A MUM is ho-ho-home and dry for Christmas already — with £2,000 of gifts all set to go under the tree.
Charlotte Chandler started buying presents for her children Harley, 14, Evie, 13, and six-year-old Myles in June.
The 36-year-old says stocking up early takes off the pressure during the festive period.
She said: “Getting organised early makes a massive difference.
“I usually start in June but sometimes I start earlier.
“This way, I can spread the cost but also be less stressed nearer Christmas and have spare money for activities.
“Going through a busy shopping centre in December and fighting for a parking space is a no thank you.”
And she resists any urge to keep adding to her stockpile.
Charlotte said: “I don’t keep going until Christmas. I’m done now.”
The well-organised content creator, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, hides the presents in two 7ft cupboards with locks on them.
Besides the £2,000 on gifts, single mum Charlotte will add about £10 a week to her food shop to buy festive treats such as crisps, nuts, chocolates and fizzy drinks.
She said: “Anything to keep those stress levels down and enjoy Christmas.”
Christmas Eve boxes are out – the new trend parents are gifting kids instead, it’s cheaper & they’ll enjoy it more too
1
Charlotte Chandler started buying presents for her children in JuneCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia
A MAJOR supermarket has cut the price of Quality Street tubs – but bargain hunters need to move fast as the deal ends today.
The offer is running in stores across the UK, giving shoppers the chance to stock up on Christmas favourites months before the festive season begins.
3
Tubs usually cost £7 but shoppers can save over a thirdCredit: Alamy
3
It disappears from shelves after todayCredit: Getty
It’s Morrisons offering the bargain, letting customers bag two tubs for just £9.
Normally, the tubs sell for £7 each, so the deal works out as a saving of up to 36 per cent.
The offer covers four favourites – the 600g Quality Street tub, plus 550g tubs of Celebrations, Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Roses.
It’s one of the cheapest supermarket offers around right now, but the bargain won’t last long.
The promotion only runs until August 31, after which prices will jump back up.
So, today is the very last chance to snap up the tubs before the discount disappears.
The offer comes as Christmas chocolates are already hitting supermarket shelves across the country.
Fans were left buzzing this week when B&M stores began selling Quality Street’s famous Strawberry Delight crackers.
Each box contains dark chocolate bites filled with a creamy strawberry centre – and shoppers couldn’t wait to share the news.
One excited fan posted online: “Strawberry Delight are the best Quality Street and the crackers are BACK at B&M.”
Others quickly piled in with their support. One wrote: “Love them and the orange.” Another added: “My favourite.”
Tesco is also running its own offer, slashing the price of a Quality Street tin to £5.95 with a Clubcard.
But some shoppers reckon it’s far too early for festive promos.
One joked: “Be Easter eggs by the end of the month on display.”
Another said: “Don’t know what’s the bigger joke. The price or the fact it’s 4 months early.”
Meanwhile, there’s frustration as Quality Street tubs have shrunk yet again this year.
The classic purple boxes are now 550g, down from 600g last year, and a huge drop from 780g back in 2015.
That means around five or six fewer chocolates per tub, with the number falling from around 63 to roughly 57.
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: “The shrinking Quality Street tub has become a Christmas tradition.
“The lights go up, the carols play, the chocolates shrink.”
He joked: “At this rate, the tub will quite literally be empty by 2035.”
Consumer champion Martyn James also blasted the change, saying: “Most people consider this to be out and out greed.”
He added: “Better to charge us more than give us less and not tell us.”
Nestlé, which makes Quality Street, insisted changes are based on “manufacturing, ingredients, transport and customer preferences.”
How to save money on chocolate
We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don’t have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…
Go own brand – if you’re not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you’ll save by going for the supermarket’s own brand bars.
Shop around – if you’ve spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.
Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.
Look out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they’ve been reduced.
They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.
Buy bigger bars – most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.
So if you’ve got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.
3
The classic purple boxes are now 550g – down from 600g last year, and a huge drop from 780g back in 2015Credit: Alamy
Families have the chance to celebrate a ‘magical’ Christmas this year as popular caravan site Haven has announced two parks will open their doors for the festive season this year
(Image: Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post)
Two popular caravan sites are opening their doors over the festive period giving holidaymakers the chance to spend their Christmas in style with a ‘magical’ list of celebrations.
Popular family caravan sites Haven are normally closed during Christmas and New Year, but two parks have been announced in Scotland to allow people to celebrate with them.
The parks will be transformed into Winter Wonderlands and it comes as five were opened last year for festivities which saw around 30,000 people having a winter break at the caravan sites. The new two Scottish sites announced are at Craig Tara in Ayr and Seton Sands in Prestonpans and will be opening over Christmas and Hogmanay.
They will be decorated for Christmas and have lots for families to do during the stay, including access to the pools – and even the chance for children to meet Santa. There will also be a Hogmany show to bring in the New Year with the bells.
Simon Palethorpe, CEO of Haven said: “This August, we’re welcoming record numbers of visitors to our parks, and we’re delighted Father Christmas is amongst them – though we had to remind him to swap his sleigh for a sunhat and to slap on the sunscreen. Christmas and Hogmanay at Haven is truly magical.
“Whichever Park you choose, I’m confident you’ll experience an unforgettable festive feeling. Whether it’s waking up in your cosy caravan on Christmas morning, singing Auld Lang Syne in the show bar on Hogmanay, the live festive entertainment, eating lunch in one of our restaurants or simply spending quality time together in a wonderful coastal setting. I can’t think of anywhere better to be first-footing.”
Families can enjoy their festive celebrations in style at Haven this year(Image: SCU)
The park’s owners, Bourne Leisure Ltd, have lodged a planning application with Blackpool Council for the placement of 20 extra caravans for holiday use through a proposed Certificate of Lawfulness, meaning more sites could be added to the already extensive list.
It comes as Marton Mere Holiday Village, which operates under subsidiary group Haven Holidays, currently has 1474 permitted pitches, mainly filled with static caravans alongside a handful of touring pitches. By pursuing a Certificate of Lawfulness, the applicants contend there would be no need for planning permission to position the extra caravans on the park, situated off Mythop Road, Marton.
Planning consultants Laister, representing the applicants, stated in a planning document: “The addition of 20 caravans in the context of the overall permitted number of units across the park is so insignificant that it would not result in an onsite change to the definable character of the use of the land.
“The total number of permitted caravans across the site would rise to 1494, an increase of 1.4 per cent on the existing limits, which falls well within the percentage change parameters of a number of recent appeal decisions.”
SHOPPERS have slammed a bargain retail giant after spotting Christmas decor on shelves four months early.
Many have claimed it is “ridiculous” and an “absolute joke” to see the festive decorations so early in the year.
8
Christmas baubles and large Santas are up for grabs in The RangeCredit: Andrew Barr
8
The retailler has shown off its new Christmas collectionCredit: Facebook / The Range
8
Shoppers have been left furious after spotting the festive decor on shelvesCredit: Andrew Barr
8
Shoppers said it was ‘spoiling the magic’ selling decor this earlyCredit: Andrew Barr
Despite this August being sunnier and warmer for Scots than normal, The Range is already preparing for the winter months.
And shoppers were left fuming when the retailer showed off its range of Christmas buys that are now up for grabs.
The Range took to social media to share its brand new collection of festive decor, which is already stocked on shelves.
In one Facebook post, the shop showed a number of festive cushions and teddies, including cuddly Christmas puddings, gingerbread men, candy canes, and snowy trains and villages.
There was also a huge collection of different Christmas bedding sets, each with its own theme, and large Santa toys.
Fan favourite festive candles were also on display, as well as diffusers with classic Christmas smells such as gingerbread and cranberries.
Our Christmas candles have officially landed. Because it’s never too early for a little festive magic
The RangeFacebook post
Other pieces of decor for the home were up for grabs, like little gingerbread house ornaments, green glass trees and gold lanterns.
The Range captioned one post: “They’re here… and yes, it’s still summer.
“Our Christmas candles have officially landed. Because it’s never too early for a little festive magic.”
And another post on Facebook read: “Not to sleigh the surprise… but since you asked for MORE, here’s a little festive teaser.
‘I’m so ready!’ people say as B&M drops this year’s Christmas PJs, with cute kids’ ‘pigs in blankets’ ones for a fiver
“Too early? Snow way! Our full Christmas collection is coming soon – stay tuned!”
But the posts led to an outcry from shoppers who said it “spoils the magic” by being in shops so early – especially when the summer is still considered to be in full swing.
Many flocked to the comments to blast the shop for selling Christmas decor before the official start of autumn.
One person said: “Have a day off, it’s bloody August!”
Another added: “Spoils the magic of it. It’s ridiculous”.
Someone else wrote: “Absolute joke…”
While a fourth shared: “Ridiculous, it’s not even Halloween”.
And a fifth chimed in: “I love Christmas, but this is far too early”.
How to save money at The Range
THE Range shoppers can save extra cash by using these tips…
Shop, within a shop – In some The Range stores there’s a ‘secret’ shop within a shop.
You can purchase Iceland products in over 85 of the retailer’s branches.
The budget grocery items are a must for plenty of shoppers with hungry mouths to feed back at home.
Shop the sale – Even some of the biggest ticket items are slashed in price if you know when to shop.
A good tip for online shoppers is to use the “offers” tab on The Range website.
It’s where you’ll find deals like this and all the best bargains are saved in one place so you can browse hundreds of products that have been reduced.
It’s also where you’ll find the “Mega Drop”.
Use Facebook – You can use Facebook to your advantage before you head out to shop at The Range.
Like-minded bargain hunters flock to the social media platform to post all about their latest finds and how they managed to score the best prices.
Others, however, seem delighted to get into the Christmas spirit before summer’s over.
A user posted: “Woop woop, skip Halloween and just have Christmas”.
A second commented: “Can’t wait to see the full range of Christmas stock out in shops”.
And a shopper agreed: “Please hurry, I keep popping in to check”.
While a fourth cheered: “Sooooooooo excited, I love Christmas”.
Someone else added: “YASSSSSS, IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!”
8
Candles, diffusers and glass trees are up for grabsCredit: Facebook / The Range
8
There is also a range of different bedding setsCredit: Facebook / The Range
8
Christmas gift sets are also already on shelvesCredit: Andrew Barr
8
The Range showed off its new Christmas home decor on social mediaCredit: Facebook / The Range
Tayce has claimed that as ‘negative focus on trans people’ cost her a place on Strictly Come Dancing even though she won the Christmas special last year
11:09, 25 Aug 2025Updated 11:10, 25 Aug 2025
Drag Race star Tayce won last year’s Christmas special of Strictly alongside Kai Widdrington but was not part of this year’s line-up(Image: PA)
Tayce has claimed that a ‘negative focus on trans people’ cost her a place on Strictly Come Dancing. The drag queen, whose real name is Tayce Szura-Radix, found fame when she finished as runner-up on the second series RuPaul’s Drag Race and then won the Christmas edition of the BBC competition last year in a history-making move for the show, but failed to secure a place on the main line-up.
The TV star initially sparked rumours that she had been snubbed when she claimed in a viral social media post that she was ‘too much’ for the main programme as stars like Geordie Shore legend Vicky Pattison, Stefan Dennis of Neighbours fame and fellow drag queen La Voix were revealed as some of the contestants taking part for this year’s full series.
She would have jumped at the chance to take part in the programme, but Tayce, who is not trans, believes that the fact that she looks ‘more like Naomi Campbell‘ than a typical drag queen, some of the audience wouldn’t be prepared to accept her on the mainstream show.
Speaking on behalf of WhichBingo, Tayce told The Mirror: “I had the most amazing time. It was such an honour and a privilege to be the first drag queen on that show. I mean, I’ve obviously was only for the Christmas special, the whole main series. I would have loved to have been in the main series, but that didn’t happen for me for some reason. I don’t know why.
“Because I guess I look the way that I do, where we’re in a climate right now where there’s so much of an attack and a light and a negative focus on trans people.
“I mean, I myself, I’m obviously not trans, but I don’t look like your standard hokey pokey, artichokey kind of drag queen, where I think people only feel comfortable when they’re in on the joke and they feel like, oh, it’s a man in a wig. And I mean I don’t look like a man in a wig, I look like Naomi Campbell. And some people can’t handle the beauty and the essence. And I think that’s kind of more of a thing on them.”
The former Celebrity Gogglebox star then clarified that she would perhaps be ‘too much for the public’ if she were to hit the dancefloor for what could potentially be nearly three months, and insisted that she would still love to take part at some point in the future but had expected the call to come this year.
She said: “I would have loved to have done the main season. But when I said, in regards to what I said about being too much, it really meant about me being like, maybe I’m too much for the public.
“It didn’t mean I was too much the show or for the people who booked me. I think I’m maybe just too much of a people to handle me at home because I really had my fair share of backlash.
Tayce made history as the first drag star to take part in the programme when it aired its annual Christmas special last year(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)
“Throughout my whole time on the Christmas season on all sorts of social media and I read things but it’s something that doesn’t affect me but I know there would be someone that could have been in my position that really wouldn’t have been able to handle that kind of pressure or that kind of attack so maybe like when I say I was too much maybe I’m just too much for a whole season of my iconicness and if people can’t handle that that’s okay.”
“ I’m such a fan of the show and I know I would kill it. Double Dutch. So, yeah, I mean, if it is what it is. I mean at the end of the day, I would have loved to. I was honestly really expecting to be called back, especially because there’s been kind of a trend, if you will, of winners coming back from the Christmas season.
“So I kind of sat there thinking, yep, I’m going to get that call, it’s going to happen. So it humbled me a bit than I did at the call, but you know what, maybe I was just, yeah too much for the public at home.”
WE may be in the midst of a late summer heatwave, but clearly some people are thinking ahead to Christmas – as Morrisons has already started selling mince pies.
An eagle-eyed shopper posted an image of the festive dessert on sale at their local Morrisons in Sheffield on August 16.
2
The festive treats were found in the bakery aisle of a Morrisons in Sheffield
The photo, on Instagram account @newfoodspotteruk, shows a pack of six shortcrust mince pies, priced at £1.50 and set to expire on August 29 – almost four months before Christmas.
Mince pies are also available on the Morrisons website at the same price point. As well as shortcrust, deep filled (£2) and puff pastry (£1) mince pies are also now on sale.
2
Shoppers were outraged at the high street chain stocking Yuletide snacks in August
“Get stuffed it’s still summer,” commented one outraged follower. Others were less concerned, with one remarking that the pies “need some Baileys squirty cream [clapping emoji]”.
Morrisons is not the only major retailer with Christmas products for sale in the height of summer. Rival supermarket ASDA were already selling their range of mince pies in June.
Meanwhile, B&M were recently at the centre of an online spat after they were caught stocking Advent calendars and selection boxes.
One concerned commenter complained: “The way the chocolate is going in b&m during this heat, I would hate to think what it would be like in Dec!”
It’s also not the first time shoppers have noticed Morrisons stocking festive treats in summer.
Earlier in August, a father of three was shocked to find Milkybars branded with snowflake and other yuletide imagery on the shelves. Last year, The Telegraph reported that the chain was selling six different types of mince pie by the end of August.
When it comes to non-food items, like Advent calendars or decorations, experts note that August is the ideal time to start shopping and bag a bargain.
There’s also a selection of stunning keepsakes including two Ortigia soaps in tins – which could even be passed on as Christmas gifts.
The 26 products are all stored inside the luxe-looking packaging, which opens up to reveal the pull-out draws with gold numbers.
Fortnum & Mason’s Advent calendar is one of the more expensive on the market, but its sky-high value of £1,149 means shoppers are saving £849 compared to purchasing the items individually.
Beauty Advent calendars have started to launch in recent weeks, and we’re expecting plenty more drops within the next month.
The Sun Shopping team will also be putting some of the bestsellers to the test, and you can read our thoughts on last year’s versions, including our Charlotte Tilbury Advent calendar review.
2
The Fortnum Advent calendar has sold out in previous years
Fortnum’s Beauty Advent Calendar, £265 (worth £1,149)
Beauty Advent calendars fly off the virtual shelves every year, so if you have your eye on one, it’s worth snapping it up as soon as possible before it sells out.
MEGHAN Markle’s heavily criticised Netflix show has been renewed for a second season as a new trailer dropped.
Footage showed the Duchess of Sussex alongside a host of famous guests ahead of the release of the second series of With Love, Meghan on August 26.
4
Meghan Markle in the trailer for the second season of her show With Love, MeghanCredit: Instagram
4
A number of stars are due to join the Duchess of Sussex in the new series
4
The first season aired on Netflix in March, with the new series set to land on August 26Credit: Netflix
The first season of Meghan’s eight-part Netflix show saw her bee-keeping, making homemade candles and cooking with celeb pals, including Mindy Kaling and make-up artist Daniel Martin.
Now, the show’s second series promises to be “fun and heartwarming” as a plethora of celebrity guests are due to make their appearance.
This includes stars Chrissy Teigen, Christina Tosi, Jamie Kern Lima, and Tan France.
Describing the new season, Netflix said: “Meghan returns with a fun and heartwarming new season, welcoming celebrity chefs, talented artists, and beloved friends for hands-on adventures filled with laughter and discovery.
“From playful cooking challenges to DIY projects, Meghan and her guests explore bold flavors, experiment with new techniques, and discover simple ways to add beauty to everyday life.
“It’s all about embracing playfulness over perfection and finding joy in creating together.”
Meghan can be seen laughing alongside guests at her Montecito home in the trailer, even joking at the end about Prince Harry’s lack of love for lobster.
Speaking to Chef Andrés, she says: “You know who doesn’t like lobster? My husband.”
In response, the chef light-heartedly retorts: “And you married him anyway?”
They had secured a lucrative five-year contract – thought to be worth more than $100 million (£74 million) – with Netflix after quitting as senior working royals in 2020.
However, this new deal has been signed for “much less”, an insider told Page Six.
Meghan and Harry’s Netflix deal is extended as ‘special’ Christmas episode of cooking show & new documentary announced
Meghan said in a statement: “We’re proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand.
“My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision.”
Netflix will only pay for projects they want to screen, rather than pay in a single multi-million pound agreement like the one signed in 2020, The Sun understands.
The Sun can also reveal, however, that the streaming giants will cover Archewell Productions’s overheads, including all costs for its offices and staff.
The new deal was also described as a “downgrade” by PR expert Mark Borkowski.
He told the Mail: “I think Netflix has done a very neat job of pivoting away from two very expensive people who didn’t deliver, and they’ve taken that deal off the table, and they’ve given them a modest one.
“It’s not like they’re gradually uncoupling – it’s a downgrade. Netflix are not going to expose themselves to those budgets again. It’s Netflix saying, ‘Let’s have a look at your content, but we’ll pick and choose, mate’.”
‘Meghan & Harry need to come up with a hit soon’
By Matt Wilkinson
JUST when you thought it was safe to turn the telly on again… Harry and Meghan are back. And their multi-year renewal with Netflix means they are not going away anytime soon.
There have been tense negotiations in recent weeks but Netflix is so deeply involved with Meghan’s As Ever brand it was always likely that the streaming giants would want them back.
Make no mistake, Harry and Meghan would have been desperate for the deal to be renewed. They will likely be opening a bottle or two of As Ever Rose in Montecito.
Because they have invested heavily in Archewell Productions and getting on board with Netflix is central not only to their post-Royal endeavours but more importantly crucial to their bank accounts.
If they lost their Netflix money then how could they afford their life in the US?
While the length of the deal or how much the couple are getting paid is vague we do know that Meghan will appear in a ‘holiday special’ in December that will likely clash with the Princess of Wales’s annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey.
And finally, two years after I revealed in The Sun the couple had bought the rights to the book Meet Me At The Lake, production is in active development.
Sources close to the couple are coy about whether Harry or Meghan will appear on screen for the production of Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within which will air later this year.
But perhaps the best piece of news from the announcement is no repeat of the six-part documentary which dumped on the Royal Family.
However, ‘Harry & Meghan’ was a ratings dream and none of their projects since have been anywhere as successful. They need to come up with a hit soon.
And this ‘first look’ deal means Netflix has the first option on new projects from the couple without any guaranteed commitment.
But remember the Sussexes are not the only Royals to be in bed with Netflix.
The King will feature in a documentary on The King’s Foundation with Idris Elba.
“Join Meghan in Montecito for a magical holiday celebration,” the announcement read.
“Together, friends and family deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts, and share lots of laughs – with simple how-tos to follow at home. It’s a holiday wonder with warmth, tradition, and a generous dose of joy.”
The couple will also release a short film called “Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within” which will look at Uganda’s Masaka region and the HIV/AIDS crisis there.
She famously shook the hand of a man suffering with the illness without gloves, publicly challenging the idea that HIV/Aids was passed from person to person by touch.
There is also “active development” on other projects with Netflix which “span a variety of content genres”, including a feature adaptation of the bestselling romantic novel by Carley Fortune, Meet Me At The Lake.
Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, said: “Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere.
“The response to their work speaks for itself — Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series.
“More recently, fans have been inspired by With Love, Meghan, with products from the new As Ever line consistently selling out in record time.
“We’re excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together.”
But it was also understood that bosses were mildly infuriated by Meghan making her As Ever brand a priority.
The With Love, Meghan viewing figures have reportedly been “dismal”.
Lifestyle and cookery show With Love, Meghan only ranked at number 383 in Netflix’s six-monthly engagement report this year, with just 5.3million viewers across the globe.
Described by one critic as an “exercise in narcissism”, it was beaten by reruns of the first four seasons of legal drama Suits, which also starred the Duchess in her pre-royal days.
Once judged by some as Britain’s greatest soft power asset since Princess Diana, Meghan was filmed for her show making ladybird-shaped canapes from cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls.
In truth, the show is a smash hit compared to her husband’s vanity docuseries Polo, blasted as “a dull indulgence about a rich person’s pursuit”.
In the first six months of the year the programme attracted a disastrous 500,000 views globally, ranking it at number 3,442 out of around 7,000 shows.
4
The Duchess of Sussex’s show previously featured husband Prince Harry and some celeb pals, including Mindy KalingCredit: Netflix
CHRISTMAS might still feel months away, but in the world of beauty lovers, the countdown starts now.
The first wave of 2025’s beauty advent calendars has landed, and they’re stuffed with luxe treats, jaw-dropping savings and golden ticket surprise savings.
11
A TikToker has revealed a first look at the best Xmas beauty advent calendarsCredit: TikTok/ @hiyaimalex
11
The list includes a Selfridges’ luxe buy that will save you £750Credit: TikTok/ @hiyaimalex
TikTok beauty lover Alex, @hiyaimalex, has given fans a first peek at some of the biggest launches for 2025, and we’ve broken down the highlights so you can decide which one to stick on your wish list.
Selfridges
11
Selfridges advent calendar 2025 retails for £250Credit: Selfridges
Whether you like it or not, Selfridges has officially kicked off Christmas in August.
The department store has revealed 23 of the 37 products inside its 2025 beauty advent calendar, with a huge 24 of them full-sized.
Priced at £250 but worth £1,136, it’s packed with high-end favourites.
The following have been confirmed so far.
Charlotte Tilbury’s setting spray (30ml)
Laneige’s full-sized berry lip mask
Lisa Eldridge lip liner
Augustinus Bader eye cream
Jo Malone’s English Pear & Freesia scent (30ml)
A Refy bronze brush
Moon Glaze Stick
UK Lash Serum
Mini Tatcha Silk Cream
The Ordinary’s niacinamide serum
Rodial’s Vitamin C tonic
Elemis resurfacing pads
Gisou hair oil (20ml)
Full-sized Color Wow Dream Coat
Lashify lash set
Charlotte Mensah salt scrub
Scalp brush
Murad hydration mask
Maria Nila soothing serum
Mini Ormonde Jayne and Fleur de Teck fragrances
Plus a Selfridges Beauty Concierge card has been added for an as-yet-unknown treat.
The mix of full sizes and fragrance has already got beauty fans buzzing.
Mac Ruby Woo Macximal Sleek Satin Lipstick 3.8g (Full Size)
Pre-order is open but customers are limited to buying a maximum of five boxes.
HARVEY NICHOLS
11
The Harvey Nichols Advent Calendar 2025 costs £250Credit: Harvey Nichols
Another £250 option, Harvey Nichols’ calendar is worth over £1,000 and already available to rewards members.
Big names include NARS, La Mer, Charlotte Tilbury and Color Wow — and as a festive bonus, one in every 50 calendars contains a £50 Harvey Nicks gift voucher.
The Liberty advent calendar packs in £1,200 worth of productsCredit: Liberty
One of the priciest and poshest on the list, Liberty’s advent calendar costs £270 but packs in over £1,200 worth of beauty.
Inside are 30 products, 20 of them full-sized, from brands like Augustinus Bader, Sisley and Lisa Eldridge.
Plus, 15 golden tickets worth £1,000 are hidden among the calendars. The waitlist’s open now, and these will go fast.
ANTHROPOLOGIE
11
The Anthropologie advent calendar will retail for £98Credit: Anthropologie
At £98, this is one of the most affordable luxury beauty calendars of the year, but it’s still worth £365 and includes 11 full-sized items.
With a golden ticket promotion offering extra prizes, it’s a fun, budget-friendly option for beauty lovers who don’t want to miss out on the seasonal sparkle.
Best value for money
If you’re chasing the biggest bang for your buck, Space NK comes out on top for sheer savings at £260 for a £1,150 haul is hard to beat.
Liberty offers the highest overall value at £1,200+, but it’s also the most expensive.
For budget-conscious shoppers, ELF’s £150 calendar crams in £1,100 worth of products, making it the best mid-price steal.
And if you’re after something affordable but still luxe, Anthropologie’s £98 calendar gives you over three times your money in products.
These aren’t the only calendars to hit the market this year so if you’re still after a more affordable option don’t worry.
Boots and a few other high street favourites are still keeping their Christmas cards close to their chest, but if last year’s sell-out calendars are anything to go by, their launches will cause a frenzy.
For now, though, the early releases are already making December mornings look a whole lot more glamorous.
Money-Saving Tips from Gemma Bird: Save £2k Before Christmas
IF youre’ looking to save cash, you’ve come to the right place, as here, Gemma Bird has shared her top tips that’ll save you £2k before Christmas.
Set a budget: Track your spending and create a realistic budget.
Cut unnecessary costs: Cancel unused subscriptions and avoid impulse buys.
Meal planning: Plan meals to reduce grocery bills and avoid takeaways.
Sell unwanted items: Declutter and sell items online for extra cash.
Cashback and discounts: Use cashback sites and hunt for discount codes.
DIY gifts: Make personalised gifts to save money and add a personal touch.
Pick up a seasonal shift: A really easy way to pick up a bit of extra cash in the winter is to find yourself some seasonal work.
Follow these practical tips from Gemma Bird to boost your savings before the festive season!
State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
War Widow’s Pension
Widowed Mother’s Allowance
Widowed Parent’s Allowance
Widow’s Pension
If you’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership or live together, you’ll both get the cash bonus – as long as you both are eligible.
If you or your partner do not get one of the above qualifying benefits, then they could still get the bonus if they are over the state pension age by the end of the qualifying week.
Winter Fuel payment
The Winter Fuel Payment is made every year to help cover the cost of energy over the colder months.
It has been changed in recent months so that fewer can claim.
However, the cash boost, worth up to £300, is still valuable for those who quality – particularly those on Pension Credit.
The cash is usually paid in November and December, with some made up until the end of January the following year.
If you haven’t got your payment by then, you need to call the office that pays your benefits.
Households eligible for the payment are usually told via a letter sent in October or November each year.
If you think you meet the criteria, but don’t automatically get the winter fuel payment, you will have to apply on the government’s website.
The Child Winter Heating Assistance
If you’re based in Scotland, you could receive a child winter heating assistance payment of £255.80.
You get child winter heating payment for a child or young person under 19 who lives in Scotland and who is entitled to:
the highest rate of the care component of child disability payment (CDP) or disability living allowance (DLA), or
the enhanced rate of the daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) or personal independence payment (PIP).
They must be entitled to the relevant disability benefit during the ‘qualifying week’, which is the week beginning on the third Monday in September (w/c Septmber 15 in 2025).
You do not have to make a claim for the payment, but it should be paid by Social Security Scotland, usually in November.
If you think you’re entitled but have not received payment by the end of December, you should contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is an automatic £150 discount off energy bills.
As the money is a discount, there is no money paid to you, but you’ll get the payment automatically if your electricity supplier is part of the scheme and you qualify.
You’ll have to be in receipt of one of the following benefits to qualify for one of the payments:
If you don’t claim any of the above benefits, you won’t be eligible for the payment.
Cold Weather payment
Cold weather payments are dished out when temperatures are recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below, on average, for seven consecutive days between November 1 and March 31.
Eligible Brits are then given extra money to help heat their homes.
You get £25 for each seven-day period where the weather is below zero Celsius on average during this time frame.
You can check if your area has had a cold weather payment by popping your postcode into the government’s tool on its website.
You’ll need to be on certain benefits to qualify, which are:
Student maintenance loans are paid to university students to help cover living costs such as rent.
They are usually paid at the start of each new term, so you typically receive three payments a year.
Maintenance Loans are paid straight into your student bank account in three (almost) equal instalments throughout the year.
The amount you will receive depends on where in the UK you’re from, whether you’ll be living at home or not, your household income and how long you’re studying for.
The average Maintenance Loan is approximately £6,116 a year.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
The two-dimensional version of President Obama wearing a red and green Santa hat in California Rep. Grace Napolitano’s office draws a crowd.
Random visitors, and occasionally members of Congress, filtered past the door wrapped like a present, to snap a selfie with the commander-in-cardboard.
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk) shows off Christmas decorations in her office. She said staff and visitors stop in to have their photo taken with the cutout of President Obama in a Santa hat.
(Sarah D. Wire)
Rep. Grace Napolitano shows off Christmas decorations in her office. (Sarah D. Wire/Los Angeles Times)
“They just decide they want to come in and stand next to him and get a picture taken,” Napolitano said, laughing.
At the White House Christmas party one year, the nine-term Democrat from Norwalk just had to let the president know how much action his doppelganger was getting in her office.
Napolitano said she showed Obama a photo of her staff posing with the cutout. The president pulled it out of her hands and showed it off to other attendees.
Her office on the sixth floor of the Longworth House Office Building is bustling around the holidays, a little cheer that helped as Congress bickered in the final days of the year on spending and world problems.
Decorations appear around the Capitol and House and Senate office buildings in December — Capitol police have a small tree, some office doors hold wreaths or feature entryway stockings — but Napolitano’s is one of the more elaborate.
“It makes it nice to walk into an office and see the cheerfulness,” Napolitano said.
Each door to her office suite is covered in shiny red or green colored wrapping paper and in the hallway, lit candy cane lawn ornaments lead visitors to the office. Lights shaped like chili peppers frame a mirror in the entryway and tinsel or garland line nearly every available surface. Chinese lanterns hang from the ceiling while Santa, reindeer and angel figurines peek out from shelves.
Napolitano began decorating the space when she took office in 1999, but it gained steam in 2011 when she received some of the 3,000 ornaments made by California children that had adorned the 63-foot-tall Capitol Christmas tree from Stanislaus National Forest.
Many of those ornaments still hang from the branches of an artificial pine reaching 6-feet high, not far from framed citations and awards for her public service. Napolitano said that next year, she plans to ask schools in her district to send new ornaments for the tree.
The wood-paneled office is traditionally more sedate, decorated with pictures from events in California or of her family and maps of the district. Brochures for tourist activities in Washington line a shelf.
Staff have to wait all month to find out what’s inside the wrapped boxes at the foot of the tree next to the picture of a fireplace decorated with lights. Eventually she’ll buy a faux fireplace with fake crackling flames to replace the photo, said Napolitano, who pays for the decorations herself.
Feels like family
Staff members do the decorating the week of Thanksgiving, she said, as a way to make Washington seem more like home during the hectic final weeks Congress is in session.
“It’s part of the family feeling” in the office, Napolitano said.
She tries to maintain the sentiment year-round.
Staff cook in the office weekly, practicing Napolitano’s recipes for dishes like enchiladas or migas — a mixture of scrambled eggs, vegetables and strips of corn tortillas.
Male staffers sport holiday ties she buys them and joke about the amount of food they eat at work. A staff member opened a cabinet to show off the seven bags of avocados ripening in preparation for “thank you” guacamole that Napolitano will make for staff who worked on the federal highway funding bill.
In recent years, Napolitano’s office has hosted a “hall party” for other members and staff.
Her Longworth neighbor, Rep. Juan Vargas (D-San Diego), said he loves having the decorations next door. He tries to spread his own holiday joy.
“I walk in there now every time I go by … and I sing a little Christmas song with them and they all laugh, but I love it,” Vargas said. Then he belted out the lyrics for “Holly, Jolly Christmas.”
The decorations inspired him.
“They put us in the Christmas spirit, so much so that I went out and got a tree myself, carried it down the street and put it in my office,” he said. “If you go into my office you’ll see a real tree with the real smells. It’s terrific.”
What’s it like to have Christmas cheer the next office over?
“Honestly, I don’t know if she is going to like this, but it’s like having my mom down the hall,” Vargas said. “If I really need anything I can go to her. She’s as helpful as anybody I’ve ever met, she’s as kind and nice and sweet as anyone I’ve ever met, and she always wants to help, but I’ve gained a few pounds because of her.”
The busiest month to travel isn’t during the summer despite many craving the sunshine – you’ll more likely be delayed at a completely different time of year
The busiest month to travel has been revealed and it’s because of this reason(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
By the middle of the year, most Brits have some form of travel plans in place – especially those about to fly away to a tropical destination.
But there’s no denying that security queues are bustling, families with a trail of luggage trying to navigate through the terminal are plenty, and the roads leading to the airports themselves are traffic-ridden. The more flights landing and taking off from airports can also lead to the common misconception that delays are more likely during this time period.
According to former check-in agent Ashley Bautista, now a Mirror journalist, this is not the case. “Believe it or not, the most chaotic period is during the Christmas holidays,” she said. “This is because compared to peak travel days, there are fewer flights on Christmas Day.”
The busiest time to travel is during Christmas due to the lesser number of flights taking off(Image: Getty Images)
Christmas is the time when everyone’s flying out to spend time with their friends and family. If you live hundreds or even thousands of miles away from home, the most convenient method of travel is by plane. But just as you’re trying to reunite with your loved ones, hundreds of thousands of people are also trying to do the same thing.
During this festive period, it’s common to see a lot of flights getting delayed or cancelled, whether for weather or maintenance reasons. It’s a frustrating feeling especially during such an important time, but it’s inevitable. Remember, ground-crews also have to de-ice the aircraft in sub-zero temperatures before it takes off which can often lead to a delayed take-off.
According to Heathrow Media Center, London’s Heathrow Airport welcomed more than seven million passengers alone. It turned it into the busiest period ever, exceeding the pre-pandemic numbers in 2019 by three million. The UK also saw a total of 11 million passengers jetting off from all UK airports, as reported by the UK CAA.
Ashley continued: “As a former check-in agent, I’ve been in situations where flights were overbooked because the airline oversold their seats or because passengers had been moved from one airline to another due to cancellations. Still, that didn’t guarantee them a seat.
“It wasn’t the best news to deliver, especially during that time of the year, as families were travelling to reunite with their loved ones.” She even recalled instances where passengers would have to wait for days until they got to board the flight. In the worst case scenario, the airline would offer financial compensation for those who volunteered to be pulled out of the flight, if needed.
“So, the myth that summer is the busiest season to go abroad has been debunked – at least for now,” she continued. “If you plan to book a holiday this summer or in the upcoming months, it’s good to be aware of it. Just like Tuesday’s are known to be the cheapest day to fly out, it’s also good to learn some other travel hacks.”
The budget airline has announced that it will be launching a new flight route to a little-known European city from October, with fares starting from just £15
Ryanair has launched a new flight to a pretty European city(Image: Getty Images)
Ryanair has unveiled plans to introduce a new flight route to the lesser-known European city of Rzeszów in Poland, starting from October. The budget airline will operate flights twice a week to and from the Polish city.
This development follows the cancellation of five flights from its Maastricht base, including Alicante, Bari, Girona, Porto, and Zadar, and the confirmation of the base’s closure after October 2025.
AirAdvisor experts have scrutinised these changes, suggesting that the airline is pivoting towards destinations with heavy diaspora populations and underused regional airports.
They elaborated: “Ryanair’s route reshuffle sends two clear signals: regional airports in the UK are getting more love, while underperforming bases like Maastricht are being cut loose.
Ryanair will be offering a twice-weekly route between Edinburgh and Rzeszów in Poland(Image: Getty Images)
“For UK passengers, this creates more direct options from places like Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Norwich, but also leaves them exposed to short-notice route cancellations.”
The launch of this flight route in October provides the Polish community in Scotland with a more affordable alternative for flying back to Poland over the Christmas period.
Fares are set to range between £15 and £30, resulting in savings of approximately £20 to £50 compared to booking routes with connections, reports the Express.
Those planning to capitalise on cheaper routes for their winter holidays can also consider Rzeszów as a destination, complete with a charming Christmas market.
Rzeszów Christmas markets make for a stunning winter getaway(Image: Getty Images)
And the market square makes for a great historical and cultural destination even when it isn’t the festive season.
Taking to TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: “The History of Market Square in Rzeszów dates back to the 15th century, but the current look of the market is much different from its original form.
“It is the result of a great fire which broke out in the 19th century. No matter what, it is nowadays beautiful as well, especially during early morning or evening.”
While another added: “Remarkable selection of things to eat and drink for dinner and dessert or appetiser for noshing while you sit and watch the world go by. Absolutely beautiful in all the seasons.”
Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon has spoken out on the departures of her fellow cast members Sue Cleaver and Helen Worth, admitting it’s the ‘end of an era’
Coronation Street
Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon has confessed that the soap’s recent significant change marks “the end of an era”.
With nearly 65 years of captivating audiences, Coronation Street has solidified its place as a British television institution, having drawn in over 20 million viewers per episode during its peak.
Two of the show’s longest-serving and most beloved stars, Helen Worth and Sue Cleaver, have been instrumental in its enduring success, boasting an impressive combined 75 years on the iconic cobbles.
In a poignant turn of events, both soap legends have decided to bid farewell to Coronation Street within months of each other. Helen, 74, was the first to announce her departure last June, expressing her gratitude for working alongside “fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew”.
Samia is celebrating her 25th year on the soap(Image: Getty Images)
She reflected: “The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”
Following Helen’s emotional Christmas Day exit, Sue Cleaver joined her in leaving the show to explore new projects. A fan favourite since her debut, Sue’s departure has been deeply felt, reports Belfast Live.
Sue’s final moments on the cobbles will air next week(Image: ITV)
In an interview with Prima magazine, their former co-star Samia Longchambon shared her thoughts on the recent goodbyes: “Saying goodbye to Helen Worth (Gail Platt) after her 50 years was really emotional. But I completely agree with her that she deserves a rest now.”
Meanwhile, she noted that the exit of Sue marked a poignant moment as they had both started on the show in the same month.
She expressed: “It was weird saying bye to Sue (Cleaver, who played Eileen Grimshaw), too, because we actually joined the same month and her dressing room was next door to mine, and then Mikey North moved into it.”
Helen called time on her Corrie career last year after a stunning 50 years(Image: Getty Images)
Acknowledging the departure of two key players, she conceded that it represented a significant turning point for the soap: “So it did actually make me think, ‘God, that’s the end of an era’.”
The much-anticipated final appearances of Eileen on the beloved programme will broadcast next week, culminating after distressing events including the loss of her sister, Julie Carp (portrayed by Katy Cavanagh). Eileen decides to start anew, accepting Jason’s invitation to settle in Thailand with him and invest in his business endeavor.
Catch the latest drama in Coronation Street as it continues on ITV tomorrow night (May 30) at 8pm.
IF you had a boozy bank holiday weekend, you might have a few empty bottles lying around.
Before you ditch them, try these great upcycling tricks to turn them into something new.
7
Use our upcycling tricks to turn your empty bottles into something newCredit: Getty
LIGHT WORK: Clean out wine bottles and remove labels by soaking them in warm, soapy water.
Fill with battery-powered fairy lights, £3 at Poundland, for an instant glow and garden ambiance.
FLOWER POWER: Turn gin bottles into sleek vases by soaking off labels and painting with a light-coloured beige or cream matte paint using tester pots, from £1.50 at B&Q.
It will give your vase an on-trend ceramic look. Wrap twine around the neck for rustic charm. It will be perfect for displaying garden cuttings or supermarket blooms.
READ MORE MONEY SAVING TIPS
CLEAN UP: Ditch ugly detergent bottles by decanting them into a pretty empty bottle.
Gin bottles especially are a great swap for holding your washing-up liquid instead of the unsightly plastic bottles.
You can even buy a budget pourer or pump to place on top of your bottle for £2.50 at amazon.co.uk.
MINI SAVER: When thoroughly washed, use slim half-sized vodka bottles as toothbrush holders or a place to hold your cotton wool in the bathroom.
If you are crafty, these smaller bottles also are great to stash away for birthdays and Christmas gifts, just add homemade bath salts for a thoughtful budget present.
BEER WE GO: Carefully cut the tops off clean beer bottles with a £5 glass cutter from Homebase or Screwfix — it is a lot easier to do this than you would think.
I’m an upcycling furniture artist – I found an absolute gem that is packed with loads of fantastic treasure for the home
Then use them as mini tumblers, or mini plant pots to grow your own herbs, taken from sprigs of supermarket bunches. Try growing basil or mint and place on a sunny windowsill.
All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability
Deal of the day
7
Try this Milano table and chairs patio set with parasolCredit: supplied
YOU can eat outdoors tonight if you pick up the Milano table and chairs patio set with parasol. It was £100 now £70 at B&M.
SAVE: £30
Cheap treat
7
These Wall’s mini Twisters are £1.85 at IcelandCredit: Supplied
SCOFF a Wall’s mini Twister after dinner. A pack of six was £2.75 now £1.85 at Iceland.
SAVE: 90p
What’s new?
PRET is celebrating today’s bank holiday with a picnic of sorts.
Selected stores in Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Liverpool will be giving away a free sandwich to the first 50 people called Nick today.
Top swap
7
Pick up the Aesop Reverence Aromatique hand wash for £33Credit: Supplied
7
Or try the Deluxe Aromatic hand wash, which is on sale at LidlCredit: Supplied
IF you are a fan of the cult Aesop Reverence Aromatique hand wash, £33, from spacenk.com, head to Lidl this week.
Its similar Deluxe Aromatic hand wash is on sale for £2.99. In-store only.
SAVE: £30.01
Little helper
KIDS eat free at Cote this half-term. Until June 1, families can enjoy delicious French food and children get two complimentary courses when parents spend at least £20.
Shop & save
7
These Itsu Bao buns are reduced at MorrisonsCredit: Itsu
ADD these tasty Itsu Bao buns to your freezer for a speedy meal in the future. Previously £3.95, now £3 at Morrisons.
SAVE: 95p
Hot right now
GET down to Marks & Spencer for a sale on selected toys, reduced by up to 50 per cent.
PLAY NOW TO WIN £200
7
Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle
JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.
Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.
Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
“Yours is one sided. Ours is fair and clearly a real attempt to make the fight actually happen.”
Taylor said they countered with a fight in the US, with a coin toss to decide who walks out second.
Jake Paul reveals stunning behind-the-scenes talks to fight Oleksandr Usyk after teasing shock world title shot
It would include full drug testing, at 190lb over eight rounds in a 20x 20ft ring, co-promoted down the middle with both to mutually approve all costs.
Taylor added: “Your contract had MVP as lead promoter in charge of everything and you put Wasserman boxing USA as side promoter.
“(FYI Wasserman boxing USA does not exist). You purposely omitted Misfits as an ego based mind game tactic.
“C’mon man. Let’s give the people what they want and not let ego’s get in the way.
We have a duty to our clients and respect due to the fans that made them!!”
KSI, 31, is yet to fought since losing a controversial decision to Tommy Fury, 26, in October 2023.
Jake Paul vs KSI: The terms
Jake Paul’s terms
10 rounds
192.5lb
18x18ft ring
Full VADA testing
December 24th
MVP in association with Wasserman
KSI’s terms
Fight in USA
Full VADA testing
190lb
8 rounds
20x20ft ring
Co-promoted down the middle
Both promotions to mutually approve all costs and undercard fights etc
He was due to return last August but pulled out with a hand injury before illness saw him withdraw from facing MMA star Dillon Danis, 31, in March.
KSI is now due to have surgery on his busted hand with his boxing career in the air.
Meanwhile Paul, 28, returns against ex-middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, on June 28 in a cruiserweight clash.
It comes after he fought at heavyweight in November to beat Mike Tyson, who controversially came out of retirement aged 58.
Paul now drops back down to the 200lb limit of 14st 4lb while KSI lost to Fury a stone lighter at 183lb.
Their weight disagreement has been the biggest factor standing in the way of the grudge bout.
And Bidarian said: “Not engaging in a back and forth.
“We proposed our terms to Wasserman on April 4th and the offer that followed was those exact terms. Jake Paul wants to fight KSI.
“He does not need to fight KSI. Jake has campaigned at 200+ since December of 2023 and plans to continue at that weight with the intention to contest for a world championship by the end of 2026.”
2
Jake Paul returns on June 28 against Julio Cesar Chavez JrCredit: The Mega Agency
Football is a big part of the holidays in the US. The Detroit Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving game every year since 1934 and this season they welcome the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, 27 November (18:00 GMT).
After hosting their first Thanksgiving game in 1966, only twice have the Dallas Cowboys not played on the holiday, and this year ‘America’s Team’ face the Chiefs (21:30 GMT).
The Baltimore Ravens then complete the Thanksgiving triple-header at home to the Cincinnati Bengals (01:20 GMT, 28 November).
In 2023, the NFL played its first game on Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving – and this year the Eagles host the Chicago Bears in a game which will be broadcast on Amazon Prime (20:00 GMT).
After streaming two games on Christmas Day last season, Netflix will again feature two festive fixtures, with the Washington Commanders hosting the Cowboys (18:00 GMT) before the Minnesota Vikings welcome the Lions (21:30 GMT).
There is even a third Christmas game this year as Amazon Prime will show Kansas City’s home match with the Denver Broncos (01:15 GMT, 26 December).
