a little girl called Emily who helped me turn the lights on, and to just see how much joy and how much light and spirit it brings to everybody, especially people like Emily and little kids like her, it’s amazing.
What’s your favourite thing about Oxford Street and the West End?
I think for me Oxford Street definitely brings back memories from being a kid. I’m from Bedford, so coming up to London and going to Oxford Street, especially at Christmastime – there is magic in the air. Christmas is everywhere, in the whole of London and even more so in the West End – people are in the pubs, out and about shopping, there is a real sense of spirit, you know?
Why is it important to be supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity?
For me it’s so important to be supporting GOSH Charity because I had the chance to see what Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity does first hand. I went in January and I meet so many kids going through the biggest things. But to see what the charity does for these kids, bringing hope, dreams and joy – I saw so many kids smiling and like I say, they’re going through some traumatic and life-changing and just unthinkable things, and to see them smiling throughout it, it’s unbelievable. The work that the charity is doing for these kids is unmatched and to be involved with it, it’s an even bigger honour.
What is the best gift you’ve received or given?
Ok, the best gift I’ve ever been given, is when I was a kid. My dad is Irish and I have a big Irish family, and I remember I was given this Ireland jersey. It was 2002, I think, and it had this zipper and I just remember opening it up and just being like, oh wow, I’ve got this Ireland shirt – I wore it around the whole year. I remember being under the tree and opening it up and just being amazed. We spent a lot of Christmases in Ireland too, so that brings back good memories. And the best present I’ve ever given…I think for me, it was when I took my family away on holiday for some winter sun. To be able to do that, me, my brother, my mum and dad – to have time together was a dream and was so, so lovely because we don’t really get to do family holidays anymore. So to be able to do that was cool.
What’s the one thing Christmas dinner can’t do without?
Roast potatoes. If you’re having a Christmas dinner without roast potatoes, you’re nuts.
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