Sometimes, no matter how well you might get on with them, your in-laws drive you to the point of breaking the law. Throw Christmas into the mix and suddenly the idea of being locked up with criminals and mad men doesn’t sound like such a bad thing.

Follow our guide to surviving Christmas with the in-laws and stay sane against all odds.

Let them help
If your mother-in-law is anything like mine, chances are that her comments about how she would have stirred the gravy are a misguided attempt to help rather than intended to sabotage your meal. Letting her put crosses in the sprouts is a small gesture which will divert those unwanted ‘suggestions’.

Bite your tongue
If you feel your anger about to bubble over into Christmas massacre, do your best to hold it in. Count to ten, go for a walk, hide in the bathroom or scream into a pillow. Or face an atmosphere icier than Jack Frost’s behind until Boxing Day.

Compromise
It might seem on a par with selling your soul to the devil but sometimes it's easier to just go along with something for the sake of the peace that the festive season is supposed to bring. So give them the Queen's speech even if you’d rather stick red hot pokers in your eyes.

Accept gifts gratefully
We know that you would have much rather have had a dog poo wrapped in festive paper than pink slipper socks or a blender. But you’re not a toddler. So repeat after me: ‘oh, thank you! I’ve always wanted porcelain beagle in a bobble hat, how did you know?’

And give generously
Tempting as it is to buy them slippers, nothing will butter up the in-laws better than a gift chosen with real thought. A beautiful plant for your gardening mad mother-in-law, tickets to the match for an Arsenal fan dad. If you can’t win them over with your personality, buy their love.