The Web UK's Fraser Marshall broke out the nutcrackers and said if the band didn't answer his festive questions he would start using them. We have never seen the band reach for their keyboards so quickly!

What's your favourite Christmas song? What do you like best about it?

Steve - Greg Lake's I Believe In Father Christmas. A great song about the loss of innocence and childhood belief that still had a magical quality about it.

h - A Fairy Tale Of NewYork. Love the chords, the melody and the words. God bless Kirsty MacColl and God help Shane MacGowan.

Mark - A Fairy Tale Of New York. It’s not a typical Christmas song but is somehow perfectly suited to Christmas.

Pete - The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole. You know the one “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” it was always on in our house as Nat King Cole was a favourite of both my Mum and Dad, so it just takes me to that time of year.

Ian - White Christmas or The Christmas Song. Both conjure up the idyllic Christmas morning for me. Hope this is true, apparently the chap that wrote the lyrics for The Christmas Song (Robert Wells) purchased a Rolls Royce with the registration plate Chestnut 1 with the proceeds.


Which is better: I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day or Merry Christmas Everybody?

Steve - Merry Christmas Everybody.

h - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day. Roy Wood rocks!

Mark - Merry Christmas Everybody. Noddy Holder had a great voice and the song has the only triple entendre in a lyric I know of when he sings "When you land upon your head then you've been slayed/sleighed/Slade.

Pete - Well they are both great songs but Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody gets my vote. Always loved Slade great bass lines from Jimmy Lea and Noddy Holder, what a voice.

Ian – I really like the Slade song best. Seemed like it was always in the top ten every Christmas.


What's your favourite Christmas carol?

Steve - Silent Night.

h - Oh Come All Ye Faithful, if it’s done properly by a choir. Gabriel’s Message. In The Bleak Mid-Winter.

Mark - I don’t have a favourite but I quite like our version of Carol Of The Bells. It’s my favourite Marillion Christmas song.

Pete - I don’t have a favourite, In The Bleak Mid-Winter is nice. Silent Night and O Come All Ye Faithful are ok. I prefer the lighter ones. Nothing too heavyweight.

Ian - Silent Night.


What's the best Christmas film? What makes it so good?

Steve - Either The Muppet Christmas Carol. Michael Caine’s performance as Scrooge, great songs or It’s A Wonderful Life.

h - Not Christmassy but I thoroughly recommend The Cat In The Hat - the one with Mike Myers. I would have had The Polar Express if Mark hadn’t chosen it.

Mark - Polar Express. Great movie for the kids or Elf because kids and adults like it equally.

Pete - So for many years we have had a tradition of watching a Christmas film a day from about a week or so before Christmas. It probably started when the kids were small and I wasn’t always around till nearer Christmas Day. But these day Fiona and I still do carry on the tradition and our favourite is The Holiday. Not so traditional but has some great comedy moments.

Ian - I’m going to say It's A Wonderful Life just to hear Lucy’s reaction.


Essential Christmas day food?

Steve - Roast Turkey with all the trimmings!

h - The Danish Christmas dinner (eaten on Christmas Eve) is fab. Roast Duck, Red Cabbage. Rice with double cream and Cherry Sauce. The day after (Christmas Day) I get to enjoy Roast Turkey and the trimmings, which I love equally. I love sprouts and roasties and Christmas pud and Marks & Sparks Rum Sauce, mmm… Lucky h.

Mark - Christmas pudding. I love it but rarely enjoy eating it because I’ve already eaten too much by the time it’s served.

Pete - Turkey, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, parsnips and I have to have a Christmas pudding and custard (usually M&S). Don’t forget the stuffing, I nearly did then.

Ian - I love all of it. I’m particularly partial to Chestnut sauce. When I was a kid, I always helped my mother peel the chestnuts.


How long do you think it will take your brain to accept that it's now going to be called the King's speech? Did you watch the Queen's speech?

Steve - Makes no difference to me as I never watch it.

h - Quite a while. Only this morning I referred to him as Prince Charles. In my mind, there’s only one King Charles and he drives our tour bus.

Mark - It was boring and will be even more boring now.

Pete - As a kid I watched the Queen’s speech, it was an unwritten law in our house. Fiona and I always used to with the boys when our parents were alive, but more recently not so much. InfactI can’t remember the last one I watched. I don’t think it’ll take me any time to accept it.

Ian - My family always watched the Queens speech. As she reigned for so long, I think it’s going to take a while to get used to.


When is it acceptable for Christmassy things to start appearing in the shops or be advertised on TV?

Steve - Late November

h - Beginning of Advent. 

Mark - 1st December.

Pete - The middle of November is a reasonable time for it all to start I would have thought. Get Halloween out of the way first at least.

Ian - Mid November


Tell us a Christmas cracker joke?

Steve - What do you call a bunch of chess players bragging about their games in a hotel lobby? Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.

h - What did Adam say to his wife on the night before Christmas? It’s Christmas, Eve.

Mark - How many letters are there in the Christmas alphabet? 25 - There's no 'L'.

Pete - What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck? A Christmas quacker.

Ian - What do you call a reindeer who can’t see? No eye deer.


If you had your birthday on Christmas Day, how would you insist your friends and family dealt with this appalling situation?

Steve - Two presents.

h - I’d lie naked in a box of straw and invite the neighbourhood round to pay homage. I am after all, a lead singer.

Mark - Celebrate my birthday on Christmas Eve and don’t try fob me off with one present to cover both Christmas and birthday!

Pete - I already know about this situation as my Birthday is in January and it can be a pain. I would insist I have a Birthday celebration in the middle of summer. Problem solved.

Ian - Loads of gifts on Christmas Day and pick a favourite month to have a birthday party.