Matthew Wright will not be spending Christmas with his pregnant wife this year.
The 53-year-old radio presenter hates the pressure of the festive season and instead prefers to spend a couple of weeks away from home on a fishing trip, meaning he will not be with his significant other, Amelia Wright.
In a guest column in this week’s Closer magazine, he wrote: "The meaning of Christmas may be about spending time with loved ones, but I have to admit I always spend the day on my own.
"I hate the stress of it and the pressure to spend so much money on presents and food. So I take myself off somewhere for two weeks, fishing, without any friends or family.
"I’ve always been a loner and benefit a lot from my own company.
"I also haven’t bought a Christmas card or present for about 11 years.
"My wife Amelia is pregnant with our-much-longed-for first child – due on Valentine’s Day – but I’m still going to go away for a few weeks on my own."
Matthew – who is best known for being the host of the Channel 4 topical debate show ‘The Wright Stuff’ from 2000 to 2018 – insisted Amelia is understanding of her husband’s reclusive nature and says "she’s always been supportive" of his choice to leave her to enjoy Christmas with her family while he goes on a solo fishing trip.
However, Matthew has been told he will not be able to spend Christmas alone next year after their baby daughter is born.
He said: "Amelia loves Christmas, so she spends it with her family, though she has put her foot down and said I’ll be spending the day with her and our baby daughter next year."