I don't get it. Surely if you're digging a hole in your front garden to roast a pig (or was it lamb) overnight, you'd want to put some chocolate in? It's the first time I've seen Willie of the Wonky Chocolate Factory cook something without it.

 

Well, it's taken me a while to watch the Christmas special and write a review (had a few other things to do!), but I have to say, it was a really lovely, enjoyable Christmas show. Putting aside the puzzle of trying to remember when it had snowed around here (this was before Christmas, remember a time when it wasn't snowing?!), there was a very warm, Christmassy atmosphere, and I hope to have a go at making those chocolate-enhanced mince pies next year.

 

This time round the TV people seemed keen to create some funny moments playing up Willie's eccentricities (digging a hole to roast things under your front lawn, where your wife meant to put the Christmas tree...?) 

 

There's also the fact that the excellent 'Outnumbered ' has been on TV since the last series on the chocolate factory, and Willie and Tania's kids do look surprisingly similar to the kids on that. It all adds to how generally likeable they all are - there's Willie stomping around doing his eccentric high energy chocolate focused things, and there's Tania kind of getting on with it and making lovely little chocolate gifts like Florentines with the kids along the way. And there was the obligatory fabulous looking chocolate tart - ah, lovely!