Fiona Forbes, one of our favourite television personalities, just announced she’s hosting a new talk show, appropriately named, Fiona Forbes! It’s billed as “A 30-minute gabfest including a fun & casual personality-driven conversation, followed by candid panel commentary about headlines that are making waves in pop culture.” Look forward to insightful interviews with celebs and public figures, and delves into issue-oriented discussion with an ever-changing gang of notable – and opinionated – panelists. Eclectic. Energetic. Entertaining. We can’t wait!

We caught up with Fiona and threw a few questions her way about holiday gifts she’d like to receive and give, what she’s doing for the holidays, and what she brings to a party.

1) What is on your wish list for the holidays?

I’m not gonna lie, I’d love a Chanel purse (the “Boy Bag” if you must know) or maybe even a little something something from Louis Vuitton, Petite-Malle perhaps?

Another Chewy Vuitton stuffie for my little fur-monster Chewbacca?

Or how about that gorgeous horse painting by Athena Bax I’ve been eyeballing?

But let’s get real people, aside from Chewy getting spoiled, my little wish list ain’t gonna happen unless I get out my credit card and who can splurge like that without the guilt! What I really want for Christmas – and I’m more likely to actually get – is for me and my family to be happy. In our house, it’s less about gifts and more about spending time together and spoiling the kids in our lives who still believe in Santa – THAT’S the magic of Christmas!

2)  What is the best gift you EVER got?

The best gift I ever got was last Christmas. I treated myself to a fabulous trip to the Island of Mustique to meet up with one of my best friends I went to UBC with. It’s a tiny, private island which is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and is a little slice of paradise!. One of the most amazingly beautiful places I’ve ever been. We spent 10 days in the sun paddle boarding (we accidentally mistook Paul McCartney’s paddle boards for our own one day, and he was, not surprisingly, a total gentleman about it), body surfing and dancing the night away on New Years Eve. As a matter of fact, I wish I were back there right now!

3)  What is the best gift you EVER gave?

A couple of years ago, my sister and I replicated our childhood Santa picture for our Mom. When she opened it, the look of genuine shock and surprise that turned into gales of laughter was priceless!

4) What songs are you listening to over the holidays?

Oh my music list is so all over the place! Over the holidays I usually listen to a lot of classical music as traditional Christmas carols drive me bananas as they’ve been filtered through every retail store’s stereo since pre-Halloween! As far as my current playlists go, I’m usually listening to when I’m out for a run include a lot of pop music such as Sam Smith, HAIM, Michael Jackson, Maroon 5, Lorde etc and all the Top 40 stuff.

5)  What do you bring to a holiday party?

Bubbles! Always bubbles! Veuve Clicquot is always a good go-to when it comes to champagne, but I’m also loving this Veuve du Vernay Rose. You can never go wrong with champers!

6)  Best gift as a kid?

Ahhhh it’s such a great memory. I had an Irish Wolfhound as a child who was my BFF. He passed away shortly after this picture was taken. I had never had a dog of my own and a few years later, I was watching TV with my Dad and we saw a commercial for some sort of dog food and they had these wonderfully huge Bearded Collies bouncing around in the ad. I was about 12 years old at that time and said to my Dad that I’d love to have a dog like that someday. Sure enough, that Christmas there was a box as big as me wrapped up under the tree that said “Open Me First”. It was a year’s supply of the dog food from the ad. Then there was a second gift that was a dog collar wrapped up with a map enclosed. My Dad took me for a drive out to Langley on Christmas morning and I was greeted at the door by a giant fluffy, clumsy dog named Bulldozer – exactly like the one I had seen on TV! He became my faithful companion for many years and I was heartbroken when he went to doggie heaven. Chewy is the first dog I’ve had since and I love him to pieces! I guess I’m not a cat person LOL.

7) How will you celebrate the holidays this year?

With my family. We have been going to my Aunt’s house for Christmas ever since I was a kid, so we’ll do dinner there. Christmas morning, I’ll be getting up at the crack of dawn to make it to my sister’s house to pile presents for my niece and nephew under her tree. They usually don’t sleep all night and are waiting at the top of the stairs like wild animals when I get there. My favourite Christmas moment is always when they race towards the tree and gleefully rip open all their presents! I’ll spend the day with my family, then I’ll race off to one of my best girlfriend’s houses to have another dinner with her family and her kids.

8) Where would you suggest our readers shop for their last minute holiday outfit?

BCBG and Zara are my go to spots for fab outfits. Or, if you have a little black dress in your closet, why not go local and get some great accessories to jazz it up? The Cross in Yaletown carries some great designs from LOLO, Melanie Auld and Leah Alexandra. Pictured above is a little outfit I wore for the commercials for my new show from BCBG and below is Leah Alexandra’s bracelet from The Cross. 

Merry Christmas Fiona!