Heaven for some, hell for others, Mars’ coconut-filled and chocolate-covered Bounty is always the most controversial chocolate in the tin at Christmas time – and its creators have finally acknowledged this with the creation of a return scheme.
Mars, the maker behind the Celebrations tin and its ‘most hated’ coconut-filled candy, has seemingly accepted the poor old Bounty’s fate after a recent survey found 52% of people admitted to leaving them for last and 32% chuck them away after Christmas.
So now, instead of letting them go to waste, Mars has launched a Bounty return scheme that will allow Christmas chocolate lovers to swap their unwanted bars out for alternatives in January 2022.
Celebrations has launched a Bounty ‘return scheme’ for ‘most hated’ chocolate in tin / Image: Open Food Facts
Those who find themselves strongly opposed to the soft coconut and chocolate delight will be able to exchange the bars for Maltesers at selected Co-Ops in major cities including Manchester from 17 January.
To really hammer home the poor old plight of the Bounty, and perhaps even create some sympathy for the unloved chocolate bar, Mars has even gone so far as to create an advert in an attempt to sway public opinion and save it from getting axed from the tin altogether.
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Called ‘The Lonely Bounty’, the tongue-in-cheek 1 and a half minute advert depicts a tearful, rejected Bounty man spending Christmas all alone – that is until his equally-hated Christmas counterpart appears holding cards covered with a Love Actually-style message of hope.
A Love Actually-style message of hope saves the day as the brussel sprout and Bounty find one another / Image: Mars / Youtube
Soundtracked by a mournful cover of In the Bleak Midwinter, the ad begins with the Bounty looking for love online but finding no matches.
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We see him sitting alone in a park, at a school play, then a romantic restaurant, where he blows out his candle all alone before he’s finally shown sobbing on his sofa.
It seems all hope is lost, then there’s a sudden ring on the doorbell. It’s the brussel sprout, who in a nod to one of the UK’s favourite Christmas films is holding up a card reading “call me old fashioned”.
The next proceeds to say “but I wouldn’t go out with any of these guys”, before showing a picture of all of the other (more popular) Celebrations chocolates.
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Ultimately, the pair find love and walk off down the street hand in hand – showing that whilst many dislike a Bounty for some, there’s nothing better.
Mars added following the ‘return scheme’ announcement: “No Bountys will be sent to landfill as a result of the returns.”
Channel 4 is looking for Mancs who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Have you always wanted to see how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now’s your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: “Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?”
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city – used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare – with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden – which is part of ITV Studios – for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on Mancs and people up and down the country with the ‘courage and ingenuity’ to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let’s prove what Mancs are made of.
Hundreds of katsu curries are being given out for FREE in Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of katsu curries are being dished up and given out for free in Manchester this week, but only for certain people.
And those lucky people will be students.
That’s right… a new semester is upon us, and thousands of freshers and returning students are descending on the city and Manchester‘s many universities for another year. But the life of a student isn’t exactly the cheapest sometimes, especially for those who haven’t had to live on a budget before moving out or into halls.
But to make things a little easier, Tampopo has announced it’ll be serving hundreds of one of its most popular dishes for free this week.
Tampopo is celebrating National Katsu Curry Day in the most delicious way possible, by giving away 700 Katsu Curries with rice for free, exclusively to freshers and students this Sunday (27 September).
Whether you’re brand new to the city, settling back into uni life, or you’re simply in need of a katsu fix, students can head to their nearest participating Tampopo and tuck into a hearty meal without needing to spend a penny.
100 katsu curries will be available each from 12-2pm at both Tampopo restaurants in Manchester city centre – which are on Albert Square, and in the Corn Exchange – or if you head over to the Trafford Centre, both the Tampopo there and the East Street sites are taking part.
“[Our] Katsu Curry has long been one of our most-loved dishes, so National Katsu Curry Day felt like the perfect excuse to give students a proper welcome to the new academic year,” Tampopo said in a statement.
So, are you feeling hungry then? The offer is exclusively available for takeaway only to freshers and students with a valid student ID, which they must present on collection.
100 portions are available at each participating location, and just one free katsu curry with rice will be available per person.
Georgina Pellant -
10th November 2021 
