An oven-roasted turkey.

Christmas dinner is the primary meal traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Christmas dinner around the world may differ and the traditions present below can reflect the culture of the respective country it is being celebrated in. Turkey is present in a fair number of these meals.

Australia[link]

Christmas dinner in Australia is based on the traditional English version.^[1] However due to Christmas falling in the heat of the Southern Hemisphere's summer, meats such as ham, turkey and chicken are sometimes served cold with cranberry sauce, accompanied by side salads or roast vegetables. Barbecues are also a popular way of avoiding the heat of the oven. Seafood such as prawns, lobster and crayfish are common, as are barbecued cuts of steak or chicken breasts, drumsticks and wings. In summer, Australians are also fond of Pavlova, a dessert composed of fruit atop a baked meringue. Fruits of the season include cherries and mangoes. Introduced by Italian Australians, Panettone is widely available in shops, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.

Austria[link]

Christmas cuisine in Austria is similar to that of Germany. Christmas Eve is the celebration of the end of the pre-Christmas fast. Christmas Eve is historically the day that the tree is decorated and lit with real candles, so that the Christkindl may visit. Christmas Day is a national holiday in Austria and most Austrians spend the day feasting with their family. Fried carp, Sacher torte and Christmas cookies (lebkuchen and sterne) are eaten, and many other chocolate delicacies including edible Christmas ornaments. Christmas dinner is usually Goose, Ham served with Gluhwein, Rumpunsch, and Chocolate Mousse.

Brazil[link]

In Brazil, the Christmas meal is quite a feast,( served in the evening on the 24th of December) offering large quantities of food, such as a wide variety of dishes which include fresh vegetables (including Couve a Mineira – Kale, highly seasoned with garlic), luscious fruits^[2] and Brazil nuts. Accompanying these are bowls of zesty, colorful rice and platters filled with ham and fresh salad (sometimes cold potato salad is also served) served with roast turkey. Also some parts of Brazil feature roast pork, roast Chicken and fish. Other Christmas items include a variety of desserts such as lemon tart, Nuts pie, chocolate cake and also Panettone.

Canada[link]

In English Canada, Christmas dinner is similar to that of its colonial ancestor, England. Traditional Christmas dinner features turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, vegetables and raisin pudding for dessert. Eggnog, a milk-based punch that is often infused with alcohol, is also very popular around the holiday season. Other Christmas items include butter tarts and shortbread, which are traditionally baked before the holidays and served to visiting friends, at various Christmas and New Year parties, as well as on Christmas Day.

In French Canada, traditions may be more like those of France. (See Réveillon)

Other ethnic communities may continue to use old world traditions as well.

Czech Republic[link]

A traditional Christmas meal in the Czech Republic is fried carp and potato salad which are eaten during Christmas dinner in the evening of 24 December. Many households also prepare a great variety of special Christmas cookies to offer to Christmas visitors. These are prepared many days prior to the feast and take a long time to decorate, with the remainder usually ending up on a Christmas tree as a decoration.

Denmark[link]

In Denmark, the traditional Christmas meal served on December 24 consists of roast pork with crackling, goose, duck, or just duck and goose. The meat is served along with potatoes (some of which are caramelized, some roasted), red cabbage, and plenty of gravy. It is followed with a dessert of Risalamande, rice pudding served with cherry sauce or strawberry sauce, often with a whole almond hidden inside. The lucky finder of the almond of which is entitled to an extra present, the almond gift. Christmas drinks are Gløgg and traditional Christmas beers, specially brewed for the season. These usually have high alcohol content.

Finland[link]

Joulupöytä (translated "Christmas table") is the name of the traditional food board served at Christmas in Finland, similar to the Swedish smörgåsbord. It contains many different dishes, most of them typical for the season. The main dish is usually a large Christmas ham, which is eaten with mustard or bread along with the other dishes. Fish is also served (often lutefish and gravlax or smoked salmon), and with the ham there are also different casseroles usually with potatoes, rutabaga or carrots. The traditional Christmas beverage is either alcoholic or non-alcoholic mulled wine (glögi in Finnish).

France[link]

In France and some other French-speaking countries, a réveillon is a long dinner, and possibly party, held on the evenings preceding Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The name of this dinner is based on the word réveil (meaning "waking"), because participation involves staying awake until midnight.

Germany[link]

In Germany, the primary Christmas dishes are roast goose and roast carp, although suckling pig or duck may also be served. Typical side dishes include roast potatoes and various forms of cabbage such as kale, brussel sprouts and red cabbage. In some regions the Christmas dinner is traditionally served on Christmas Day rather than Christmas Eve. In this case, dinner on Christmas Eve is a simpler affair, consisting of sausages (such as Weißwurst) or macaroni salad. Sweets and Christmas pastries are nearly obligatory and include Marzipan, spice bars (Lebkuchen), several types of bread, and different fruitcakes and fruited breads like Christstollen and Dresdener Stollen.^[3]

Honduras[link]

In Honduras, tamales are traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve evening. Turkey has become popular in the last few years.

Iceland[link]

The Christmas dinner is eaten on Christmas Eve at 18:00. The main dish varies much between families. The most common is probably Hamborgarhryggur, which is a kind of Gammon steak. Other common dishes are roast game like reindeer, ptarmigan and smoked lamb, (hangikjöt) and a great variety of steaks such as Duck, Turkey which are also eaten by many on Christmas Day or at other occasions during the Christmas period.

Ireland[link]

Preparations for Christmas dinner begin on Christmas Eve. People will boil the ham and may start to prepare vegetables. The Irish Christmas dinner consists of turkey, ham, Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes, stuffing and various vegetables. The old tradition would have been a duck or a goose and many people in Ireland still follow this tradition. ^[4]The dinner usually consists of roast turkey (although other poultry such as goose, chicken, duck, capon or pheasant are alternatives), sometimes with roast beef or ham or, to a lesser extent, pork. Served with stuffing, gravy and sometimes forcemeat; pigs in blankets; cranberry sauce or redcurrant jelly; bread sauce; roast potatoes (sometimes also boiled or mashed); vegetables (usually boiled or steamed), particularly Brussels sprouts and carrots; with dessert of Christmas pudding (or plum pudding), sometimes mince pies or trifle, with brandy butter and/or cream.

India[link]

In India people cook a variety of foods, including Biryani with chicken or lamb/mutton, chicken and mutton curry, followed by cake or sweets like Kheer. Some cook turkey biryani as well, but it is less common in villages.

Italy[link]

Italian regional traditions are varied. They are polarized in two areas: Northern Italy and Southern Italy (from Rome southwards). Moreover, often the Christmas Eve Supper is more important than the Christmas Dinner, because the Holy Mass is celebrated at midnight.
The primo is usually a kind of soup made with pasta (usually filled pasta, like tortellini) boiled in meat or capon broth.
The secondo is very different in the two areas. In Northern Italy they usually eat poultry, often filled, or roasted or boiled and seasoned with sauces, like mostarda. In Southern Italy they eat the fried capitone eel, which is typical of Christmas Eve, because this is a fasting day. On Christmas Day they could eat roasted lamb or fish.
Christmas sweets are really varied and every region and sub region has its own. Generally speaking, in Northern Italy they eat a cake enriched with candy fruits, raisins, pine nuts, whose most famous type is panettone, followed by torrone nougat and nuts. In Southern Italy instead of one cake they serve many kind of marzipan, biscuits, zeppole, cannoli, candy fruits, fresh fruits. In the last few decades, panettone has become popular as a Christmas sweet all over Italy.

Lebanon[link]

The Lebanese, mostly Christians but also Muslims, celebrate Christmas dinners. The feast, usually on both the night of the 24th and lunch of the 25th, is a big one. Some have the leftovers from the dinner prior at the lunch the next day. Family gets together at both meals. Roast turkey is the most common choice of meal, chicken, kebabs, and other meals are common. At midnight the Christians are seen to go to mass at church.

Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine[link]

In the areas of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (e.g., Lithuania, Poland), an elaborate and ritualized meal of twelve meatless dishes is served on the Eve of Christmas (24 December), Ukraine and Belarus (6 January). This is because the pre-Christmas season is a time of fasting, which is broken on Christmas Day.

Mexico[link]

In Mexico the Christmas dinner, eaten on Christmas Eve evening, varies with region. Common dishes are various fruits (oranges, lime, tropical fruits) and salad (composed of several ingredients including jícama, beets, bananas, and peanuts). In several states, however, stews are made: either pozole, made of pork or beef and hominy in red Chile sauce; or menudo made with beef tripe and hominy also in Chile sauce. In the center of Mexico, bacalao (codfish) and romeritos (rosemary) prepared with mole are popular dishes. In the north of Mexico the most traditional Christmas dish is tamales served with sauce over them and sometimes cream and a bit of crumbly fresh cheese. For dessert, atole (a thinned hot pudding) with buñuelos (fried flour tortillas sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon), or buñuelos soaked in sugar (piloncillo) and cinnamon water, are served. There are also sweet tamales: corn with raisins or sweet beans, or strawberry flavored. Stuffed turkey or ham is also common.

Netherlands[link]

Christmas dinner in The Netherlands is a bit different from customs in neighboring countries. One typical Dutch tradition is that of 'gourmet,' an evening long event where small groups of people sit together around a gourmet-set and use their own little frying pan to cook and season their own food in very small portions. The host has prepared finely chopped vegetables and different types of meats, fish and prawns/shrimps. Everything is accompanied by different salads, fruits and sauces. The origin of gourmet lies most likely in the former Dutch colony Indonesia.^{[citation needed]}

The Dutch also enjoy more traditional Christmas-dinners, especially meats and game like roast beef, duck, rabbit, and pheasant.^{[citation needed]} This generally served with different types of vegetables, potatoes and salads. In recent years, traditions from Anglo-Saxon countries have become increasingly popular, most notably the UK-style turkey.^{[citation needed]}

New Zealand[link]

The Christmas customs of New Zealand are largely identical to the United Kingdom. Christmas dinner consists of roast turkey, roast vegetables, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Alternatively, roast ham may be offered as a main course. Desserts are commonly mince pies, Christmas pudding, trifle and brandy butter. Enjoyment of non-British Christmas foods, such as stollen from Germany, Bûche de Noël from France, and panettone from Italy, was virtually unheard of in New Zealand until the late 1990s and is still rare today. Due to New Zealanders celebrating Christmas in the summer, it is also common to barbecue, and eat seasonal fruit such as cherries and strawberries. Pavlova is also popular.

Norway[link]

The most common dish is svineribbe (usually just ribbe), pork belly side prepared with seasoning, for proper crackling. Usually it is consumed together with sauerkraut, redcurrant sauce, flatbread and a few shots of akevitt (to wash down the rather greasy meal). In the western parts of the country, pinnekjøtt, mutton ribs, is by far the most popular Christmas dinner. The traditional lutefisk is also still eaten by some, but it is more commonly eaten at other occasions during the Christmas period.[1]. For dessert rice pudding is very popular, served with a raspberry sauce.

Philippines[link]

The Christmas dinner in the Philippines is, as per Hispanic tradition, called Noche Buena, and is held towards midnight of December 24. This usually comes after the entire family has attended the late evening Mass called the Misa de Gallo ("Mass of the Rooster"). The centrepiece of the Noche Buena is often the hamón or Christmas ham, which is usually a cured leg of pork ham. This is usually served with Queso de Bola, literally a ball of edam cheese, covered in a red wax. Other ubiquitous dishes are pasta and for dessert, fruit salad. The dinner would usually be accompanied with tsokolate or hot cocoa, which is made with pure, locally-grown cacao beans. Some families prefer tsokolate prepared from tablea or tablets of pressed cocoa powder that is either pure or slightly sweetened. Most of the food served on Noche Buena are fresh and usually prepared during the day of Christmas Eve.^[5]

Middle-class and affluent families tend to prepare sumptuous feasts which sometimes includes any of the following: lechón or spit-roasted pig; lumpia; escabeche; adobo; rellenong manok or stuffed chicken; roast turkey; mechado (beef stew); kaldereta (spicy beef stew); paella; and other traditional fiesta dishes. Families that are not as affluent would opt for a more economical Noche Buena; the organising of even a simple gathering despite financial difficulties reflects the importance in Filipino culture of familial (and by extension communal) unity over most other concerns.

This importance placed on the family is also found in all socio-economic classes and ethnic groups in the Philippines in that during the Noche Buena, most if not all members from branch or extended families in a clan are always expected to appear at the celebrations. Relatives living abroad, especially OFWs, are highly encouraged to return home for the occasion, as it is the most important holiday of the year for many Filipinos. Most families prefer to exchange Christmas presents right after the dinner, in contrast to the Western custom of opening presents on Christmas morning.

Peru[link]

On Christmas Eve (Noche Buena), the extended family join together for a dinner of roast turkey, stuffed with ground beef and peanuts and decorated with fresh slices of pineapple, and white rice seasoned with garlic. Roast potatoes and uncooked sweetened apple puree are often served as well. The main desert is panettone. It is usually accompanied by a cup of thick hot chocolate. Less common deserts include a special marzipan made out of Brazil Nuts (due to the scarcity and expense of almonds in Peru) and assorted bowls with raisins, peanuts. At midnight, a toast is made, and good wishes and hugs are exchanged. A designated person runs to put Child Jesus in the Nativity scene. Then, the family members take their seat on the dining room while singing Christmas Carols.

Poland[link]

Christmas Day is a national holiday in Poland and most Poles spend the day feasting with their family. The Christmas meal is quite a feast, served in the evening on the 24th of December, offering large quantities of food. This Christmas Eve meal is called Wigilia. After the first star appears in the sky, everyone shares the Christmas wafer (oplatek) and wishes good things for the coming year. Then supper begins. The meal is meatless, honoring Catholic tradition. Many households also prepare a great variety of special Christmas dishes, typically numbering 12 in honor of the 12 apostles. Dishes include: stuffed carp, fried carp, herring in wine sauce, herring in cream sauce, fruit compote, vegetable salad, soup (beetroot, mushroom, or fish), peas and carrots, boiled potatoes, mushroom cream sauce, sauerkraut, and makowiec (poppy seed rolled cake). Most households leave an empty plate at the table for an unexpected guest. Straw or hay is usually on the table to symbolize the manger. In the modern days a lot of people put also money under the tablecloth to attract wealth in the new year. During the season, pierniczki, or honey ginger cookies, are baked.

Portugal[link]

In the land of dried and salted cod, traditional Christmas dinner could not escape the norm. Traditionally, in Portugal the family gets together around the table on Christmas Eve to eat boiled dried-salted codfish accompanied with boiled cabbage, boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, chickpeas, onions, parsley, etc.. All accompanied with generous amounts of olive oil. There are variations across the country and, less traditionally, roasted turkey or pork can also be served either for dinner on the 24th or for lunch on the 25th.

Slovakia[link]

Christmas dinner in Slovakia is celebrated on 24 December; dinner takes part at around 5 to 6 pm.

The traditional dinner includes oplátky (thin waffles with honey or garlic), cabbage soup with mushrooms and sausage (sometimes with dry plums), carp or other fish with potato salad, apples and Christmas biscuits and opekance.

Sweden[link]

The Swedish Christmas smörgåsbord consists of three courses. The first is a variety of fish, usually different types of pickled herring and salmon, eaten with boiled potatoes or crisp bread.

The second is cold cuts of meat, with the Christmas ham being the most important. Sausages, head cheese and leverpastej are also common, eaten with boiled potatoes or on crisp bread.

The third course consists of warm dishes such as meatballs, small fried sausages and Janssons frestelse.

Lutfisk is sometimes served with the third course or as a fourth course. Common drinks are Christmas beer, julmust and schnapps.

United Kingdom[link]

Christmas dinner in the United Kingdom is usually eaten in the afternoon on the 25th of December.

The dinner usually consists of roast turkey (although other poultry such as goose, chicken, duck, capon or pheasant are alternatives), sometimes with roast beef or ham or, to a lesser extent, pork. Served with stuffing, gravy and sometimes forcemeat; pigs in blankets; cranberry sauce or redcurrant jelly; bread sauce; roast potatoes (sometimes also boiled or mashed); vegetables (usually boiled or steamed), particularly brussels sprouts, parsnips and carrots; with dessert of Christmas pudding (or plum pudding), sometimes mince pies or trifle, with brandy butter and/or cream.

Christmas pudding

In England, the evolution of the main course into turkey did not take place for years, or even centuries. At first, in medieval England, the main course was either a peacock or a boar, the boar usually the mainstay. The turkey appeared on Christmas tables in England in the 16th century,^[6] and popular history tells of King Henry VIII being first English monarch to have turkey for Christmas.^[7] The tradition of turkey at Christmas rapidly spread throughout England in the 17th century,^[6] and it also became common to serve goose which remained the predominant roast until the Victorian era.^[8] (it was quite common for Goose "Clubs" to be set up allowing working class families to save up over the year towards a goose before this).^[9] A famous Christmas dinner scene appears in Dicken's A Christmas Carol (1843), where Scrooge sends Bob Cratchitt a large turkey.^[10] The dessert of a British Christmas Dinner may often be Christmas pudding, which dates from medieval England.^[11] Trifle, mince pies, Christmas Cake or a Yule Log are also popular.^[12]

United States[link]

Most Christmas customs in the United States have been adopted from those in the United Kingdom.^[13] Accordingly, the mainstays of the British table are also found in the United States: roast turkey (or other poultry), beef, ham, or pork; stuffing (or 'dressing'), squash, roasted root vegetables, brussels sprouts, and mashed potatoes are common. Common desserts include pumpkin pie, plum pudding or Christmas pudding, trifle, marzipan, pfeffernusse, sugar cookies, fruitcake, apple pie, Gooseberry Pie, carrot cake, bûche de Noël, and mince pies. In the South, coconut cake, pecan pie, and sweet potato pie are also common.

The centerpiece of a sit-down meal varies on the tastes of the host but can be ham, roast beef, or goose, particularly since turkey is the mainstay at dinner for the American holiday of Thanksgiving in November, around one month earlier. Regional meals offer incredible diversity. Virginia has oysters, ham pie, and fluffy biscuits, a nod to its very English 17th century founders. The Upper Midwest includes dishes from predominantly Scandinavian backgrounds such as lutefisk and mashed rutabaga or turnip.^[14] In some rural areas, game meats like elk, opossum or quail may grace the table, often prepared with recipes that are extremely old: it is likely that similar foodstuffs graced the tables of early American settlers on their first Christmases.

References[link]

Catherine Tate
Catherine Tate in 2008
Born	Catherine Ford (1968-05-12) 12 May 1968 (age 44) Bloomsbury, London, England
Residence	Richmond upon Thames, London, England
Nationality	British
Occupation	Actress, writer, comedienne
Years active	1990–present
Television	The Office Big Train Wild West The Catherine Tate Show Doctor Who
Partner	Twig Clark (until 2011)
Children	Erin Clark (born 2003)

Catherine Tate (born Catherine Ford on 12 May 1968)^[1] is an English actress, writer and comedienne. She has won numerous awards for her work on the sketch comedy series The Catherine Tate Show as well as being nominated for an International Emmy Award and seven BAFTA Awards. Following the success of The Catherine Tate Show, Tate played Donna Noble in the 2006 Christmas special of Doctor Who and later reprised her role, becoming the Doctor's companion for the fourth series in 2008.^[2] In 2011, she began a recurring role as Nellie Bertram on The Office.

Early life and education[link]

Tate was born in Bloomsbury and brought up in the Brunswick Centre.^[1] Her mother, Josephine, was a florist,^[3] and Tate has said that the character of Margaret in The Catherine Tate Show, who shrieks at the slightest of disturbances, is based largely on Josephine.^[1]

Tate never knew her father, as he left very early on in her life,^[1] and consequently, she was brought up in a female-dominated environment, being cared for by her mother, grandmother and her godparents.^[3] As a child, Tate suffered from an obsessive-compulsive disorder which centred on word association. For example, Tate was not able to leave a jumper on the floor or it might have brought misfortune to her mother whose name began with the letter "J" like jumper.^[1]

She attended St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Macklin Street, Holborn and Notre Dame High School, Southwark, a south London convent secondary school for girls.^[1] By the time Tate was a teenager, she knew she wanted to follow a professional acting career and was subsequently sent to a boys' Roman Catholic school, Salesian College in Battersea at the age of 16. The school had the necessary facilities for drama.^[3] Tate left school without sitting her A-Levels.^[4] She then tried for four years to get a place in the Central School of Speech and Drama (University of London), succeeding on her fourth attempt.^[4] She studied there for three years,^[3][4] and until the age of 26, lived in Holborn and Bloomsbury.^[3] Prior to getting a place at the Central School of Speech and Drama, Tate went to the Sylvia Young Theatre School, but left after a week; "Even at that age, I realised I wasn't Bonnie Langford. It was very competitive", she stated. ^[5]

Career[link]

Beginnings[link]

Tate began her television acting career with roles in serial dramas such as The Bill,^[4] and London's Burning.^[3] Tate started stand-up comedy in 1996,^[6] and has appeared in comedy series such as The Harry Hill Show, Barking and That Peter Kay Thing and a role in Men Behaving Badly.^[7] She played the part of Kate in the unaired pilot episode of sitcom Not Going Out alongside Lee Mack and Tim Vine.^[8] In 1998 she wrote and starred in Barking, a late night sketch show broadcast on Channel 4 and featuring a host of, back then, unknown stars such as David Walliams, Peter Kay and Mackenzie Crook.

Soon after, she became involved with Lee Mack's Perrier Comedy Award-nominated New Bits show at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2000.^[7] In 2001, she returned to the festival with her own sell-out one-woman show,^[6] which was followed by roles in Big Train,^[5] Attention Scum and TVGoHome.^[7] After being spotted at Edinburgh, she was given the role of Angela in the comedy, Wild West, with Dawn French,^[7] who commented "Catherine Tate is far too talented and she must be destroyed."^[5]

Tate has also performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company,^[5] and at the National Theatre.^[4] She acted the role of Smeraldina in a 2000 RSC production of A Servant to Two Masters, and another role in The Way of the World at the National Theatre.^[9]

2004–05[link]

Tate was approached at a post-show party at the Edinburgh Festival by then-BBC controller of comedy Geoffrey Perkins, who encouraged Tate to develop her character ideas, especially to push the boundaries with teenager Lauren Cooper. Undertaking Perkins' advice, after a live show Tate found the audience walking out of the show repeating the character's catchphrase Am I bovvered?^[10]

Produced by Perkins at Tiger Aspect, Tate was given her own programme on BBC Two in 2004, which she co-wrote and starred in with Derren Litten, entitled The Catherine Tate Show, which ran for three series.^[7] Two of the show's well-known characters are teenager Lauren Cooper and Joannie "Nan" Taylor, the cockney grandmother.^[5] Tate's inspiration for the cockney grandmother came from visits to old people's homes when she was at drama college.^[5] Tate won a British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Newcomer for her work on the first series of The Catherine Tate Show,^[11] and with the first series becoming a success, in March 2005, Tate made a guest appearance during the BBC's Comic Relief as the character of Lauren from The Catherine Tate Show, alongside boy-band McFly, which gained her further exposure.^[6]

In November 2005, Tate appeared in another charity sketch as part of the BBC's annual Children in Need telethon. The segment was a crossover between EastEnders and The Catherine Tate Show, featuring Eastenders characters Peggy Mitchell, Little Mo Mitchell and Stacey Slater, whilst Tate appeared as Lauren.^[12] Also at that time, she was a guest star at the 77th Royal Variety Performance and appeared again in the guise of Lauren Cooper. During the sketch, Tate looked up at the Royal Box and asked The Queen, "Is one bovvered? Is one's face bovvered?".^[13] She also commented during the sketch that Prince Philip had fallen asleep: "she is bling, but the old fella next to her is asleep!" He then reportedly complained to the show's executive producer, saying he had been insulted.^[1] Tate later won a British Comedy Award for Best British Comedy Actress for her work in the second series of The Catherine Tate Show.^[14] At the end of 2005, she appeared in the BBC television adaptation of Bleak House.^[15]

Tate returned to the stage for the first time since working with the RSC,^[16] to play a role in the 2005 West End revival of Some Girl(s), alongside Sara Powell, Lesley Manville, Saffron Burrows and Friends star David Schwimmer.^[17] In an interview, Tate commented that she could not look Schwimmer in the eye during her time with him, leading to speculation that the pair did not get on.^[4] Tate immediately denied the rumours, explaining that she was joking about her attempts to act "cool" around Schwimmer, whom she described as "a very funny, personable man, and easy to get along with".^[18]

2006–07[link]

The third series of The Catherine Tate Show aired in 2006, going on to win the National Television Award for most popular comedy as voted for by the public,^[19] and Tate's catchphrase "bovvered", used by her character Lauren Cooper, became so influential in popular culture that it was named Word of the Year and was even poised to enter the Oxford English Dictionary.^[20] Tate also played the role of Donna Noble in Doctor Who, a woman in a wedding dress who suddenly appears in the TARDIS at the end of the episode "Doomsday".^[21] The following episode, the Christmas special entitled "The Runaway Bride", saw Tate's character in a major role, where she was temporarily the Doctor's companion.^[21] On her appearance in the series, Tate commented "I'm honoured and delighted to be joining David Tennant aboard the TARDIS. I was holding out for a summer season at Wigan rep but as a summer job, this'll do."^[22]

Tate had roles in three films in 2006, these included, Starter for 10, Sixty Six,^[16] and Scenes of a Sexual Nature.^[1] She later appeared in the films Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution, in which she played the title character,^[16] and Love and Other Disasters.^[23]

In the 2007 television adaptation of the novel, The Bad Mother's Handbook, she played the lead role and co-starred with Anne Reid.^[24]

On 16 March 2007, Tate appeared for a second time on Comic Relief as some of her well-known characters from The Catherine Tate Show. She acted in sketches with David Tennant, Daniel Craig, Lenny Henry and the then Prime Minister Tony Blair, who used the show's famous catchphrase, "Am I bovvered?"^[25] Tate also appeared as Joannie "Nan" Taylor in an episode of Deal or No Deal, hosted by Noel Edmonds.^[26]

Tate became a Patron of the performing arts group Theatretrain.

Late 2007–present[link]

Despite speculation that the third series of The Catherine Tate Show would be the last, Tate and the BBC have not ruled out further episodes.^[16] She later filmed a one-off special episode which aired on Christmas Day 2007.^[27] The episode was subject to criticism when 42 viewers complained about the amount of swearing, and accused Tate of bigotry over the depiction of a family from Northern Ireland as terrorists, whose Christmas presents included a balaclava and a pair of knuckle dusters, in reference to the Troubles.^[28] After the complaints were made, an Ofcom report later concluded that the show was not offensive and did not violate broadcasting regulations.^[29][30] An extract from the Ofcom report read "Overall this episode was typical of the Catherine Tate Show and would not have gone beyond the expectations of its usual audience. For those not familiar with the show, the information given at the start was adequate."^[31]

She has also been nominated for four BAFTA Awards for her work on The Catherine Tate Show to date, including Best Comedy Performance.^[32]

Tate returned to Doctor Who in 2008 to reprise the role of Donna Noble as the Doctor's companion throughout the fourth series, which was shown on BBC One starting on 5 April for a 13-week run.^[33] Producer Russell T Davies said, "We are delighted that one of Britain's greatest talents has agreed to join us for the fourth series." Tate added, "I am delighted to be returning to Doctor Who. I had a blast last Christmas and look forward to travelling again through time and space with that nice man from Gallifrey."^[2] At the TV Quick Awards 2008, Tate was voted best actress for her role in Doctor Who.^[34] She returned as Donna Noble in the two-part Doctor Who Christmas special "The End of Time" which was broadcast over Christmas 2009.^[35][36]

In 2008, she starred as Michelle, a 38-year-old promiscuous maths teacher, in David Eldridge's Under The Blue Sky at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, alongside Francesca Annis and Nigel Lindsay. Tate injured her ankle in rehearsal on 15 July. She tackled previews with the aid of a crutch.

On 11 April 2009, 26 December 2009 and 30 January 2010, Tate with David Tennant guest hosted Jonathan Ross' BBC Radio 2 show.

In 2009 she created a one off special spin off to her long running TV sketch show. Although this time the show only starred 'Nan'. In the show, Nan played Scrooge, and was visited by 3 ghosts, one of whom was played by David Tennant. The show was a one off Christmas special.

In 2010, Tate took part in Channel 4's Comedy Gala, a benefit show held in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, filmed live at the O2 Arena in London on 30 March.

Tate took part in a series of short comedy films called 'Little Crackers'.^[37]

Tate appeared as Queen Isabelle of Lilliput in the 2010 film adaptation of Gulliver's Travels.

On 18 March 2011, the video for Take That's new single "Happy Now" was debuted on Comic Relief. The video shows comedians Catherine Tate, Alan Carr, James Corden, John Bishop and David Walliams audition to become Take That's ultimate tribute band, Fake That. Filming took place at Ealing Studios on 17 February 2011.^[38]

Tate appeared alongside former co-star David Tennant in the Shakespeare comedy Much Ado About Nothing at London's Wyndham's Theatre from 16 May to September 2011.^[39] For her performance – as Beatrice – Catherine won the BroadwayWorld UK Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play.^[40]

In the seventh season finale of The Office, which aired on 19 May 2011, Tate guest starred as Nellie Bertram, a potential replacement for the departing Michael Scott (played by Steve Carell).^[41][42]

On Saturday 17 December 2011, Tate presented the second episode of Channel 4's Laughing at the... series – entitled "Catherine Tate: Laughing at the Noughties" – in which she met Alan Carr, David Walliams, Noel Fielding, Rob Brydon and (her Doctor Who co-star) David Tennant to discuss the comedy highlights of the noughties.^[43]

In January 2012, Tate returned to The Office for its eighth season. She reprised her role as Nellie, who was hired as a "misguided special projects manager".

Personal life[link]

Tate's former partner is stage manager Twig Clark. They have a daughter, Erin (born at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in January 2003), delivered following an emergency caesarean section.^[1] The family had a home in Richmond-upon-Thames, London. The family had both a cat and a dog, the latter of which was given to her by Jonathan Ross. Tate and Clark split before summer 2011. Tate has reportedly dated Take That's Jason Orange.^[44]

Tate is the patron for the Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust, supporting the charity since August 2006. In 2011 she took part in the charity's 2011 Charity Calendar^[45]

Tate suffered from postpartum depression,^[3] from which she only recovered after the filming of the second series of The Catherine Tate Show.^[1] She also suffers from occasional panic attacks.^[1] Regarding her personal outlook, Tate has said "I'm an incredibly negative person, so any form of success is only ever going to be a relief to me and set my default position back to neutral."^[3]

Awards and nominations[link]

All for her work on The Catherine Tate Show unless otherwise stated:

Awards[link]

• 2004: British Comedy Award — Best Comedy Newcomer
• 2006: RTS Television Award — Best Comedy Performance
• 2006: British Comedy Award – Best TV Comedy Actress
• 2007: National Television Awards — Most Popular Comedy Programme
• 2008: TV Quick Award — Best Actress in a Drama Series (for Doctor Who)^[46]

Nominations[link]

• 2004: British Comedy Award – Best TV Comedy Actress
• 2005: British Comedy Award – Best TV Comedy Actress
• 2005: British Comedy Award – People's Choice Award (polled most votes but award not received)^[47][48]
• 2005: International Emmy — Best Performance by an Actress^[49]
• 2005: BAFTA TV Award — Best New Writer
• 2005: BAFTA TV Award – Comedy Programme or Series Award
• 2006: BAFTA TV Award – Best Comedy Performance
• 2007: BAFTA TV Award – Best Comedy Programme
• 2008: Nickelodeon's UK Kids Choice Awards 2008 – Funniest Person
• 2008: Nickelodeon's UK Kids Choice Awards 2008 – Best TV Actress (for Doctor Who)
• 2008: National Television Award – Outstanding Drama Performance (for Doctor Who)
• 2011: BAFTA TV Award – Catherine Tate's Little Cracker

Filmography[link]

Television and film[link]

Theatre[link]

Radio and CD audio drama[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Catherine Tate

• Catherine Tate at bbc.co.uk/comedy
• The Catherine Tate Show at bbc.co.uk/comedy
• Catherine Tate at the Internet Movie Database
• Works by or about Catherine Tate in libraries (WorldCat catalog)