The clocks have gone back, the temperatures have dropped, the nights are drawing in, and the festive season is just around the corner.
And for children all across the UK, it’s time to start thinking about preparing those Christmas lists, to be sent off to Santa ahead of the big day day, but what are those lists likely to include?
Which presents are this year’s ‘must have’ gifts?
For children struggling to narrow down their top picks, and for parents keen to get a heads up on what gifts to buy in for the little ones this year, the Top 12 ‘Dream Toys’ for Christmas were revealed today in an announcement by the Toy Retailer Association UK.
The DreamToys list is the UK’s “most authoritative predictive list” of what will be hot this Christmas.
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Selected by a panel of retailers and industry experts, the list is independent of toy manufacturers and makers, and this year’s Top 12 is dominated by the big classic toy brands and licenses that have entertained children for generations – such as Barbie, Monopoly, Harry Potter, Lego and Star Wars – as well as the massively popular Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol, Pokémon and L.O.L Surprise.
The announcement of the list has been brought forward this year due to the rising concerns that many retailers have expressed about meeting demand in the lead up to Christmas which centre around supply and retail issues as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
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Shoppers are thus being encouraged and advised to “buy early or risk missing out”.
Gary Grant – Chair of the DreamToys Selection Committee – said: “We implore consumers not to leave their Christmas shopping to the final few weeks of the year [as] due to COVID-19 restrictions across the country, retailers will simply not be able to service as many people in store due to social distancing.
“In addition, couriers are already overloaded and will struggle to meet the demand to get presents to people before Christmas [and] added to this is the limited availability of stock compared to previous years.”
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Star Wars / Mattel ToysSurprise Mini Brands / ZURU Toys
The Top 12 ‘Dream Toys’ 2020
(Listed in alphabetical order w/ RRP – Prices may vary with retailer)
5 Surprise Mini Brands Mystery Capsule by Zuru – £6.99
Barbie 3-in-1 DreamCamper by Mattel Toys – £79.99
Harry Potter Hedwig by LEGO – £34.99
L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Remix Fashion Doll by MGA Entertainment – £39.99
Laser Battle Hunters Vehicle by Character Options – £59.99
Peppa Pig Peppa’s Shopping Centre by Character Options – £39.99
Pokémon Carry Case Playset by Character Options – £39.99
Present Pets (Asst) by Spin Master Toys – £54.99
Star Wars The Mandalorian – The Child “Baby Yoda” by Mattel Toys – £29.99
Super Mario Adventures With Mario Starter Course by LEGO – £49.99
Throughout the course of lockdown, toys have been a constant source of joy for children during this difficult time and have brought families closer together, with statistics from NPD showing that toy sales have increased by 6% on the first nine months of 2020, while Games and Puzzles have seen an increase of 32%.
On top of that, a survey conducted by the Toy Retailers Association of 2,000 parents revealed that 56% of parents have spent more time playing with their children since lockdown, and 88% said they felt that toys had helped them bond more closely with their children.
There’s no doubt that Christmas may feel a little different this year, but there’s still lots of fun to be had, and plenty of memories to be made.
The Top Toy of 2020 from this shortlist is set also to be announced in due course, so stay tuned.
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You can get FREE sandwiches in Manchester this weekend – but only if you have certain names
Emily Sergeant
Hungry Mancs can help themselves to free sandwiches this bank holiday weekend… but there’s a bit of a catch.
You can only get yourself a sandwich if you have one of these particular names.
We’ve been enjoying some absolutely stunning sunshine across Greater Manchester and much of the UK over the past couple of months, and nothing says sunny days more than taking a packed lunch or grabbing a meal deal and taking it to your local park or greenspace for a picnic.
This is why Pret A Manger has decided to make picnics easier for those who are lucky enough to have a certain type of name.
This late May bank holiday weekend, the popular high street coffee shop chain will be dishing out hundreds of free sandwiches across the UK – including here in Manchester – to anyone whose name happens to start with ‘Nic’.
That means people called Nick, Nicholas, Nicola, Nicole, Nico, Nicolette, and plenty of others could be in with a chance of some free feasting over these next couple of days.
You can get FREE sandwiches in Manchester this weekend / Credit: Wikimedia Commons | Supplied
Here in Manchester, it’s the chain’s Portland Street site, just off Piccadilly Gardens, that’s participating in the free giveaway this weekend, and there’ll be 50 sandwiches a day given out, so you’ll need to be quick if your name starts with ‘Nic’ and you’re feeling peckish.
The offer is only limited to Pret’s freshly-made sandwiches, and unfortunately excludes baguettes, wraps, or rye rolls… but free food is better than no food, after all.
All you’ll need to do to grab a freebie is show your ID at the tills of participating stores this Saturday (24 May) to prove your name, and you’ll get to walk out with your lunch in hand, all without having to spend a penny.
Manchester’s Portland Street Pret A Manger will be giving out 50 free sandwiches to ‘Nics’ this Saturday, and they’re on a first-come-first-served basis.
Featured Image – Eaters Collective (via Unsplash)
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BBC needs adventurous Mancs to take part in next series of Race Across the World
Emily Sergeant
Are you a fan of travelling? Got a bit of a competitive streak in your nature? This might just be your calling then.
The BBC is currently casting for the next series of Race Across the World.
The BAFTA-winning hit show is currently airing to thousands of viewers each week, but with the next series now in the works, producers are on the look-out for ‘intrepid duos’ of all ages who reckon they’re ready to take a step into the unknown, and embark on an epic race across land and sea – and that includes Greater Manchester residents.
With applications for the next series of the massively-popular show now open, nomadic Mancs are being encouraged to take part.
On a limited budget and away from the luxuries of modern technology and conveniences, those lucky applicants selected to take part in the next series will get the chance to experience life in some of the world’s most beautiful and remote locations.
BBC is looking for Mancs to take part in next series of Race Across the World / Credit: BBC
Navigating their way across thousands of miles, they’ll travel through spectacular scenery and dynamic cities, visit ancient wonders, learn local customs, and take part in time-honoured traditions.
But, as producers are keen to point out, “the physical journey is only half of the story”.
That’s because, as the contestants take on the challenge of travelling across the world, the greatest thing they’ll discover along the way could actually be about themselves and one another.
Putting out a UK-wide casting call on the BBC website this week, producers Studio Lambert wrote: “We are now accepting applications for the next series of Race Across the World. This experience is open to all, whether you’re a seasoned traveller or total novice.
“We want to hear what undertaking a trip like this would mean to you, and with a cash prize at stake, what lengths you would go to to win.
Applications for the massively-popular show are now open / Credit: BBC
“Maybe you’re looking to change something in your life? Or are keen to share the journey with someone special like a family member, best friend, or someone you’ve lost touch with. You may even have a very personal reason for wanting to travel at this time in your life or explore a particular part of the world.”
Fancy it then?
Applications for the third series of Race Across the World are now open for anyone over 18 years of age, with a deadline date of 6 July 2025, and you can find out more information and apply via the BBC website.
Emily Sergeant -
28th October 2020 
