Rick Stein's 'dangerous' family admission sparks on-air warning from BBC host

Rick Stein left BBC Radio 2's Scott Mills and his guests shocked this morning after unveiling his family's "dangerous" Christmas tradition. During a chat about putting up the Christmas tree, the chef shared how this tradition was very different during his childhood in the 1950s.

Chatting to Scott, Maisie Adam, and Rag'n'Bone Man live on air, Rick revealed that his parents used to adorn their festive tree with real candles.

The 78-year-old elaborated: "It's interesting actually, one of the things when I was little, we didn't have electric candles on the Christmas tree, right, because it was in the 50s.

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"Other people didn't, maybe they were around, but my father was of German origin, although he was born in England, so he had real candles."

To double check she'd heard him right, Maisie responded: "On the tree?", to which he confirmed: "Yeah."

Recognising the potential hazard, Scott swiftly warned listeners: "Please don't try that at home, it was the 50s."

Still taken aback, Maisie continued to probe him. "Real candles on a pine tree? That's an absolute recipe for disaster," she remarked.

Rick went on to explain: "The point was, me and my sister Henrietta, we just weren't allowed to see the tree until everything had been put on there and the lit candles, and then we were allowed into the room and the effect on us was just mesmeric."

After Maisie suggested the candles could have started a forest fire, Rick responded: "It could've been, but they were only on for 20 minutes, somebody was keeping an eye on them."

The celebrity chef then surprised his fellow guests further by disclosing that his favourite Christmas tipple is a Negroni.

Rick explained that the cocktail is particularly popular amongst chefs and, at gatherings, would typically be served in a "big jar".

"One of those big glass jars with a little tap underneath," he revealed. "So you don't have to wait while the cocktail maker makes it, so it's there."

Scott joked in response: "It's genuinely dangerous around Rick Stein, if it's not candles, forest fires, there's like free-pouring of Negroni!".

Speaking about another festive tradition, the restaurateur confessed to enjoying visits to the pub on Christmas Day.

While discussing his book Rick Stein's Christmas, he said he aimed to be relatable by not only including recipes, but also moments "when things go wrong".

"I always find it fascinating that chefs still have festive failures," Scott remarked.

Rick answered: "I think in my case, I'm quite prone to accidents, but also, I guess one of the problems with my Christmas is, what I love on Christmas day is going to the pub just for an hour.

"But it slightly unhinges the rest of Christmas, and what is supposed to be a Christmas lunch ends up being served about half past three.

"The pub on Christmas Day, everybody comes in and it's just really special."