My favourite drink as a child was Cidona. It’s apple-flavoured and fizzy – a bit like cider, but without the alcohol – and was popular where I grew up in Ratoath, Ireland. We never had it at home, but whenever there was a special occasion like a wedding or a birthday at the local pub, that’s what all us kids would have. It reminds me of the madness of big family events – my dad’s one of 14, so when we get together, it’s a real party.
The Irish TV presenter, 41, tells Scarlett Dargan about big boozy get-togethers, morning cups of cacao and her Christmas karaoke tune of choice
My first taste of alcohol was a sip of my dad’s Guinness at a pub back home. I was probably five or six, and it was quite a normal thing then to let kids have a tiny taste of booze and watch their weird reactions. I have a vague memory of pulling a funny face and it being a little comedy moment. Now I have two girls of my own [Ruby, seven, and Marnie, three] but I’ve not given them a sip of anything yet!
Every morning, I have a mug of cacao. I’m quite Willy Wonka about making it and like to experiment with flavours. I’ve had cacao with honey, rosewater, maple syrup, coconut sugar, cinnamon and even cayenne pepper for some spice. My favourite is cinnamon or salted caramel, finished with creamy non-dairy milk.
On my first date with my Roy [Horgan, her husband of 11 years] we went to a pub called Hogans in Dublin. I ordered a G&T and didn’t know what the night would hold. I had some preconceptions about him thanks to gossip I’d heard from friends, and let’s just say, they weren’t great. But by the time I’d finished my first gin, I knew we had something. We drank plenty that night, going on to a Japanese restaurant and then a weird little club, before one last stop at a pub called The Globe. It closed soon after, but my friend let me know it recently reopened, so we’ll nip in for a drink while we’re home this Christmas.
I used to be a big drinker, but I’m much more considered these days. Given that I drink less, I’m now impressed by the spectacle, and I love a fancy cocktail with smoke that’s like a magic show. One of my favourite things is a margarita on an empty stomach, so I feel a little giddy and fizzy, but then I’ll have dinner and go straight home. I’m like a nana now – no more dancing on the table for me!
At T in the Park festival, Angela was offered a Guinness by a Gallagher
The most famous person I’ve had a drink with is Noel Gallagher. It was at T In The Park in 2015, and I was interviewing him for one of my first-ever live telly gigs. I was nervous, given he was known for being quite a loose cannon at the time. Anyway, he was lovely and offered me a pint of Guinness. I couldn’t accept it for professional reasons, but it was a memorable moment.
On Christmas Day, my first drink is usually a spicy Bloody Mary. We split our time between my family and Roy’s, so we’re like a travelling circus with the girls and all their toys. It means I need some good fuel to get through the festivities! My sister Annette is always very generous with the fizz when we stay with her on Christmas Eve, and we’re not bothered about it being a fancy bottle. Then on Christmas morning it’s a Bloody Mary and a big family brunch. The star dish is my mum’s homemade potato cakes.
She loves a good hot chocolate
There’s something beautifully festive about a good hot chocolate. I make it for my kids as a winter treat, and when we go to the Christmas markets, I’ll have one. I love it rich, dark and piping hot, so the cup warms your hands and makes you feel all cosy.
The song I’m most likely to sing after a few drinks is Fairytale Of New York. It’s my favourite Christmas song, and I’ll have it on through to February. ‘Singing’ might not be the right word, given I’m usually howling along to it. Honestly, it just embodies Christmas to me. It’s amazing.
Angela stars in The Celebrity Apprentice Christmas Specials, on BBC One and iPlayer on 29 and 30 December
