I’ve ordered the Christmas turkey for eight – there will be plenty of leftovers if nobody is around to eat it

I remain optimistic that we will be able to celebrate but there will be plenty of ways to eat it in January if not, writes Janet Street-Porter

A traditional Christmas may not be possible this year for some (Getty)

I am not sure what tier we will be in after 2 December but I can’t face another dollop of doom from Professor Chris Whitty, the man who has demonised hugging granny, and reckons that anyone living in tier 1 can only expect further restrictions after the review on 16 December.

As MP Esther McVey opined, it’s like saying the best way to reduce road deaths is by not driving. Whitty might think he’s a realist, but his pronouncements are not playing well in the real world where we’re tired and confused.

Whitty-generated fear now means most of my single friends are too scared to get in their cars and come to stay at Christmas, even though I have promised separate bathing and copious sanitising.