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Hello everyone

I would usually sit down to write this

The wool pack

Our December picks

Jenni Murray

Binge-watching Rivals, our columnist is transported back to a time of sexism and stilettos – and a rather steamy encounter

In my experience… Cliff Parisi

The Call the Midwife actor, 64, talks about being a great-grandad, crash landing a small plane and having a Father Christmas face

This month we talk… Christmas cards

Each month our insight team conducts a poll of Saga customers to find out what you’re thinking. This month: festive greetings

On the second day of Christmas…

They are a symbol of love and fidelity and feature in one of our most popular festive songs, yet the turtle dove is Britain’s fastest declining bird. Now conservationists – including a team of volunteers aged over 50 – are helping to turn the tide

Season’s greetings

Hello and welcome to our Christmas issue, which

Novel ideas

Cosy crime, cracking jokes, foodie pleasure and fairy tales. Our pick of the best books for giving

Dog Martin

Best known as the emotionless, pooch-loathing Doc Martin, in real life, actor Martin Clunes, 63, has a passion for all creatures great and small – especially those of the canine variety, as he told us when we visited him on his Dorset farm

The pub Quiz of the year

From mayoral elections and marriages to missed birthdays and moggie millionaires, our bumper set of teasers will test your knowledge of the past 12 months

The novel, the killer & the podcast sleuths

When a Second World War aficionado was introduced to a long-forgotten book telling the real story of Arnhem, he longed to have it republished – and that would mean solving the 80-year mystery of its anonymous author

It’s never too late to… be an athlete

When retired solicitor Sarah Roberts , 75, started running, she didn’t expect to win triple gold in competitions and break world records

Rhyme and reason

With her uplifting anthologies, Allie Esiri has proved that poems do sell. Here she explains why we can all find meaning and solace in the words of a poet

‘It’s a time for family … and for rowdy parties’

Jamborees, games, rum shops throwing open their doors: while Christmas in the West Indies may be noisier than in the UK, the message is the same, explains our columnist

Ask Annie

Our straight-talking, no-nonsense agony aunt tackles the problems troubling you

Deck the halls

INTERIORS / GARDENS / FOOD / WINE / TECH / BEAUTY

Bring the outdoors in

Your garden may be in retreat but it’s a rich source of decorations – and a great place of escape for some peace and planning

A touch of frosting

Christmas TV favourites Nigella Lawson, Prue Leith and Mary Berry plate up three delicious festive desserts

Tried & tasted

Don’t let stodgy stollen, miserable mince pies or a poor quality pud ruin the big day. Our mother and daughter duo have picked the finest traditional treats to serve this season

Lovely bubbly

Everyone deserves a bit of fizz at Christmas, so raise your glass to the best sparkling wines and Champagnes, as chosen by our expert

A tech of a present

Santa a may still rely on reindeer to power his sleigh, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a master of more modern gadgets. Our expert joins the elves and picks some of his top gifts for all the family

The gift of beauty

Looking for something more exciting than socks? Our columnist shares 12 brilliant beauty items that are great to give – and receive

Generation games

Our columnist may not embrace all the festivities of 25 December, but there’s one tradition that he always takes seriously…

Ask Dr Mark

YOUR QUESTIONS / BLOOD PRESSURE / MUSIC

PRESSURE TEST

We all thought we knew what counted as high blood pressure, but now there’s a new category called ‘elevated blood pressure’. What is it – and should we be treating it?

Fine tune your health

Whether we’re belting out carols or listening to our favourite songs on the radio, the sound of music is an incredible healer – lifting mood, aiding recovery… and maybe even helping us feel young

Old age, young love

While visiting the harbour, our columnist falls in love – leading to some impulsive Christmas shopping… for himself

Paul Lewis

From pensions and bus fares to inheritance rules and Capital Gains Tax, our expert looks at what the Budget means for you – and for your money

December 2024 Money news

New guarantees for scam victims, pensions to rise, final call for Winter Fuel Payments and Carer’s Allowance rules change

NICE AND KNEESY

THE DOLOMITES / LETTER FROM AMERICA

Letter from America

As another year wraps up in the

Chill out!

EVENTS / THEATRE / FILM / RADIO / PODCAST / CHRISTMAS TV

out and about

EVENT Christmas light trails and ice skating NATIONWIDE

FILM

‘This is a world of whispers in corridors,

DECADE BUSTERS

TURNING 50 Ben Shephard TV presenter, right

staying in

PODCAST Frank Off the Radio: The Frank Skinner

ON THE BOX

With animated adventures, top comedy comebacks and glossy dramas all squeezed into the schedules, be sure to get your fix of this year’s cracking Christmas telly…

Elton John: Never Too Late

DISNEY+ Sir Elton Hercules John has been at

The Split

BBC ONE Abi Morgan’s drama charting the life

The Six Triple Eight

NETFLIX Even now, almost 80 years after the

Santa specials

These tinsel-clad episodes of family faves will sprinkle some festive magic this season

letters

THANKS FOR WRITING TO US, WE LOVE HEARING WHAT YOU THINK

You’re all talking about... ASSISTED DYING

@saga magazineuk If you’re on Instagram, we’d love

Grey matters

PRIZE CROSSWORD / CRYPTIC CROSSWORD / SUDOKU / CODEBREAKER / WORDSEARCH / ADD A LETTER / WORD WHEEL / SET SQUARE / ADD UP / ANSWERS

Tom Parker Bowles

The world according to…

Word to the wise

With the ‘ jolly-timbered’ Santa on his way, our columnist unwraps a little Christmas spirit with a few of her favourite festive words and phrases