Northerners are nearly twice as likely as southerners to say mashed potatoes are an important part of a Christmas meal in the UK, a new poll has shown.
Sixty per cent of northerners consider them a key part of the meal versus just 34 per cent of southerners, the poll of more than 2,000 people in the UK revealed.
Chris Hopkins, research director at Savanta, which conducted the survey, said: “There is a huge north/south divide over whether you should have mashed potatoes or not.”
But mashed potatoes still ranked lower than roast potatoes overall, with 87 per cent of everyone polled saying they are the most important part of a Christmas meal.
Mr Hopkins added: “The British public has spoken. Roast potatoes are seen as the essential Christmas dinner item, beating out gravy, stuffing and even turkey. Poor old mashed potatoes are very much seen as a long-distance second choice.”
In order of popularity, gravy, stuffing, turkey and pigs in blankets followed roast potatoes as the most essential part of the meal. Bread sauce, gammon or ham and cauliflower cheese were seen as the least important.
Age also played a role in preferences. Younger people were much less likely than the over-55s to say roast potatoes are key, but more likely to say Yorkshire puddings are essential.
Where meat is concerned, Turkey continues to be the clear winner with 55 per cent saying it is the main meat of a Christmas dinner. Chicken scored just 13 per cent of the British public, and both lamb and vegetarian alternatives six per cent each.
