Unfortunately an opportunity to have that shit in your family who disagrees with you captive for a few hours is too much for some.

“I plan to make a few digs about immigrants while mum’s finishing up in the kitchen,” said UKIP supporting Brexiter father-in-law Paul White from Lancaster, “before drunkenly pointing out that my daughter’s loony left husband lost in the referendum when the pudding is served and then saying something offensive about the brown bloke next door but two.”

“It’s likely to be the chief cause of familial violence and kerfufflism this holiday season,” said Dr Hannah Barbara of Rochdale Community University department of Social Whatnots, “Followed closely by whether Trump should have won or not. Unfortunately a lot of people, especially in the social media era, are opinionated gobshites and they can’t even get through the season of goodwill without having a fight about how wrong everyone else is. Twats.”

Meanwhile, Michelle Wright-Cherse of Middleton told us, “It’s not just conservative, Eurosceptic types who intend starting some shit. I fully intend ripping the crap out of my Dad, eldest brother and auntie Gaynor from Leeds after the fascist shits didn’t even support my Jeremy Corbyn blog! I might wait till after dinner but to be honest once the wine opens I can’t shut my opinionated face!”

Brexit sprouts my fly, and there may be many a festive flan flung once Nanna hits the sherry and dad finishes off that Ales of the World gift you thought was so lovely.

2016 has been one of those years. We at the Herald wish you a Merry Christmas or happy festival of whatever flavour and a wonderful, un2016ish new year.

But please leave the politics alone when celebrating: nobody likes a gobby fucker.