It seems to be every over month or so at this point that Americans take to social media to express their shock or disgust at something quintessentially British.
Within just the past year alone, the internet erupted when Americans had a few choice words to say about our classic fry-up breakfasts – and even tried to recreate their own – and then over on Reddit, Americans just couldn’t seem to believe their eyes when they discovered what British “face meats” were – also known as Billy Bear Ham to us.
The shock and disgust is a two way street though.
We can’t go forgetting the American mother-daughter TikTok duo that caused havoc last summer with their “hot tea / British tea” and “beans on toast” recipes, can we?
So, what’s next then? What British phenomenon is it that our friends overseas just can’t seem to wrap their heads around this month?
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Jacket potatoes.
Like most pointless Britain vs America debates nowadays, it all started on Twitter, and more specifically, it all started with a tweet by American TV personality, Chrissy Teigen – who is fairly well-versed in British culture by being a known Gogglebox fan and famously having a Twitter meltdown after finding herself watching Naked Attraction by accident a couple of years back – so it only seems fitting that she would be the one to instigate this.
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Teigen simply took to Twitter to say that she “just learned about jacket potatoes” – and it all kicked off from there.
You’re not alone if your first thought here was to question how Americans could have never heard of the staple meal that is a jacket potato before.
Where have they been?
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With over 2.9K retweets, 24K likes and thousands of comments though, it’s safe to say that the concept of a jacket potato has not only taken Americans by surprise, but has shocked us Brits all the same, just on the other end of the spectrum.
What’s probably even more shocking though, is that Americans don’t seem to be too keen.
I am reporting this to the FBI anyone eating this is a certified psycho path
This is literally one of the most common dishes in the UK? Not sure what to eat for lunch? Jacket potato. Wanting comfort food? Jacket potato. Need a side for your meal but you don't want fries? Jacket potato!
While it’s mostly just been a back-and-forth debate with the two sides not being able to come to terms with the others’ point of view, many have, however, been quick to jump on the fact that Americans do have a similar concept, but instead call them ‘baked potatoes’, which is a phrase most of us have likely heard of over here too.
The main bone of contention here seems to be the toppings / what us Brits like to put with our jacket potatoes, which we can probably all agree, is the best bet.
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They just don’t know what they’re missing, do they?
Claire’s is closing all stores in the UK and Ireland with more than 1,300 jobs set to be lost
Danny Jones
In another hit to domestic shoppers, Claire’s Accessories is closing down en masse across the UK and Ireland after entering into administration once again.
Falling into an unfortunate financial status for the second time in less than a year, Claire’s will be shutting down all of their standalone stores across Britain, along with their IE branches.
A total of 154 stores will soon disappear, with more than a thousand people set to be put out of work.
Once a mainstay of British high streets up and down the country, the accessory shop known for all things jewellery, piercings and more has ceased trading effective immediately.
Announced at the start of the week and the end of the first full month of Q2, it was confirmed that Claire’s closed their final locations on Monday, 27 April.
With administrators, Kroll, appointed to wrap up business proceedings, an estimated 1,300 English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh workers have now lost their jobs.
Founded way back in 1961 over in the United States, Claire’s has operated across the Atlantic for more than three decades.
However, with various other contemporaries and cheaper online options having appeared over the years, they’ve struggled not just to remain profitable but to compete full stop.
They most recently filed for bankruptcy in the US this past August (2025), with their Belgian, Spanish, and Dutch divisions having already called it quits.
Manchester location(s) have changed a lot over time, but now they’re on the way out (Credit: Arndale)
For many, the outcome isn’t all that surprising, but it will nevertheless be a sad loss for many who have seen multiple generations visit these venues over the years.
All-girl K-pop powerhouse aespa book MASSIVE Manchester arena show
Danny Jones
All-girl K-pop group, ‘aespa’, are coming to Manchester for some of their largest performances to date as part of a new global tour.
If you know anything about the K-pop scene, you’ll know that most acts are even bigger than you could ever imagine.
Manchester has gained a steady supply of gigs from artists within the genre over the past year or so, and now aespa are the latest to book the AO Arena for a headline show.
Rest assured, these tickets will fly…
aespa SYNK : COMPLæXITY
Catch the LIVE TOUR in Manchester at @AOArena on Thu 14th January 2027!
Register by [Wed 29 Apr at 6AM PT / 8PM CT / 9AM ET] for access to the artist presale: https://t.co/JuWFFMCE8Q
Dubbed the ‘SYNK : Complæxity World Tour’, this follows on from their last live iteration, ‘æXIS LINE’ shows, which began back in August 2025 and, technically, have only just ended this April.
As per an official press release, “Produced by Live Nation, the tour will bring aespa’s acclaimed live production and immersive performance experience to arenas across Asia, North America, Latin America, the UK, and Europe.”
There are actually just two shows in the entirety of Britain (the other being down in the capital), and Manchester has the good fortune of kicking off not only being the first of both, but the inaugural date of the entire European leg.
Consider us honoured.
Made up of a talented quartet – Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning, the rising South Korean stars – this female-led phenomenon is arguably one of the fastest rising acts in the world of K-pop.
Having now been to a couple of these shows for ourselves, we’re starting to understand that these artists might have some of the most passionate followings on the planet.
Kicking off the latest run of performances back in their home country’s capital of Seoul, they’ll hit multiple continents before wrapping things up in Paris.
aespa EU tour dates 2027
14 January – AO Arena, Manchester
16 Jan – London
19 Jan – Amsterdam
22 Jan – Stockholm
24 Jan – Copenhagen
26 Jan – Berlin
29 Jan – Milan
31 Jan – Barcelona
2 February – Paris
If you’re a fan or are interested in throwing your hat in the ring for a first K-pop gig experience, you can register by signing up for their exclusive pre-sale window.
As for general admission, tickets to see aespa at the AO Arena in Manchester will go live at 3pm on Wednesday, 6 May; you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
24th March 2021 
