If you’ve immersed yourself in all things Christmas in recent weeks, whether it’s eating non-stop festive food or binge-watching anything with a bough of holly on the cover, you might also have felt the simmering rage induced by A Kindhearted Christmas.
This typical Hallmark movie, starring 90210’s Jennie Garth, follows its lead character as she spreads festive cheer around her picturesque town through anonymous gifts.
While she hopes to remain the town’s well-wishing Secret Santa, she risks exposing herself when she starts to fall for a local news anchor.
So far, so tacky (which is exactly what a Christmas film should be).
But it’s not the wishy-washy script or woeful audience reviews (27% on Rotten Tomatoes) that has sent Brits into a fiery rage.
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It’s one particular scene of A Kindhearted Christmas, about an hour in, when the starring couple pull Christmas crackers together.
But rather than the traditional way, where you share a cracker with someone else and tug it to see who wins the bigger half, usually elbowing someone in the head in the process, they… pull the crackers by themselves (?!).
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In the scene, lead character Jamie is having a romantic dinner with Scott (Cameron Mathison), when he presents her with a pair of novelty Christmas crackers.
“These are Christmas crackers from England,” he tells her.
“Typically, you open them before the meal, but my parents always used to make us wait until dessert.
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“I’m gonna show you how to do it.”
Americans pulling Christmas crackers in A Kindhearted Christmas. Credit: Netflix
Strap in guys because he’s about to explain exactly how NOT to pull a Christmas cracker.
“So you go in here and you find the little tab,” (here he shoves his fingers into the hollow handle of the cracker), “And I’m gonna show you right here why they call them a cracker.
“Make sure you squeeze them hard, and then on the count of three, everyone pulls at the same time.
“There it is, you see, isn’t that good?”
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The sight of two people pulling Christmas crackers on their own might be the most bleak thing we’ve seen all season – and of course, other viewers have agreed.
When one person shared the clip on TikTok, Specsavers replied: “What have we just seen…”
Someone else said: “Hang on America doesn’t have them and this is how they think we open them. I’m confused about where they got this info from.”
One comment reads: “The whole of England is so confused right now.”
Someone shared: “‘We should add a scene with British Christmas crackers!’ ‘OK, but how do you open them?’ ‘Who cares!'”
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One person said on X: “So the scene with the christmas crackers in A Kindhearted Christmas is just ridiculous. It just shows that absolutely zero research was done at all. I can not believe the movie was released with that scene left in. I hope the director is embarrassed.”
@netflix@NetflixUK . So the scene with the christmas crackers in A Kindhearted Christmas is just ridiculous. It just shows that absolutely zero research was done at all. I can not believe the movie was released with that scene left in. I hope the director is embarrassed.
Someone else said: “I’m watching A Kindhearted Christmas and they’re trying to claim you pull Christmas crackers with yourself… Nooo the whole point is it’s a fight to the death”
Another wrote: “Thank you for the nod to the British tradition of Christmas crackers, but you broke hearts everywhere here by having them pull their own!”
And someone posted: “Watching A Kindhearted Christmas on @NetflixUK. Do Americans really not know how to pull Christmas crackers?” (Technically, they are Canadian).
Microdot exhibit for BRITs 2026: the artwork of Oasis, Verve and more up in Manchester Piccadilly
Danny Jones
If you’ve passed through Manchester Piccadilly of late, you might have noticed two things: one, it’s really quiet, and two, there’s loads of cool Britpop merch and memorabilia on display, including original Oasis, The Verve, Inspiral Carpets art and more – all courtesy of Microdot.
Set up as part of the city’s own BRITs celebrations, along with a raft of other nationwide festivities, as the annual music award ceremony prepares to make its Manc debut at the Co-op Live this month, the showcase features special edition frames and more, all pride of place in the middle of the train station.
This collection, simply entitled ‘A Microdot Design’, is all done by the legendary Brian Cannon, the graphic designer and art director behind so much recognisable visual material within the genre.
We recently had the honour of speaking to the man himself in person ahead of Piccadilly’s temporary closure; you can see our interview with him right here:
The Wigan-born artist and visionary didn’t just make promotional materials for some of the biggest bands in the 1990s; he’s responsible for what has gone on to become some of the most familiar iconography in British music history.
With this pop-up exhibit available for a limited time only, we strongly urge you to go along and, for once, take your time rather than rushing around the station as you peruse the boards placed right near the main entrance.
Charting his work from circa 1990 up until now, it’s crazy to see just how many of Brian and Microdot’s fingerprints are all over so many different bands and artists.
From native names like Oasis, The Verve and the Inspirals, as mentioned, as well as the likes of Cast, Super Furry Animals, Suede and Ash, plus so many more, this guy has been nothing short of prolific over the past few decades.
Audio North took a little tour of the King Street South unit last year in the lead-up to Oasis Live ’25 reunion world tour, and we felt like kids in a Britpop sweetshop.
While this site has sadly since closed, shutting up shop back in July, Brian’s mini, modest, but nevertheless magic Microdot Boutique up in the Lake District is still standing.
Located in the popular North West town and tourist attraction, Kendal, it’s worth a trip there to see more of his portfolio alone.
Currently on display at Manchester Piccadilly ahead of the full 2026 BRITs Week and shindig at Co-op Live, it’s one of the best completely free things you can do in town at the moment – but the exhibition finishes on Sunday, 1 March, so make sure you don’t miss it.
Speaking of the BRIT Awards, if you’re wondering what else is on as 0161 gets ready welcome them for their two-year stint (at least), look no further…
Beloved cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender is coming to concert in Manchester for special anniversary
Danny Jones
Much-loved American cartoon and global smash-hit, Avatar: The Last Airbender, is coming to Manchester for a special screening live in concert.
The cult favourite Nickelodeon show turned worldwide phenomenon remains one of the most iconic animated TV franchises of all time, with a series of stunning scores that people still listen to on Spotify, YouTube and, crucially, in person to this day.
With that in mind, The Last Airbender In Concert is coming to mainland Europe and the UK, with the beautiful Bridgewater Hall set to host the special live show to celebrate a very important milestone.
You can see a short trailer of how the most recent world tour dates of Avatar Live here:
20 years since we first met Aang and the world of Avatar
With last February marking the 20th anniversary of the show’s original release date, creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, along with lead composer Jeremy Zuckerman, decided to take the show on the road with some exclusive screenings in some major rooms.
Having boxed off plenty of performances already, Avatar: The Last Airbender heads to Europe later this year, with the shows getting underway at the start of autumn.
And where else to begin but Manchester?
Heading to one of the most gorgeous theatres, not just in the city centre but the region as a whole, Bridgwater Hall is no stranger to hosting live orchestral adaptations like this.
You see the full list of Avatar live shows here in Britain on the extensive European leg of their world tour down below – we’ve even highlighted the other Northern stops for you.
The Last Airbender In Concert UK tour dates | 2026
5 October 2026 – Manchester Bridgewater Hall
6 October 2026 – Edinburgh Usher Hall
8 October 2026 – York Barbican
9 October 2026 – Sheffield City Hall
10 October 2026 – Birmingham Symphony Hall
11 October 2026 – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
13 October 2026 – Swansea Building Society Arena
14 October 2026 – Bath The Forum
15 October 2026 – Portsmouth Guildhall
16 October 2026 – Poole Lighthouse
17 October 2026 – London Eventim Apollo
18 October 2026 – Bristol Beacon
Credit: Press shots (supplied)
It’s hard to believe more than two decades have passed since it first hit screens over in the US in 2005 (21 February and later that same year here in the UK); we still remember sitting cross-legged in front of the telly after school and losing ourselves in this incredible world – and now a new film is on the way, too.
As well as the heavily anime-esque art style and East Asian influences throughout, the music was always a big part of that experience, so we can’t wait to see how it translates in the flesh.
With that in mind, not to mention the wider Avatar story being continued with the next expansion in Avatar lore, ‘Seven Havens’ – a direct sequel to the original programme – it’s a great time to dive back into the world.
Tickets to see and hear The Last Airbender soundtracked live and brought to life in all its glory here in Manchester, general admission on sale already, with the showing starting from 7:30pm.
And for those parents among you looking to introduce your little ones to the next big animation, we’d start with the new one that’s set right here in our hometown and has just aired.
Daisy Jackson -
28th December 2024 
