The annual top 20 round up of toys predicted to be on children’s Christmas lists for 2023 have been revealed today.
The clocks have gone back, the nights are drawing in, the temperatures are dropping by the day, and the festive season is now right around the corner, and that means it’s time for children all across the UK to start thinking about writing those Christmas lists to send off to Santa ahead of the big day day.
But what toys are those lists likely to include? And which presents are predicted to be this year’s ‘must have’ gifts?
Well, for the little Mancs struggling to narrow down their top picks, and for the parents and families keen to get a heads-up on what gifts to buy for their kids this year, the annual top 20 ‘dream toys’ for Christmas 2023 were revealed by the Toy Retailers Association.
The DreamToys list is Selected by a panel of retailers and industry experts, and is widely-considered the UK’s “most authoritative predictive list” of what will be hot this Christmas.
Barbie dolls, a “Beast Lab”, and an interactive digital pet some of the new additions predicted to be among the top-selling toys for 2023, while old favourites like Harry Potter-themed merchandise, Lego Star Wars sets, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and L.O.L Surprise! have continued to claim spots on the list this year.
According to industry experts, it’s believed that shoppers could be forking out around £1 billion on the little ones in their lives during this festive season.
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The toys that’ve made the cut on this year’s top 20 list range in prices from a fairly-affordable £8.99 for the Squishmallows plush toys, to a whopping £149.99 for the Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds.
Top 20 ‘dream toys’ for Christmas 2023
Barbie Pop Reveal – £26.99
Beast Lab – £89.99
Bitzee Interactive Pet – £32.99
Cookeez Makery Oven Playset – £39.99
Fingerlings Monkey – £17.99
Fluffie Stuffiez Large Plush – £34.99
Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle & Grounds – £149.99
Hot Wheels City Ultimate Hauler – £94.99
L.O.L. Surprise! Magic Flyers – £39.99
Little Live Pets My Puppy’s Home – £64.99
Miniverse – Make It Mini Kitchen – £44.99
MINTiD Dog-E – £89.99
PAW Patrol Mighty Movie – Skye Deluxe Vehicle – £49.99
Pictionary vs AI – £23.99
Pokémon 151 Elite Trainer – £52.99
Squishmallows 7.5″ – £8.99
Star Wars Ahsoka Starship – £64.99
Super Mario Movie 7″ Feature Bowser Figure – £34.99
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Pizza Fire Van – £39.99
Twister Air – £24.99
The top 20 ‘dream toys’ for 2023’s Christmas lists have been revealed / Credit: Disney | eBay
Paul Reader, who is the Chair of the DreamToys selection committee, expects the top 20 toys to be “highly sought after” this year.
“Christmas is a magical time of the year, particularly for children, and this list provides gift givers an authoritative and independent view on what we believe will be the most requested toys to help make that all important purchasing decision,” Mr Reader commented as the 2023 list was revealed.
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“From the year’s biggest blockbusters, tech inspired crossovers, and toys that promote sensory exploration, through to products that create curiosity and anticipation, this year’s list is a representation of what the UK toy industry has to offer.
“The top 20 will be highly-sought-after, so if families have a particular product in mind, my advice is to shop early to avoid disappointment.
“However, if you are simply looking for inspiration, I’d implore everyone to visit their local toy shop and speak to experts who can help suggest the perfect gift for under the tree.”
Sir Ian McKellen pays emotional tribute to long-time friend and fellow northern actor Sir Patrick Stewart
Emily Sergeant
Sir Ian McKellen has paid an emotional tribute to his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Patrick Stewart, following his death.
Sir Patrick Stewart – who was born and bred in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, and is best-known for his theatre work alongside an illustrious 60-year screen career, taking on prominent roles in franchises such as Star Trek and X-Men – sadly passed away at the age of 86, with his death being announced publicly yesterday evening (29 October).
And now, his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Ian McKellen, has paid tribute.
Sir Patrick and Sir Ian shared the stage together countless times over their decades-long careers, but also famously starred alongside each other in the X-Men franchise, and subsequent Marvel movies, as Charles Xavier/Professor X and Magneto.
The tribute, shared across Sir Ian’s social media platforms, reads: “Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end. You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt. Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.
“We first met as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago but we weren’t in the same productions.
“My first strong memory was a few years later, meeting him in the street in central London when he told me about an offer to take over a leading part in ‘Star Trek’. “But Patrick think of your stage career in the UK. Do you really want to risk getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?”
“Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did, for not just his devoted Trekkies, but film and theatre audiences who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes (‘X-Men’ of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway.
“America was his adopted home, where he met his adored Sunny who has cared for him through sickness and health, through thick and thin.
“But he never forsook his origins: and the proudest achievement of the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic, was his appointment as Chancellor of Huddersfield University in Yorkshire.”
Sir Patrick Stewart’s farewell performance will be in Avengers: Doomsday, which is being released in UK cinemas on 18 December 2026
Featured Image – Gage Skidmore (via Flickr)
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Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets this Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks season.
Bonfire Night may be loved by us humans for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that come along with it… but sadly, the November holiday isn’t quite so fun for our four-legged friends.
Loud bangs, flashing lights, and unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives are just some of the reasons why fireworks are frightening to pets.
Not only that, but with multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays across this time of year, pets are rarely able to pinpoint when and where the booming explosions are coming from, therefore creating even more anxiety around this time of year.
Classic FM will play calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks / Credit: DESIGNECOLOGIST (via Unsplash)
Which is why, for the ninth year running now, Classic FM is once again teaming up with the RSPCA for two Pet Classics programmes packed with ‘the most soothing and comforting classical music’.
The music has been handpicked to help calm and settle any anxious pets.
A survey by the RSPCA revealed that almost two-thirds (63%) of animal owners reported their pet was distressed during fireworks season, and that playing relaxing music was the most common way (36%) to help calm or prepare their animal.
Presenters Dan Walker, Aled Jones, and Dawn O’Porter will each host a night of the specially created programme to help keep the nation’s pets calm through the whizzes and bangs.
Dan will present the first programme on Bonfire Night itself (Thursday 5 November), and then as celebrations continue throughout the weekend, Aled will be on hand to bring some peace to Friday 6 November, and Dawn picks up the baton on Saturday 7 November.
Emily Sergeant -
8th November 2023 
