Jonathan Ross says he has gone vegan to “save the planet.”
While appearing on a recent episode of ITV talk show Loose Women, which was broadcast on Christmas Eve, the British film critic, TV personality, and chat show host talked about his new diet.
He explained that as he doesn’t drink alcohol, he is typically left in charge of the turkey at Christmas. But now, together with his wife, screenwriter and author Jane Goldman, he follows a vegan diet for environmental reasons.
“This year we went vegan,” explained Ross. “So this is our first year as vegans, me and Jane, to try and help save the planet.”
“Rest assured I cook loads of vegetarian dinners now,” said Loose Women host Janet Street-Porter.
Ross appeared on the show to discuss the new series of reality singing competition The Masked Singer, on which he is a panel member.
Ross appeared on the show via video call from his home. He also showed off his new puppy, Spooky, and said that he and his family are “so in love” with him.
“It’s all going to be a much nicer 2021 for all of us, and we’ve got Spooky as well,” he added.
‘No meat for me on Monday’
This isn’t the first time Ross has expressed interest in a meat-free diet. Back in 2017, he retweeted a status from the vegetarian advocacy organization Meat Free Monday. He said: “No meat for me on Monday. Makes sense.”
According to Meat Free Monday, eating plant-based for just one full day every week can make a significant difference to human health, animals, and the environmental impact of animal agriculture.
Former chief scientific officer Sir Liam Donaldson previously said that reducing the UK’s consumption of animal products by just 30 percent before the year 2030 could prevent up to 18,000 premature deaths every year.
Vegan Christmas dinner
Ross was not the only celebrity to eat a plant-based Christmas dinner this year. Queen guitarist and outspoken animal advocate Brian May also revealed that he ate a “90 percent” vegan and turkey-free meal.
While actor Alicia Silverstone shared a simple vegan recipe from her vegan cookbook The Kind Diet. Previously, Silverstone has said that going vegan is the “most effective” way to mitigate climate change.
Christmas dinner, in particular, has a significant impact on the environment. A study by Humane Society International UK and a Harvard University research fellow last year revealed that a turkey-based Christmas dinner in the UK has double the greenhouse gas emissions of a typical vegan nut roast.
