Tag: 2018

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Why 2018 could end Christmas glitter

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For those who enjoy Christmas glitter over the festive period then Christmas 2018 may be one of the last Christmases that these products are available as retailers tackle plastic pollution concerns. Waitrose says it will ban glittery products from all of its own ranges by Christmas 2020 over growing fears of what damage it causes to the environment. Other retailers have announced plans to reduce glittery items too which means that from Christmas 2019, glittery products will start to diminish or disappear. The fears are that the shiny flecks which are made from plastic can, when washed away, contaminate the sea, lakes and rivers so they poison sea life and contaminate the water. Now, Waitrose says that all of its own brand Christmas wrapping paper, cards, tags, crackers, as well as plants and flowers will be free of glitter. Plastic-free biodegradable alternatives Instead, they will introduce plastic-free biodegradable alternatives that are said to create the same level of sparkle. A spokesman for the retailer said: “Reducing the impact of plastic on our environment is something that our customers care about. “While it is important for eliminating glitter use, we will find other ways of ensuring our products sparkle at Christmas.” The announcement from Waitrose follows in the steps of growing numbers of music festivals and nursery schools that have announced a switch to eco-friendly versions over the past year. Among those switching is the glittery TV show Strictly Come Dancing who say they are moving to eco-friendly glitter and face wipes. Also, the move follows a ban on the sale of plastic microbeads, which also covers glitter that is contained in washing products, which was introduced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Lack of sparkly covered Christmas glitter cards There’s no doubt that there is a trend against glitter and Christmas shoppers may have noticed this year that there is a lack of sparkly covered Christmas cards, crackers and wrapping paper. Other retailers who say they are making an effort to reduce the amount of glittery items being used on Christmas items include John Lewis, Debenhams, Next and M&S. Also, there’s growing public awareness over the issues with glitter which is denting its popularity, particularly since it makes products using it non-recyclable. Paperchase says that the number of Christmas wrapping lines featuring glittery decoration has fallen from 18 designs last year, to just three this year. Debenhams has also announced that it is taking steps to reduce the amount being used and is offering glittery-free gift boxes as an alternative to glittery wrapping paper. Glitter that’s made from natural plant materials Next has told one national newspaper that it is looking into using glitter that’s made from natural plant materials in future years. For those who have visited the John Lewis website, then they may have noticed that most of their Christmas cards, crackers and wrapping paper have no glitter whatsoever. A spokesman for the British Retail Consortium said: “Retailers were removing glitter from cosmetic products before legislation was introduced because the plastic goes into the water and the industry is looking at how to best make products with glitter environmentally friendly.” So, while glitter has been enjoyed by generations of Christmas lovers, it appears that the days of sparkly cards and wrapping paper are truly …

Iceland Luxury Christmas Pudding Christmas.co.uk

The best Christmas puddings for 2018

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Every year, there is a very wide and confusing choice of the best Christmas puddings to choose from and knowing which is the best is never easy but this Christmas.co.uk guide will help. One of the issues for puddings is down to personal taste and while they consist of fruit and spices, most of them also contain lashings of alcohol. There’s no doubt that setting fire to a Christmas pudding helps bring to an end what has been a lovely Christmas dinner, particularly if you are sharing with family and friends. Also, while the best Christmas puddings were traditionally steamed, this can take several hours whereas today it is much easier to place the pudding in a microwave and everything is ready in a few minutes. Another tip for those who want to present a flaming spectacular to the dinner table is to warm the alcohol before it is poured over the pudding so it will burn when you light it. Not everyone likes Christmas pudding but there’s a range of flavours and there will be something here to meet most peoples’ needs. Winner For the testers at Christmas.co.uk, Iceland’s Luxury 12 Month Matured Christmas Pudding delivers the best all-round pudding treat. The flavours are strong, there’s plenty of fruit and the alcohol mix of brandy, sherry and cognac works really well. This offering packs lots of flavours, so if you like a bland tasting pudding then avoid the Iceland offering. The alcohol flavour is particularly strong with plenty of nuts which many competitors don’t have since they tend to be pricey ingredients. For the price, it’s an all-round winner at £6. Second place In second place, there’s an excellent offering from Tesco and their Finest 12 Month Matured Christmas Pudding serves eight and costs £8. It’s a well-made effort, flavoured with cognac and there are lots of rich flavours. It’s also a darker pudding than many of its rivals and it offers a tad more crunch but the moist and fruity interior is a delight. Again, there’s a lot of alcohol flavour, including sherry and cider and you need to cook the pudding carefully to ensure it delights. Third place The Irresistible Christmas Pudding from the Co-op really does live up to its name with an irresistible offering that delivers a good mix of taste, texture and flavours. Again, there’s a good mix of fruit and the whole offering has been matured for 12 months and costs £5.49. Not only does the pudding look great when it has been dished up, it probably suits a wider range of tastes and it smells lovely. Essentially, the alcoholic flavours are not as noticeable but work well with the fruits and spices. This is a highly recommended irresistible Christmas pudding. Fourth place Since they dominate a lot of Christmas dinner offerings in the UK, it’s no surprise to see Marks & Spencer making our top five. The retailer picks up fourth place with its 12 Month Matured Vintage Christmas Pudding. It costs more than many of its rivals at £12 but it comes in an impressive ceramic bowl. The pudding is an indulgent and rich mix of lovely fruit, spices and alcohol. Of all the puddings, the M&S offering smells the best and it’s a good traditional indulgence that looks tasty when served up. Fifth place While most of the Christmas puddings featured here comply with the traditional take on what these puddings should be; lots of fruit, spices and alcohol, some retailers are offering slightly unusual versions, including puddings with a chocolate sauce. However, the Salted Caramel Vodka Pudding from Aldi is a very tasty and interesting twist on what is a classic pudding. The fruit has been drenched in a salted caramel vodka and delivers an impressive taste. It’s a moist offering and an unusual choice for those who want something that is a bit modern with a different twist. At £6.99, the Aldi Christmas pudding is highly recommended. Special mentions As with all our taste tests, there are some puddings that impress but don’t quite make the top five or top 10 and one of these is the classic Christmas pudding from Harrods. It’s a pricey offering at £13 but it has lots of sweet flavours with an authentic smell of what a Christmas pudding should be like. We also liked the Fortnum & Mason offering with their King George Christmas pudding; it is available in four sizes and costs from £12.95. Made with quality ingredients, it’s a very traditional pudding with lovely flavours in a sticky offering older people will relish. For vegans, the Riverford Vegan Christmas Pudding is also highly recommended at £11.95. An excellent mix of fruits and spices delivers a tasty pudding. We were also taken by the Waitrose offering with its Golden Delicious Christmas Pudding. It costs £14 and the centre of it oozes lots of flavours but the exterior …

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Best tasting turkeys for Christmas 2018

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Need to know about the best tasting turkeys for Christmas? This guide will help. Christmas is quickly approaching and you’re either feeling very smug about your organisational skills or are in a maelstrom of panic and stress. Present buying is only part of the battle, we hate to remind you but the ‘big food shop’ is also looming. Now for me enjoying delicious festive food is the most essential part of Christmas and I have a hunch that I’m not alone in that. Gorgeously gooey puddings, tins overflowing with favourite chocolates and the odd crispy, fluffy roast potato or two! But what about the main event? The showstopper which will make your table groan with the weight of its tastiness and your family’s eyes fill with longing. For most Christmas lunches around the UK, the trusty turkey is the meat of choice and the best tasting turkeys are the birds with tender, moist flesh and crisp, brown skin will make you the toast of the table. Turkey is a great choice for any roast dinner with more flavour, protein and less fat than chicken. Ignore the naysayers who whisper unkindly about the turkey being dry. They have simply failed to cook their turkey properly, amateurs! There’s a huge range of different types, sizes and shapes of turkey options. From un-adorned whole birds with impeccable provenance to turkey crowns ready stuffed with gourmet stuffing and coated with bacon. So, where and what to buy? We’ve researched the best of this year’s offerings to help you choose the perfect turkey for your Christmas dinner. Whole turkeys When you choose your turkey make sure you buy birds that have been allowed to mature to full size. If budget allows then pick a bird that has been fed on organic, natural food and has had plenty of exercise throughout its life. Keeping these things in mind while shopping will mean you have supported a farmer who has cared for his flock well and will be rewarded with lean, flavour-filled meat. The ideal place to buy your best tasting turkeys will be from your nearest independent butcher, it will be fresh, local and beautifully prepared. However, this isn’t always possible and supermarkets are where most of us now buy our turkeys from. The magazine, BBC Good Food conducts a taste test every year and has awarded Marks & Spencer the honour of being chosen as the winner of the best tasty turkey award this year. M&S are synonymous with Christmas food so this won’t come as a surprise to many. The M&S Pembrokeshire Bronze Free Range product was given top marks for its ‘golden colour’ and ‘crisp skin’. The white meat was ‘succulent’ with the legs (my favourite!) said to deliver a ‘savoury and gamey’ taste.  These tasty turkeys are from the Welsh farm of Justin Scale, a true expert in delivering high quality birds who have lived a happy, healthy life. Households who are on a smaller budget should look to Aldi and Lidl. They had a turkey each in the Good food Highly Commended category. Aldi’s Exquisite Ramburgh Farm British Free Range Turkey and Lidl’s Silverslate Turkey are both under £9.00 per kg. The compliments received from the judges by Aldi and Lidl were that the turkeys had “golden, glossy skin” and “close textured meat” that was “savoury without being too gamey”. Iceland also did well in the taste tests but Tesco lagged behind the competition with only two stars given for the flavour of their meat. Pre-prepared turkeys and turkey crowns Christmas is all about spending quality time with family and friends and I’d guess that spending an hour with your hands inside a turkey is definitely not high on your list of fun things to do. Wrapping presents, shopping and writing Christmas cards is enough festive admin to cope with, so the food prep should be as simple and efficient as possible. Pre-prepared turkeys come with stuffing, a jacket of juicy bacon and all the basting sorted. All you need to do is stick it in a hot oven, set the timer and wait while relaxing with a glass of prosecco or two. Once it’s done the carving is easier and there is much less waste and mess after the meal is finished. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Waitrose’s Cranberry Burst Turkey Parcel (£45) is beautifully presented and doesn’t take up too much room in a busy oven. The parcel is pure breast meat and goes further than the size of it suggests. The filling is sweet but tangy cranberry sauce which oozes out and is a perfect partner for the crispy bacon that encases the meat. If you have a big family and love to entertain them all on Christmas Day then Sainsbury’s is the supermarket to head to. Their Taste the Difference Turkey Crown is £60 but will serve 14-16 people. Do check the size of your oven, buy a big roasting tray and plan the rest of your roast around the fact this beast will take up most of your cooking space. This big, juicy bird is stuffed with nicely balanced pork, sage and onion stuffing and has a decorative and generous latticework of bacon on the top. The meat itself is moist and artfully seasoned and the bay leaves add a lovely final flourish. The Christmas food catalogues have been in print for a while now and it’s time to make your choices and get organised or the best tasting turkeys will soon be snapped up and stashed away in the freezer of Mr and …

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The formula for the perfect Christmas Day 2018 revealed

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If you would like to know how others enjoy Christmas Day and the festivities, then a new formula reveals the perfect way to spend the ‘big day’ with everything from the best time for waking up and when to sit down and enjoy Christmas dinner. A survey of 2,000 adults has found that the best time for enjoying Christmas dinner is at 2.33pm. While that sounds rather precise, the survey also highlights that the dinner is complete with three pigs in blankets and Brits also want to enjoy five Christmas movies on the day. Also, the perfect Christmas Day is complete with four inches of snow – which might happen for most parts of the UK this year. If you want to know the best number of presents to create the ideal day, then the survey reveals that it is seven. Best tips for Christmas presents The best tips for Christmas presents – that’s those that won’t be rejected or laughed at – are alcohol, a book and fragrance. For most adults, the best time to wake up on Christmas Day is 7.56am – again a very precise time for Brits – and the day needs a real Christmas tree and also turkey being dished up for dinner. The survey was carried out by Marks & Spencer and a spokeswoman said: “Christmas is an important time of the year and customers are hunting for perfect gifts to impress close friends and family. “Fragrances top everyone’s gift list and make for a lovely present.” However, the ultimate Christmas fragrance, say one in 10 adults, is the smell of their roast dinner cooking along with cinnamon and mulled wine. The perfect Christmas Day dinner Along with turkey, the perfect Christmas Day dinner also sees the addition of crisp roast potatoes, for 75% of people, with the next most popular additions being pigs in blankets, followed by stuffing and gravy for the ideal meal. However, the ideal Christmas song highlighted by the survey to listen to while tucking into Christmas dinner is the Fairytale of New York by The Pogues. The most popular film to watch on Christmas Day is Home Alone, followed by Miracle on 34th Street; this highlights that British adults still enjoy the Christmas classics. However, decorations divide opinion every year with people struggling to decide whether they should go for minimalist or flashing lights, but most opt for a tree and baubles plus putting a wreath on their front door. The most popular tree of choice is a pine tree for 37% of the survey’s respondents. When it comes to choosing the perfect partner for spending Christmas with, two-thirds of adults said they prefer to spend their time with their partner, while four in 10 of us prefer to stay in their own home …

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2018’s bestselling M&S Christmas food

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For those people who are still debating what they should dish up on Christmas Day, this list from Marks & Spencer of their bestselling Christmas food will help. There’s no doubt that Christmas Day is the day to indulge in delicious tasting food and plenty of drink – and the popularity of M&S to provide the food for the event should not be underestimated with the firm predicting that around 25% of Brits will be eating a Christmas turkey provided by them this year. However, while many people will still be deciding what their Christmas Day menu will consist of, it appears that lots of people have already been rushing to buy their items for the big event. M&S has also revealed that its customers began searching for Christmas food in October and they have now put together their bestselling list of foods. As should be expected, there’s a wide range of tastes from buyers! Marks & Spencer’s festive sandwiches The Christmas.co.uk team have already revealed that Marks & Spencer’s festive sandwiches are extremely popular and they are expecting to sell more than 3.6 million sarnies over the festive period. The most popular is the firm’s classic turkey feast sandwich, which comes as no surprise. What does come as a surprise is out of the total sandwich sales, this classic will shift 1.2 million purchases. The most popular new M&S sandwich this year has been the vegan ‘no turkey feast’ sandwich. From the list, the most popular dessert is the excellent chocolate pinecones that have a gorgeous chocolate sauce filling. Turkeys for Christmas food Alongside the selling of lots of turkeys for Christmas food – the fuss-free boneless Oakham turkey breast with stuffing is the top choice at £25 – M&S says the next most popular meat sale has been for its topside of beef – which sells for £34 – and they say they are also looking to sell 10 million glasses of Prosecco and half-a-million litres of ready-made gravy. In addition, the food store will also sell 720 tonnes of stuffing and an incredible 140 million pieces of party food for the party loving British public. On top of this, the firm is gearing up to sell more than 6.5 million pigs in blankets, which are an incredibly popular side dish for Christmas foods. It helps that the firm has also unveiled two foot long pigs in blankets for Christmas lunches in 2018. M&S also says it will sell 30 million sprouts – that will reach from London to Switzerland. While there are some cracking Christmas food deals from other retailers, it appears that M&S occupies a special places in the hearts of Brits wanting quality and a great offering to share with family …

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Christmas tree decorations 2018

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The festivities are never complete without impressive Christmas tree decorations and the festivities in 2018 are no different. Along with Christmas lights, tree toppers, baubles and garlands, there’s a wide range of decorations to choose from at a wide range of prices. Here at Christmas.co.uk, we’ve explained what people looking to buy a Christmas tree should look for, whether that’s a real or artificial tree, and our ultimate guide will tell you everything you need to know. For many families, decorating their Christmas tree is one of the most exciting parts of the festivities and is often part of a family tradition. However, despite many helping hands, it can be difficult achieving a polished look for your tree and that’s after you have spent several hours untangling the Christmas lights or hanging your baubles to find they clash. Even worse, you may find that your baubles are unevenly spread out and you may not even have enough of them. Firstly, let’s explain the type of Christmas tree decoration categories that need to be dealt with. Christmas tree lights The lights for your Christmas tree do not need much explaining since it is these fairy lights that often make the tree look like a magical creation. Seeing the lights twinkling away in a decorated room help to spread the festive joy. Christmas tree toppers There’s a choice for tree toppers and while many of us prefer the traditional angels or a star, there’s also a growing trend for other styles, often outlandish, including birds or top hats. Whichever type of tree topper appeals to you, just ensure you’ve left enough space between the top of the tree and your ceiling so it can be attached without being damaged or bending the tree. Christmas tree garlands We’ve added Christmas tree garlands to the list though they don’t suit everyone’s tastes but for anything that doesn’t light up but can be strung around the tree, then this is a garland. Garlands today are usually made of beads, ribbon or tinsel. Christmas tree ornaments The types of baubles and ornaments that you place on the tree can be flamboyant or traditional choices and many families may have baubles that have been passed down over the years. This all helps to create a lovely family Christmas atmosphere. How to decorate a Christmas tree When it comes to decorating the Christmas tree, there’s no tried and tested method for decorating one that will guarantee to make your life easier and leave it looking spectacular. However, it’s important that you untangle the Christmas lights first and ensure they work – then you can hang the lights from the tree. This will help prevent a headache should you decorate the tree, come to switch on the lights and find they do not work. This means there is the painful process of removing decorations to replace the lights or fix them. If your lights work, it’s important to attach the fairy lights before any other baubles or ornaments because you can rearrange them easily should they look out of place or wonky. If your choice is to use a string of fairy lights, then you should begin at the base of the tree and then work your way outwards to help create a 3-D effect. You will need to carefully drape the Christmas lights over the part of the tree where these lights will be on show and spread them evenly over the branches. If you need new lights, then Habitat is offering an impressive set of 32 LED lights that change colours for £20. Amazon is also offering a string of fairy lights that change colour for £10.99 but they also have an impressive cluster of tree lights that help to plump up the look of the Christmas tree and are suitable for outdoor and indoor use. There 720 LED lights in a cluster along with a 10 metre long wire and timer for £24.94. Placing the tree topper Depending on the type of tree topper you have, the Christmas.co.uk tip is to not leave this until the very end of the decorating process. Most people will be tempted to do so but if it’s a tall tree, then you run the risk of having to stretch to place the tree topper and also create the potential of baubles and ornaments falling off while doing so. And that’s without the prospect of falling from a chair and injuring yourself! The best way is to place the tree topper after the Christmas lights so the tree and the decorations will remain intact. Among the stylish and unusual Christmas tree topper designs available this year, is this cute gingerbread angel which costs £26 from Notonthehighstreet. Dressed in a white tutu and sparkly wings, the angel is handmade and is available in silver and gold options so it should match with your other tree decorations. Disney fans can also invest in a Tinkerbell tree topper that lights up from Shop Disney and there are also Santa Christmas tree toppers that illuminate as well from Amazon. For those who have a gold or silver theme, then a gold light star that lights up is also available for topping the tree costing £12.99 from Very. Adding Christmas tree garlands Before adding the ornaments and baubles, it’s probably a better idea to add the garlands that you will be using after you’ve added the lights and the topper. It’s likely that you’ll be adding more than one garland to create a better finish so have everything ready beforehand and place them on the tree. While tinsel is available everywhere, Notonthehighstreet is offering a Bonnie and Bell reindeer garland which comes complete with tiny jingle bells. It costs £16 and is wrapped around a reel to help with easy storage. Wayfair also offers a pine garland complete with battery-operated LED lights which cost £29.99. Adding tree ornaments There is a pecking order when it comes to adding Christmas tree ornaments and we would recommend that any sentimental or expensive ornaments should be placed on the lower branches because these tend to be the strongest and you will help avoid breaking something that is sentimental to you. For those who have small children or a dog in the house, then they may knock things off the tree so you should take note of how high they can reach and begin adding the ornaments from this point. Try adding the garlands and the lights to the bottom section instead. The larger ornaments should be spread evenly among the branches with the smaller pieces filling the gaps afterwards. Indeed, you could invest in a shatterproof bauble set and these are available at different prices and sizes though we like the offering from Wayfair at £29.99. Shatterproof baubles are also available on Amazon and we are rather taken by one pack of 80 baubles costing £35.95. As this guide shows, you don’t have to spend a fortune on Christmas tree decorations to create something that is lovely and impressive. We have also highlighted in another article that discount shops such as Poundland and Home Bargains are offering some very impressive decorations that are a match visually for more expensive items from upmarket stores such as Harrods. These are well worth investigating for their potential and if your children or dog may destroy or damage the baubles, then they are easy and cheap to replace. However, many people will be well-organised and have their exterior Christmas lights already in place and have a Christmas tree twinkling with lights. For the rest of us, then sourcing a new tree and decorating it is something we leave until closer to the big day and the trendy colour schemes this year – if you need to know – are set to be silver and white, which tends to be a classic …

Traditional christmas stollen fruit cake on wooden rustic background

Christmas food gifts and hampers in 2018

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If you know someone who is difficult to buy a Christmas present for, then why not consider Christmas food gifts and hampers in 2018? All of the major supermarkets and retailers are offering great ideas for food gifts this year and there’s also growing interest in making your own gift with some excellent Christmas food recipes. Buying food, or even alcohol, for someone who is difficult to buy for makes life easier and it’s a way to ensure successful gift buying. Indeed, it may even be a good idea to buy a Christmas hamper as a gift which will be filled with luxury food along with wines and other drinks. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a hamper since there are cheaper versions available that may not come in a wicker basket. Receiving a hamper this Christmas from John Lewis Most people will, for example, relish receiving a hamper this Christmas from John Lewis and they are offering a ‘Spirit of Christmas’ hamper for £100 consisting of alcohol and chocolates, but they also have a Christmas gift basket which comes complete with red wine and a range of delicious seasonal snacks for £35. Should you be sick of buying socks for someone in your family then perhaps it is time to consider the Christmas treat tray from John Lewis, which costs £25 and has various chocolates and biscuits, along with a ‘Festive treats’ hamper with red wine, cakes and treats for £60. When it comes to Christmas gifts, John Lewis really does make a great impression with a ‘Festive fireside’ Christmas hamper costing £125 and containing prosecco, wine, chocolate, biscuits, a Christmas pudding chocolate bar and a Christmas pudding, chutney and crackers. For those who really do want to make an impression then there’s a John Lewis ‘Seasonal sophistication’ Christmas hamper at £250 which really will bring a smile to the face of those who you may struggle to treat at Christmas time. Along with champagne, four bottles of wine and a sparkling fruit drink, there’s also Christmas pudding, clotted cream fudge, popcorn and shortbread as well as olives, ground coffee, smoked almonds, fancy marmalade and orange blossom honey. There’s even a pack of six luxury gold crackers. Hampers can be bought online These hampers can be bought online from John Lewis or from their stores but there’s also a great offering from Marks and Spencer’s this year for their Christmas hampers. There is an impressive line-up of 50 choices, including a ‘Classic Christmas gift box’ at £30 and for £10 extra, there’s a gift box with champagne. For £100, customers can enjoy the ‘Windsor hamper’ complete with red wine and prosecco and this also comes with vintage marmalade, ground coffee, assorted Italian chocolates, truffles and biscuits. The popular shop even provides an ‘Indulgent chilled hamper’ for £150 with a range of alcoholic drinks, salmon, a spiced ham hock terrine along with a whisky-infused cheddar. There are several other kinds of cheese available as well as a roast ham, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding as well as mince pies, flat breads and a reusable cool bag along with a posh gift bag for the offering. Essentially, there will be hampers and Christmas food gift items to meet just about every budget from Fortnum & Masons to specialist offerings from Lakeland. Even Debenhams and Dunhelm are offering Christmas food and drink gifts as are Boots and Next. Impressive range of Christmas food gifts and hampers And let’s not forget that the supermarkets are also offering an impressive range of Christmas food gifts and hampers for customers, including Waitrose. Among the best examples are offerings from Aldi who have a range of Christmas hampers available – but only until stocks last. Last year, the hampers from the popular discount store saw them being big sellers and this year should prove no different. Among the offerings is a ‘Festive delights’ hamper at £24.99 with a range of festive treats including luxury biscuits and a chocolate bombe dessert. There’s also a ‘Specially selected treats’ hamper at £34.99 with vintage champagne truffles and wine. However, their most impressive offering is a ‘Specially selected luxury hamper’ at £59.99 with award-winning wine, British handmade crumbly crackers and there’s an ‘Exquisite hamper’ at £99.99 offering gourmet food in a wicker basket. Sainsbury’s and Tesco allow customers to build their own hampers which may be a cost-effective way of delivering a special Christmas gift to that special someone who is difficult to buy for – and buying their favourite goodies could be the secret to Christmas food gifts …

Christmas TV is a huge part of the festive celebrations for many and the BBC has now unveiled its line-up.

BBC unveils its Christmas TV 2018 line-up

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For many people, the Christmas TV schedules are a big part of the festive celebrations, which is why many of us don’t bother with TV listings magazines through the year but always buy the Radio Times at Christmas. That’s because the schedules are packed with family favourites, one-off drama episodes and great programmes. And Christmas TV’s schedules for 2018 are no different with the return of Mrs Brown’s Boys, Strictly Come Dancing and the popular family Christmas Day favourite, Call The Midwife. However, there will be no Doctor Who special edition on our screens on Christmas Day as the show will, instead, be broadcast on New Year’s Day. There’s also the thrilling return of Idris Elba in the cracking crime show Luther and a six-part adaptation of Les Miserables, featuring Dominic West. The BBC has also unveiled a fresh interpretation of Richard Adams’ Watership Down and there is Agatha Christies’ The ABC Murders – starring John Malkovich and Rupert Grint – to enjoy. Festive TV tradition in recent years Another festive TV tradition in recent years is to enjoy a David Walliams’ book and this year the BBC has adapted The Midnight Gang for the screen. Pop group Take That will also mark their 30th anniversary with the broadcast of a special one-off programme. It’s also the 20th anniversary of comedy show Goodness Gracious Me and it will celebrate its anniversary with celebrity fans in a special edition. There’s also a raft of documentaries scheduled, including one on the illustrator Raymond Briggs, who created The Snowman, and the comedian Billy Connolly. There’s also some festive culture on BBC Four with a performance of Swan Lake from the Royal Opera House. In addition, music lovers will get to enjoy four Top of the Pops specials over the holiday period. Live episode of the long-running sitcom Not Going Out One particular highlight could be the live episode of the long-running sitcom Not Going Out, featuring the comedian Lee Mack. Fans of Morecambe and Wise will also get to enjoy two episodes that have been lost for 50 years. The episodes were found in Sierra Leone cinema and though they were in black-and-white, they have now been returned to colour. The radio schedules have also been unveiled with the BBC highlighting that Hollywood star Angelina Jolie will guest edit the Today programme and there’s an interactive drama created for those with an Amazon Alexa device called The Unfortunates. The story will be broadcast in 17 different sections and then shuffled into new order whenever the series is listened to with just the first and final sections remaining in a fixed place. For those who are interested in the maths, this show will have 1.3 trillion different permutations of the same story which should keep a few people busy over the …

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The best Christmas adverts in 2018

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For many people in the UK, one of the best parts of the Christmas build-up is the anticipation of the increasingly ambitious and tear-jerking adverts released by big retailers and supermarkets. One of the most widely anticipated is the John Lewis Christmas advert and this year was no exception. With a huge fanfare, the advert is one of the festive season’s most hotly anticipated campaigns and this year proved to be an emotional tribute to musical icon Sir Elton John. In recent years, the John Lewis Christmas advert has become a ‘must watch’ appointment and is a highlight among increasing competition with supermarkets now also competing for one-upmanship. While we’ve had years of what appear to be heartfelt short films that have been set to the covers of classic songs, this year the John Lewis advert tells the story of Sir Elton’s career set to his first big hit, ‘Your Song’. Sir Elton says: “This has been a lovely opportunity to reflect on my life in music and the journey I’ve been on. The ad is fantastic and I loved every minute of being a part of it.” While John Lewis and Partners refuse to disclose how much they spent on the film, including Sir Elton’s fee, they say the budget is similar to those of previous years, which usually cost around £7 million. Anyway, here’s the John Lewis advert to enjoy in full: https://youtu.be/mNbSgMEZ_Tw Another retailer that usually offers up an impressive Christmas advert is Boots and this year they celebrate the mother and daughter bond. The advert is set to Robbie Williams’ ‘She’s the One’ and shows a mother and daughter at loggerheads about preparing for a big day. Then the daughter has a great idea for a suitable present – which includes a visit to Boots! Here it is: Cadbury’s also spends a hefty amount on its Christmas advert and this year it’s gone with the theme of Secret Santa. Many people who work in schools and offices will be aware of the process of buying a secret present for just one person in a bid to resolve a present buying dilemma. There’s no doubt that the advert encourages viewers could pick up a box of chocolates for their Secret Santa recipient. But does the Cadbury’s advert for Christmas 2018 work for you? Find out: https://youtu.be/fxVxPLFtoNA The retailer Argos was one of the first to release their 2018 Christmas advert with a cheeky take on the festivities that audiences will love – though they have aired several adverts before this. Their story involves a gremlin causing havoc before Christmas Day with a fast-track delivery driver stopping the sock wearing monster in his tracks. Enjoy the Argos advert: Here at Christmas.co.uk we also enjoy the offerings from supermarkets with the Asda advert delivering a hilarious theme featuring skiers and cowboys riding Christmas trees as well as stunt driving Yetis arriving with the presents to make this a special day for a girl who can’t wait for the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a typical big budget offering called ‘Bring Christmas Home’. https://youtu.be/MaIKutiqMlw In addition, we also like the Aldi advert which brings back Kevin the Carrot which is a cute vegetable starring in their advert that shows him as the hero taking on an evil Parsnip. It’s not only well-made but has a great gag in there (for adults) too. Enjoy Kevin the Carrot and the Wicked Parsnip: https://youtu.be/69Cg_ez7d1U However, special mention needs to go to the Macdonald’s Christmas advert which follows Santa on his Christmas Eve rounds with his trusty reindeer getting upset over the lack of healthy treats being left out by people they visit. Santa, however, has a cunning plan and is planning to visit a McDonald’s who are selling reindeer treats this year in its restaurants. Of all the Christmas adverts on our screens this year, the McDonald’s one is probably the most festive. Enjoy Santa enjoying a …

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The top selling Christmas toys for 45 years

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For those who like to take a trip down Memory Lane, then the list of bestselling Christmas toys over the past 45 years has been revealed but how many of these can you remember? The list has been put together by Argos to coincide with the unveiling of its Christmas toy catalogue and after launching in 1973 the store offered the UK’s children popular favourites such as Lego, Furbies and the Rubik’s Cube. So, for those who grew up in the 1970s, they may remember popular items such as Star Wars figurines and Stretch Armstrong. Fast forward to the 1980s and 1990s, then we have the appearance of Barbie, Cabbage Patch dolls and Tamagotchis. Into the noughties and it’s the appearance of electronic toys such as the Xbox 360 as well as BMX bikes. It’s worth remembering that some of these toys are still available, though they tend to be pricier today than there were back then. Argos guide to the bestselling toys Here’s the Argos guide to the bestselling toys: From 1973: Shrinky Dinks, the Risk board game, followed by the Othello board game, Stretch Armstrong, a BMX bike, Dungeons & Dragons and in 1979, Star Wars toys. From 1980: Hungry Hippos, Rubik’s cube, Lego train set, Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch dolls, Transformers, Laser tag, Sylvanian families, Ghostbusters Proton Pack, Optimus Prime. From 1990: Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles action figures, Gameboy, Barbie, Thunderbird’s Tracey Island, Power Rangers action figures, POGs, Toy Story Buzz Lightyear figure, Tamagotchi, Teksta the Dog and Bob the builder. From 2000: Furby, Who Wants to be a Millionaire boardgame, Bratz dolls, Beyblades, Robosapien, BMX bike, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, In the Night Garden Iiggle Piggle, High School Musical dance mat. From 2010: Go Go/Zhu Zhu hamsters, Leapfrog LeapPad tablet/Electronic Test Tube, Skylanders Giants/Nerf gun, Furby Boom, Frozen snow globe, Barbie Saddle n Ride/Star Wars electronic light sabre/Pie Face, Hatchimals and Cozmo. Best-selling Christmas toys predicted for 2018 The best-selling toys predicted for 2018 include the Poopsie Unicorn Slime Surprise – as weird as it sounds – which is a magical unicorn doll which poops glittery slime after being fed. Other potential big sellers include Paw Patrol fire rescue truck, an interactive robot and Lego City arctic mobile exploration base. The Argos list of best-selling Christmas toys 2018 also includes: Fingerlings Untamed T-rex/Direwolf/Untamed Dino Cage My Lovely Unicorn 12V Power Ride On Vtech Fantasy Unicorn Nerf Laser Ops Two Pack Tiny Treasures Sleepy Doll Treasure X 3-Pack Chest LOL Surprise Tots Innovation Doll Unicorn Hugs Everything to do with unicorns proving to be popular Obviously, Christmas toys in 2018 will see everything to do with unicorns proving to be popular but what are the chances that in 45 years someone reading the list of bestselling toys from the last 30 years asks: “What exactly is a Poopsie Unicorn Smile …

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