UK BREXIT CHRISTMAS

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTIONS: AP CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH: 6:26

SHOTLIST:

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

London, UK - 29 October 2018

1. Close of British Lion Christmas decoration, by Aerloom London, at the Spirit of Christmas Fair 2018 at Olympia London

2. Mid of crown Christmas decoration being placed between two British Bulldog decorations

3. Wide of display featuring various Christmas decorations by Aerloom London

4. Founder of Aerloom London Ania Zankowska speaking to customer

UPSOUND (English) Customer: "Are these sprouts or cabbages?"

Ania Zankowska, Founder, Aerloom London: "Sprouts. The idea was to create a Brussels Sprout"

5. Mid of stand of Brussels Sprout decorations next to Aerloom London gift bags

6. Top shot of Brussels Sprouts decorations next to cracker decoration reading 2018

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ania Zankowska, Founder, Aerloom London

"It was just natural to go with the British theme to celebrate the fact that I live in the Kingdom, which obviously was very unusual for me coming from Poland. So the first collection comprised of typically British pieces and they are very popular now, not just in Britain but all around the world."

8. Mid of Queen decoration in front of Corgi decoration

9. Pull focus on side angle of Queen decoration

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ania Zankowska, Founder, Aerloom London

"I'm not feeling it (Brexit) yet, of course we're all very much curious about what's going to happen in the future. I'm remaining very positive. I work very closely with the Department of Trade and Investment, who assure me that the situation will be well monitored and the support I've received will be continued."

11. Mid of stand of Brussels Sprouts decoration

12. Top shot of Zankowska organising boxes of decorations

13. Tilt down wreath with decorations

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Ania Zankowska, Founder, Aerloom London

"The best sellers in my collection are the Queen ornaments, the bulldogs and the lions and this is very much supported by the sales with the British retailers and I think everyone feels immensely proud to be British during Christmas time."

15. Close of bow being tied on gift bag

16. Wide of visitors walking past Christmas tree at Spirit of Christmas event

17. Tilt down from ceiling of Olympia to stands at Spirit of Christmas

18. Wide of visitors walking past Village Workshop stand

19. Tilt up of gingerbread Big Ben

20. Wide of gingerbread Big Ben

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Itet Radcliffe, Founder, Village Workshop

"I was really looking for something iconic that will relate to England, and if you see Big Ben then immediately it's London, it's England."

22. Mid of Radcliffe arranging gingerbread houses on stand

23. Mid of gingerbread items on stand

24. SOUNDBITE (English) Itet Radcliffe, Founder, Village Workshop

"We sell through online shops and they distribute to Europe and they haven't given us any indication that things will be changing. For this year definitely we haven't seen any change, no repercussions at all."

25. Tilt up gingerbread Big Ben

26. SOUNDBITE (English) Itet Radcliffe, Founder, Village Workshop

"Well I think people like to associate what they are buying as made in England. I think on that line, yes, here people are quite aware of where it's coming from, so made in England is quite a lot of difference."

27. Close of top of Big Ben

28. Wide of Eadie family members working on The Oxton Liqueur Company stand

29. Mid of customer trying flavoured liqueur

30. Various of flavoured liqueur bottles

31. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Eadie, Owner, The Oxton Liqueur Company

"Well in the run up to Brexit we've seen the currency move from about 140 to about 110 (British pound to Euro), so we've seen an increase in the price of goods that we buy from Europe of about 25 per cent. So that for us is all our glass, that comes from Italy, from Germany and from France. So already there's been a huge impact, what will happen after Brexit we'll have to see, but time will tell."

32. Mid of flavoured liqueur bottles

33. Customer trying flavoured liqueur

34. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Eadie, Owner, The Oxton Liqueur Company

"You know the exchange rate swung 25 percent, it may turn around, there may be a movement in the other direction, that would be good. Obviously for people exporting it's been incredibly beneficial. So it depends on which side you're on as to whether you've benefited or whether you haven't."

35. Mid of flavoured liqueur bottles on front of stand

36. Wide of visitors climbing stairs in event hall with shopping bags

37. SOUNDBITE (English) Stuart Hunter, Portfolio Director, Clarion Events (Organisers of Spirit of Christmas Fair)

"At the moment in terms of Brexit having any impact to us and the show we're not seeing any, but obviously we do have a lot of conversations with our exhibitors and obviously there's some nervousness, I think certainly probably overall this year in terms of the trade side of business, there's been a bit of a sluggish approach to some of the retail elements."

38. Mid of packaged Christmas puddings

39. Mid of Christmas pudding in front of wooden boxes reading (English) "Made in the UK"

40. SOUNDBITE (English) Stuart Hunter, Portfolio Director, Clarion Events (Organisers of Spirit of Christmas Fair)

"It remains to be seen whether the spend will be the same as we are on site this week, we'll find that out, exhibitors will tell us. We measure that post show as well so we do lots of research. But on the evidence of today it's felt busy, buzzy, lots of shopping bags going out of the doors, so it feels like it's business as usual for us."

41. Mid of bauble on Christmas tree

LEADIN:

The UK is preparing for its final Christmas before leaving the European Union.

Retailers at the annual Spirit of Christmas event in London have mixed feelings about how Brexit will affect future trade.

STORYLINE

The British lion: a symbol of pride and patriotism in the UK.

But as Britain prepares to leave the EU there is ongoing uncertainty about the country's future - not least about how it will affect trade.

At this year's Spirit of Christmas Fair at Olympia in London, retailers and exhibitors are showcasing their goods for the festive period.

Ania Zankowska, the founder of Aerloom London, has an array of quintessentially British looking Christmas decorations. As well as a lion she has the Queen, corgis, crowns and British bulldogs.

And as we approach Brexit she's even got "Brussels" Sprouts.  

As someone who originated from Europe - she was born in Poland - her British pieces were originally a celebration of her move to the UK.

She says they remain incredibly popular to this day: "Not just in Britain but all around the world."

With business still booming Zankowska says she hasn't suffered any negative effects from Brexit yet:

"I'm remaining very positive. I work very closely with the Department of Trade and Investment, who assure me that the situation will be well monitored and the support I've received will be continued," she says.

Another exhibitor selling iconic British images this Christmas is the founder of Village Workshop, Itet Radcliffe.

Amongst her traditional gingerbread houses stands a large, gingerbread Big Ben, with Santa hanging off the top.

She says unless the online sites she sells through change their rules, after Britain officially leaves the EU on 29 March 2019, her business should remain stable:

"We sell through online shops and they distribute to Europe and they haven't given us any indication that things will be changing. For this year definitely we haven't seen any change, no repercussions at all," she says.

And she believes there is something about British made goods which still gives people the confidence to buy:

"Well I think people like to associate what they are buying as made in England. I think on that line, yes, here people are quite aware of where it's coming from, so made in England is quite a lot of difference."

While decorations representing British culture look to become a trend this Christmas, another product which will be popular is flavoured spirits and liqueurs.

The Oxton Liqueur Company is a family run business which hand makes fruity liqueurs from a farm in Nottinghamshire.

This year, alongside their Elderflower Gin and Bramble Whisky, they are showing off a Christmas Vodka.

But while the drinks themselves are very much made in Britain - the glass they sell them in comes from Europe. Owner of The Oxton Liqueur Company Christopher Eadie says Brexit related fluctuations in currency have come at a cost for him:

"We've seen an increase in the price of goods that we buy from Europe of about 25 per cent. So that for us is all our glass, that comes from Italy, from Germany and from France. So already there's been a huge impact, what will happen after Brexit we'll have to see," he says.

The Spirit of Christmas Fair is all about shopping and often a good indicator of consumer confidence and spending power.

Organisers say this year was a record year for visitor and exhibitor attendance.

Stuart Hunter is a Portfolio Director at Clarion Events which organises the Spirit of Christmas Fair.

He says Brexit is hot topic: "We do have a lot of conversations with our exhibitors and obviously there's some nervousness,"

However he adds:

"On the evidence of today it's felt busy, buzzy, lots of shopping bags going out of the doors, so it feels like it's business as usual for us."

The Spirit of Christmas Fair 2018 is on at Olympia London from 29 October to 4 November 2018.

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LEADIN:

The UK is preparing for its final Christmas before leaving the European Union.

Retailers at the annual Spirit of Christmas event in London have mixed feelings about how Brexit will affect future trade.

STORYLINE

The British lion: a symbol of pride and patriotism in the UK.

But as Britain prepares to leave the EU there is ongoing uncertainty about the country's future - not least about how it will affect trade.

At this year's Spirit of Christmas Fair at Olympia in London, retailers and exhibitors are showcasing their goods for the festive period.

Ania Zankowska, the founder of Aerloom London, has an array of quintessentially British looking Christmas decorations. As well as a lion she has the Queen, corgis, crowns and British bulldogs.

And as we approach Brexit she's even got "Brussels" Sprouts.  

As someone who originated from Europe - she was born in Poland - her British pieces were originally a celebration of her move to the UK.

She says they remain incredibly popular to this day: "Not just in Britain but all around the world."

With business still booming Zankowska says she hasn't suffered any negative effects from Brexit yet:

"I'm remaining very positive. I work very closely with the Department of Trade and Investment, who assure me that the situation will be well monitored and the support I've received will be continued," she says.

Another exhibitor selling iconic British images this Christmas is the founder of Village Workshop, Itet Radcliffe.

Amongst her traditional gingerbread houses stands a large, gingerbread Big Ben, with Santa hanging off the top.

She says unless the online sites she sells through change their rules, after Britain officially leaves the EU on 29 March 2019, her business should remain stable:

"We sell through online shops and they distribute to Europe and they haven't given us any indication that things will be changing. For this year definitely we haven't seen any change, no repercussions at all," she says.

And she believes there is something about British made goods which still gives people the confidence to buy:

"Well I think people like to associate what they are buying as made in England. I think on that line, yes, here people are quite aware of where it's coming from, so made in England is quite a lot of difference."

While decorations representing British culture look to become a trend this Christmas, another product which will be popular is flavoured spirits and liqueurs.

The Oxton Liqueur Company is a family run business which hand makes fruity liqueurs from a farm in Nottinghamshire.

This year, alongside their Elderflower Gin and Bramble Whisky, they are showing off a Christmas Vodka.

But while the drinks themselves are very much made in Britain - the glass they sell them in comes from Europe. Owner of The Oxton Liqueur Company Christopher Eadie says Brexit related fluctuations in currency have come at a cost for him:

"We've seen an increase in the price of goods that we buy from Europe of about 25 per cent. So that for us is all our glass, that comes from Italy, from Germany and from France. So already there's been a huge impact, what will happen after Brexit we'll have to see," he says.

The Spirit of Christmas Fair is all about shopping and often a good indicator of consumer confidence and spending power.

Organisers say this year was a record year for visitor and exhibitor attendance.

Stuart Hunter is a Portfolio Director at Clarion Events which organises the Spirit of Christmas Fair.

He says Brexit is hot topic: "We do have a lot of conversations with our exhibitors and obviously there's some nervousness,"

However he adds:

"On the evidence of today it's felt busy, buzzy, lots of shopping bags going out of the doors, so it feels like it's business as usual for us."

The Spirit of Christmas Fair 2018 is on at Olympia London from 29 October to 4 November 2018.

London, UK - 29 October 2018

1. Close of British Lion Christmas decoration, by Aerloom London, at the Spirit of Christmas Fair 2018 at Olympia London

2. Mid of crown Christmas decoration being placed between two British Bulldog decorations

3. Wide of display featuring various Christmas decorations by Aerloom London

4. Founder of Aerloom London Ania Zankowska speaking to customer

UPSOUND (English) Customer: "Are these sprouts or cabbages?"

Ania Zankowska, Founder, Aerloom London: "Sprouts. The idea was to create a Brussels Sprout"

5. Mid of stand of Brussels Sprout decorations next to Aerloom London gift bags

6. Top shot of Brussels Sprouts decorations next to cracker decoration reading 2018

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ania Zankowska, Founder, Aerloom London

"It was just natural to go with the British theme to celebrate the fact that I live in the Kingdom, which obviously was very unusual for me coming from Poland. So the first collection comprised of typically British pieces and they are very popular now, not just in Britain but all around the world."

8. Mid of Queen decoration in front of Corgi decoration

9. Pull focus on side angle of Queen decoration

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ania Zankowska, Founder, Aerloom London

"I'm not feeling it (Brexit) yet, of course we're all very much curious about what's going to happen in the future. I'm remaining very positive. I work very closely with the Department of Trade and Investment, who assure me that the situation will be well monitored and the support I've received will be continued."

11. Mid of stand of Brussels Sprouts decoration

12. Top shot of Zankowska organising boxes of decorations

13. Tilt down wreath with decorations

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Ania Zankowska, Founder, Aerloom London

"The best sellers in my collection are the Queen ornaments, the bulldogs and the lions and this is very much supported by the sales with the British retailers and I think everyone feels immensely proud to be British during Christmas time."

15. Close of bow being tied on gift bag

16. Wide of visitors walking past Christmas tree at Spirit of Christmas event

17. Tilt down from ceiling of Olympia to stands at Spirit of Christmas

18. Wide of visitors walking past Village Workshop stand

19. Tilt up of gingerbread Big Ben

20. Wide of gingerbread Big Ben

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Itet Radcliffe, Founder, Village Workshop

"I was really looking for something iconic that will relate to England, and if you see Big Ben then immediately it's London, it's England."

22. Mid of Radcliffe arranging gingerbread houses on stand

23. Mid of gingerbread items on stand

24. SOUNDBITE (English) Itet Radcliffe, Founder, Village Workshop

"We sell through online shops and they distribute to Europe and they haven't given us any indication that things will be changing. For this year definitely we haven't seen any change, no repercussions at all."

25. Tilt up gingerbread Big Ben

26. SOUNDBITE (English) Itet Radcliffe, Founder, Village Workshop

"Well I think people like to associate what they are buying as made in England. I think on that line, yes, here people are quite aware of where it's coming from, so made in England is quite a lot of difference."

27. Close of top of Big Ben

28. Wide of Eadie family members working on The Oxton Liqueur Company stand

29. Mid of customer trying flavoured liqueur

30. Various of flavoured liqueur bottles

31. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Eadie, Owner, The Oxton Liqueur Company

"Well in the run up to Brexit we've seen the currency move from about 140 to about 110 (British pound to Euro), so we've seen an increase in the price of goods that we buy from Europe of about 25 per cent. So that for us is all our glass, that comes from Italy, from Germany and from France. So already there's been a huge impact, what will happen after Brexit we'll have to see, but time will tell."

32. Mid of flavoured liqueur bottles

33. Customer trying flavoured liqueur

34. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Eadie, Owner, The Oxton Liqueur Company

"You know the exchange rate swung 25 percent, it may turn around, there may be a movement in the other direction, that would be good. Obviously for people exporting it's been incredibly beneficial. So it depends on which side you're on as to whether you've benefited or whether you haven't."

35. Mid of flavoured liqueur bottles on front of stand

36. Wide of visitors climbing stairs in event hall with shopping bags

37. SOUNDBITE (English) Stuart Hunter, Portfolio Director, Clarion Events (Organisers of Spirit of Christmas Fair)

"At the moment in terms of Brexit having any impact to us and the show we're not seeing any, but obviously we do have a lot of conversations with our exhibitors and obviously there's some nervousness, I think certainly probably overall this year in terms of the trade side of business, there's been a bit of a sluggish approach to some of the retail elements."

38. Mid of packaged Christmas puddings

39. Mid of Christmas pudding in front of wooden boxes reading (English) "Made in the UK"

40. SOUNDBITE (English) Stuart Hunter, Portfolio Director, Clarion Events (Organisers of Spirit of Christmas Fair)

"It remains to be seen whether the spend will be the same as we are on site this week, we'll find that out, exhibitors will tell us. We measure that post show as well so we do lots of research. But on the evidence of today it's felt busy, buzzy, lots of shopping bags going out of the doors, so it feels like it's business as usual for us."

41. Mid of bauble on Christmas tree

The threat of Brexit is delivering a Christmas shopping bonanza to Northern Ireland, where thousands visiting daily from the euro-using Republic of Ireland are finding bargains driven by the battered pound.

In the malls of Newry, a Northern Ireland town barely five miles (eight kilometres) from the United Kingdom's only frontier with an EU partner, the surge in cross-border holiday shopping underscores how far the British currency has fallen amid anxiety over a UK exit.

While the euro these days is unusually weak, the pound is far weaker, boosting price differentials on most goods.

That's been the case since May, when a majority of British voters - including 44 percent of those in Northern Ireland - shocked pollsters by voting to leave the world's largest economic union.

The pound sterling suffered its biggest fall in decades and today is worth less than 1.20 euros, about 15 percent less than a year ago.

Traffic on the approach roads to Newry is running bumper to bumper as Christmas approaches, and the heavy presence of southern Irish shoppers is obvious from the license plates that display names of their home counties.

Once visitors find a parking spot and head inside, they are confronted by a stock market-style ticker display listing each shop's competing exchange rates - right beside the spot where children queue to see Santa on his sleigh.

Many shops offer bank-beating discounts to shoppers paying in euros; a few even take euros on equal value terms to pounds.

Cathal Austin, who has managed The Quays mall for 15 years, estimates that business from Republic of Ireland shoppers is running more than 50 percent higher than last Christmas.

He's spotted customers arriving by chartered bus from as far away as Tipperary, Cork and Kerry in Ireland's southwest, four hours away or more.

But Austin worries that this pre-Brexit party could leave a bitter hangover.

He remembers how smuggling thrived and legal commerce struggled before the EU's common market in the early 1990s abolished customs checks along Ireland's meandering 310-mile (499-kilometre) border.

He fears that Brexit, when it eventually comes, could mean the return of a hard border with enforced import restrictions.

Newry's gain is commonly Dundalk's loss.

Dundalk, barely 14 miles (22 kilometres) down the road, is the nearest Republic of Ireland town and main commercial rival to Newry.

While Newry heaves with shoppers on these December weekends, Dundalk struggles to attract a fraction of the trade.

It's boom time in Newry at the moment, but many are fearful of what the future holds, with the uncertainty of Brexit hanging over the Northern Irish border towns.

Newry, Northern Ireland – 19 December 2016

1. Wide pan right of M1 motorway from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland and the town of Newry

2. Exterior of the Quays shopping centre in Newry

3. Various of information board displaying exchange rates between the euro and the British pound

4. Sign showing one euro to one pound exchange rate

5. Shoppers in the Quays

6. Various set up shots of Cathal Austin, manager of Quays shopping centre

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Cathal Austin, manager of Quays shopping centre:

"We obviously had the Brexit vote and as a result, sterling collapsed to its lowest level for a number of years and it made Newry a more attractive shopping destination for our neighbours in the Republic of Ireland."

8. Various cutaways of Austin

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Cathal Austin, Manager, Quays shopping centre:

"We haven't seen these sorts of numbers since the 'Celtic Tiger' was laid to rest in 2008."

10. Various of Christmas tree

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Cathal Austin, Manager, Quays shopping centre:

"I have bumped into the odd person with rather a lot of vodka in their shopping trolley and wondered if they're still going to be alive in a couple of months time if they drink all that vodka. But one can assume that they're either buying it for friends and neighbours, or else possibly to sell on."

12. Various set up shots of shopper Fiachra MacRaghnaill showing the alcohol he has bought

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Fiachra MacRaghnaill, environmental scientist and Newry resident:

"We were here a couple of weeks ago and it was very busy and you could just tell all the licence plates of the cars were all Dublin, County Louth, County Meath – all the border counties. They were outnumbering the Northern (Irish) cars at least two-to-one."

14. Pan cars from the Republic of Ireland in the car park at the Quays

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Fiachra MacRaghnaill, environmental scientist and Newry resident:

"I don't see the difference between giving the profits to a multinational in one country or a multinational in another country - they're multinational. I would definitely shop local in places that pay their staff more, because I think that's a better way of putting money directly into the economy, but the profits of one rich man, or the profits of another rich man doesn't really sway me either way."

16. Snowman Christmas decoration in shopping centre

17. Shoppers outside clothes store

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Caitlin Doherty, resident of Drogheda, Republic of Ireland:

"Christmas presents, and makeup, and stuff like that, clothes."

Reporter: "How much have you spent and how much have you saved here?"

"I've spent 60 pounds and I've saved at least 30 euro."

19. Set up shot of shoppers loading car

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Simone Gray, shopper from the Republic of Ireland:

"You get a lot of people flock down for drink (alcohol) and there's really not a big difference. I wouldn't be flocking down for drink. You know, I'd buy one or two bottles of wine at home and that would be it anyway, but they do flock for drink, and people are coming from as far as Dublin and Drogheda, and places like that, but the border towns (in the Republic of Ireland) are suffering."

21. Various of man dressed as Santa Claus stacking presents

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Man dressed as Santa Claus:

"Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas - and euros or stirling, Santa accepts anything you like. You come and see me. Merry Christmas."

UK TOYS

SOURCE: AP HORIZONS, LIFESTYLE, HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY

RESTRICTIONS: HORIZONS CLIENTS AND AP LIFESTYLE, HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH: 6.02

SHOTLIST:

London, UK - 9 November 2016

1. Close tilt up of Hatchimals egg box the most popular toy

2. Mid of Tiana Wilson with Santa who is holding a Hatchimal waiting for the toy to hatch

3. Various of Tiana Wilson and Santa Claus listening to toy hatch

4. Close of egg showing beak poking through eggshell

5. Close of Santa Claus watching

6. Various of Santa and Wilson releasing the hatching toy

7. Close of Wilson listening to the Hatchimal sing Happy Birthday

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tiana Wilson:

"So it can walk and then it sings Happy Birthday sometimes as well and then the eyes light up in different moods and stuff."

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Grant, retailer, Chairman, Dream Toys selection committee:

"In all the years I've been selling toys, you know we've chased around Tracy Island, we've chased around Care Bears and Cabbage Patch Kids, but this seems to be just gone to another level and the thing is about Hatchimal, it comes as an egg, by nurturing it and keeping it warm the chick inside the egg starts to become warm, starts to become alive, starts to make noises and after a while it starts to spin around inside the egg and it starts pecking and it starts to break the egg open and then literally you hatch the egg."

10. Mid of Hatchimal on the floor being stroked

11. Various of packaged Hatchimals

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Grant, retailer, Chairman, Dream Toys selection committee:

"Something that's really disappointing for me as a parent and as a grandparent is that you've got the speculators involved. You've got people that are buying them when they can and putting back onto a number of the internet channels at nearly double the price, so parents who are desperate to get the toy they want for their own children are buying them from people who never wanted them, they only bought them because they wanted to make money on them, it's really disappointing, but this is going on throughout the world, it's happening in Canada, it's happening in the (United) States, it's happening in the UK, just everybody's chasing around for Hatchimals this Christmas."

13. Mid of boy playing with toy gun

14. Close tilt down of girl playing with the new Bluetooth connected Furby which responds to what she does with her smartphone, or tablet computer

15. Wide of woman showing girl how the new Furby works

16. Low wide angle of the girl tickling the Furby toy

17. Pan from Christmas tree to wide of girl walking her toy dog on a lead

18. Close of toy dog on a lead walking

19. Mid zoom out of a girl seated cuddling an interactive puppy

20. Mid zoom in to boys playing with Bluetooth Furbys

21. Low mid view of caterpillar going past boys and Furbys

22. Zoom out from wrapped Christmas presents in giant sack to reveal Santa Claus walking with analyst Frederique Tutt

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederique Tutt, toy industry analyst, NPD:

"Just like Brexit in June we've seen the election hasn't actually traumatised the UK market at all, so since the Brexit vote the toy market has been faring really well with an increase of three percent."

24. Tracking shot past model wearing costume of Silly Sausage to boy and girl playing Silly Sausage

25. Various of Silly Sausage toys being played

26. Wide of new range of Barbie dolls

27. Close tilt up of one of the new 'curvy' Barbie

28. Close tilt down from new afro Caribbean Barbie

29. Various of Barbies

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederique Tutt, toy industry analyst, NPD:

"Probably ten percent. If we had to put a figure I would say there is a risk toys can increase by ten percent (in 2017)."

31. Close of bendy and stretchy muscle man toy

32. UPSOUND: (English) voice of Darth Vader from Star Wars over tilt up shot of Vader model

"Release your anger. If you only knew the power of the dark side."

33. Wide of Darth Vader model

34. Various of children playing with dog in a bath toy

35. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Grant, retailer, Chairman, Dream Toys selection committee:

"Many decisions that people are considering are on pause until we know the outcome of some of the discussions that are taking place about free passage of goods, movement of people and so on."

36. Zoom in of boy stroking interactive puppy

LEADIN:

Retailers in the UK have just revealed their top twelve 'must have' toys for boys and girls this Christmas.

The toy industry is predicting bumper sales, although it admits the US election of Donald Trump and Britain's EU exit vote earlier this year could lead to higher prices in 2017.

STORYLINE:

This is the toy everyone is raving about in the run up to Christmas.

Hatchimals respond to nurturing and warmth until eventually the egg cracks open and you have a new chick to take care of.

It's one of twelve toys which have made it to the list of Dream Toys which are selected each year by the industry.

Santa Claus and school girl Tiana Wilson are clearly fascinated and the excitement builds up as the chick starts hatching.

Wilson happily lists the toys attractions: "So it can walk and then it sings Happy Birthday sometimes as well and then the eyes light up in different moods and stuff."

A lot of interactive, or responsive toys like Hatchimals are most popular this winter, although the old favourites like Thomas the Tank Engine and Lego have secured places on the top toy list.

Toys like Furby have been updated with new technology so they are connected to computers via bluetooth.

Gary Grant the chairman of Dream Toys' selection committee says: "In all the years I've been selling toys, you know we've chased around Tracy Island, we've chased around Care Bears and Cabbage Patch Kids, but this seems to be just gone to another level and the thing is about Hatchimal, it comes as an egg, by nurturing it and keeping it warm the chick inside the egg starts to become warm, starts to become alive, starts to make noises and after a while it starts to spin around inside the egg and it starts pecking and it starts to break the egg open and then literally you hatch the egg."

Securing a Hatchimal this year might be tricky. According to Grant, there is already a worldwide shortage of the toy because the factory can't make enough of them.

Globally the demand for the Hatchimal is over a quarter of a million units, and the company expects to sell over 100,000 toys at around £60 each.

Grant says the shortage has meant some people are buying them to resell at a profit.

He says: "Something that's really disappointing for me as a parent and as a grandparent is that you've got the speculators involved. You've got people that are buying them when they can and putting back onto a number of the internet channels at nearly double the price, so parents who are desperate to get the toy they want for their own children are buying them from people who never wanted them, they only bought them because they wanted to make money on them, it's really disappointing, but this is going on throughout the world, it's happening in Canada, it's happening in the (United) States, it's happening in the UK, just everybody's chasing around for Hatchimals this Christmas."

One of the less expensive toys making the list this year is the Silly Sausage which tests your dexterity.

This is the new Barbie range developed to reflect the diversity in our societies.

The shape of the dolls is less extreme and more in keeping with natural proportions of young women.

There is even a 'curvy' Barbie, but you have to look closely to tell the difference between them.

There is a great deal of trepidation in the industry.

Analysts say 2015 was a record year with the global market valued at 86 billion dollars with an average growth of 7% across all the major markets.

But the US election and Britain's withdrawal from the EU is creating a great deal of uncertainty, over currency values and more importantly the security of existing trade deals.

Frederique Tutt, a global analyst who's a specialist on the toy industry says we shouldn't assume that it's going to be a gloomy future.

Tutt says: "Just like Brexit in June we've seen the election hasn't actually traumatised the UK market at all, so since the Brexit vote the toy market has been faring really well with an increase of three percent."

Toy retailers operate many months ahead so Tutt says there won't be price rises this year.

This is because trading is done in US dollars and most companies will have already stocked up on the currency to hedge against any drastic changes.

Tutt however admits price increases are likely next year and she says: "Probably ten percent. If we had to put a figure I would say there is a risk toys can rise by ten percent (in 2017)."

This Darth Vader is more of an adult toy.

Hidden sensors mean he can call out when you least expect him to.

Although there's the same old excitement about the approach of the winter holidays and the biggest gift buying time of the year, the industry is concerned about what lies ahead.

Grant says: "Many decisions that people are considering are on pause until we know the outcome of some of the discussions that are taking place about free passage of goods, movement of people and so on."

They say a puppy isn't just for Christmas, but sometimes they are.

====

Clients are reminded:

(i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com.

(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service

(iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory.

LEADIN:

Laser guns, Harry Potter wands and a poopin' puppy are just some of the must-have toys for children this Christmas.

Despite an impending Brexit, the UK toy industry says it's expecting a bumper 2018, buoyed by movie and gaming inspired gifts.

STORYLINE:

You better watch out, Santa Claus is coming to town and he's carrying a laser.

Father Christmas was on hand to try some of this year's top 12 toys for 2018, announced by the UK Toy Retailers' Association at its DreamToys exhibit.

Laser guns make the list and are proving popular with people of all ages.

Santa Claus says: "One of my favourite toys, I do like lots of them and there's 12 of them here, of the favourites. We've got everything from Harry Potter and Lego, we've got Harry Potter's wands and there's the L.O.Ls which is the unwrapping games as well. We've got lots of Nerf as well, Monopoly."

The top toys are selected by a panel of retailers and experts and it's a predictive list of what's expected to be popular.

There's everything from collectible L.O.L Surprise dolls to a slime studio and a Fortnite edition of Monopoly.

But with a new Harry Potter film due out, anything related to the boy wizard is expected to dominate, according to the chairman of  the DreamToys committee, Gary Grant.

"Children's oriented films are really good for toys. So we have Harry Potter this year, we've got Toy Story next year. We've got the Lego movie which brings the Lego bricks to life. So when we get a good movie coming out it does have an ongoing benefit for the toy industry," he says.

The Harry Potter Wizard Wand has cast a spell on ten-year-old Isabella Bonnell who's trying it out.

"It's so fun because you get to learn all these different spells and it's fun practicing them. It makes funny noises when you do a spell," she says.

There are also new Lego options available for Potter fans, including various figurines, the Hogwarts Express and a model of the Great Hall.

"There's a relevancy. Harry Potter is now back with Lego so we're very very proud that a lot of kids will hopefully find Lego undreneath the Christmas tress and have the chance, together with their parents, to be creative and imaginative," says Marius Lang from Lego.

But it's not just film franchises that are helping to sell toys.

This girl is 'flossing' - a dance move that players of ever-popular video game Fortnite will be familiar with.

Hasbro has teamed up with Epic Games to release a Fortnite edition of Monopoly.

Twelve-year-old Ashton Eiman says it's just as exciting as the video version: "It's very good. It's got all the characters. These are all in Fortnite at the moment and I really like it."

Grant says keeping up with film, TV and other trends is needed to appeal to young consumers.

"It's key. The industry looks at what's going on within a child's life. What are they playing with, what are they watching. But also the other part of the industry which has been thriving this year are the collectible items."

These dinosaur collectibles are from the Fingerlings Untamed Jailbreak T-Rex playset and are on the top 12 list.

So too are the L.O.L Surprise Under Wraps dolls.

Toy analyst Frederique Tutt says: "Collectibles is really driving the market in the UK. Sales are 30 percent (higher) compared to last year. So they will want to have the whole collection. So this is series 1 and then you get series 2, series 3and there's no end of fun."

The UK is the fourth largest toy market in the world after the US, China and Japan and has annual sales of 3.5 billion pounds.

One of the more quirky cuddly creatures in the popular Paws and Claws category is Ricky the pup.

What makes him special is his ability to eat treats and then later poop them out.

There's also some unease in the toy industry about the UK's upcoming exit from the European Union which could see supply lines disrupted.

"So much is still uncertain about next year regarding Brexit. But as I said most of the toys come from the Far East and obviously items coming in to the UK, apart from the devaluation of the pound, I can't really see that there's going to be any issues unless we have a major problem with our ports with our stock being delayed," says Grant.

Nine-year-old Jackson Knopf has already decided what he wants from Father Christmas: "Definitely Laser X, the slime thing and some Lego."

With more than five weeks to go until Christmas, Santa will no doubt be busy keeping note of who wants what.

London, UK - 14 November 2018

1. Various of Santa Claus playing Nerf Laser Ops with young girl (£44.99)

2. Various of two boys playing Laser X (£49.99)

3. Santa Claus with Laser Ops gun

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Santa Claus:

"One of my favourite toys, I do like lots of them and there's 12 of them here, of the favourites. We've got everything from Harry Potter and Lego, we've got Harry Potter's wands and there's the L.O.Ls which is the unwrapping games as well. We've got lots of Nerf as well, Monopoly."

5. Wide of display showing DreamToys top 12 toys

6. Various of L.O.L. Surprise Under Wraps collectible figures (£14.99)

7. Close of box for Laser X

8. Tilt up of Cra-Z-Slimy Creations Super Slime Studio (£29.99)

9. Monopoly Fortnite Edition (£21.99)

10. Harry Potter Wizard Training Wand (£24.99)

11. Close of box for Harry Potter Hogwarts Lego (£74.99)

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Grant, Chairman, DreamToys committee:

"Children's oriented films are really good for toys. So obviously we have Harry Potter this year, we've got Toy Story next year. We've got the Lego movie which brings the Lego bricks to life. So when we get a good movie coming out it does have an ongoing benefit for the toy industry."

13. Various of young girl playing with Harry Potter Wizard Wand

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Isabella Bonnell, 10-years-old:

"It's so fun because you get to learn all these different spells and it's fun practicing them. It makes funny noises when you do a spell."

15. Various of Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall Lego (£89.99)

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Marius Lang, Lego:

"There's a relevancy. Harry Potter is now back with Lego so we're very very proud that a lot of kids will hopefully find Lego underneath the Christmas trees and have the chance, together with their parents, to be creative and imaginative."

17. Various of Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall Lego

18. Tilt up of young girl dancing (Doing the Floss from Fortnite)

19. Various of young boy playing Monopoly Fortnite Edition

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Ashton Eiman, 12-years-old:

"It's very good. It's got all the characters. These are all in Fortnite at the moment and I really like it."

21. Eiman playing Monopoly Fortnite

22. Various of Gary Grant looking at top 12 toys

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Grant, Chairman, DreamToys committee:

"It's key. The industry looks at what's going on within a child's life. What are they playing with, what are they watching. But also the other part of the industry which has been thriving this year are the collectible items."

24. Tilt down of children playing

25. Close of boy with Fingerlings Untamed Jailbreak T-Rex Playset (£24.99)

26. Various of girl unwrapping L.O.L. Surprise Under Wraps collectible figures

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Frederique Tutt, Toy analyst:

"Collectibles is really driving the market in the UK. Sales are 30 percent (higher) compared to last year. So they will want to have the whole collection. So this is series 1 and then you get series 2, series 3 and there's no end of fun."

28. Tracking shot of child with Air Hogs Supernova drone toy (£39.99)

29. Various of FurReal Ricky, Trick Lovin' Pup (£134.99)

30. Various of children playing GraviTrax (£39.99)

31. SOUNDBITE (English) SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Grant, Chairman, DreamToys committee:

"So much is still uncertain about next year regarding Brexit. But as I said most of the toys come from the Far East and obviously items coming in to the UK, apart from a devaluation of the pound, I can't really see that there's going to be any issues unless we have a major problem with our ports with our stock being delayed."

32. Various of children playing with Cra-Z-Slimy Creations Super Slime Studio

33. SOUNDBITE (English) Jackson Knopf, 9-years-old:

"Definitely Laser X, the slime thing and some Lego."

34. Tilt down of DreamToys exhibit hall

35. Various of Santa Claus waving

LEAD IN:

Retailers in the UK have just revealed their top twelve 'must have' toys for boys and girls this Christmas.

The toy industry is predicting bumper sales, although it admits the US election of Donald Trump and Britain's EU exit vote earlier this year could lead to higher prices in 2017.

STORY-LINE:

This is the toy everyone is raving about in the run up to Christmas.

Hatchimals respond to nurturing and warmth until eventually the egg cracks open and you have a new chick to take care of.

It's one of twelve toys which have made it to the list of Dream Toys which are selected each year by the industry.

Santa Claus and school girl Tiana Wilson are clearly fascinated and the excitement builds up as the chick starts hatching.

Wilson happily lists the toys attractions: "So it can walk and then it sings Happy Birthday sometimes as well and then the eyes light up in different moods and stuff."

A lot of interactive, or responsive toys like Hatchimals are most popular this winter, although the old favourites like Thomas the Tank Engine and Lego have secured places on the top toy list.

Toys like Furby have been updated with new technology so they are connected to computers via bluetooth.

Gary Grant the chairman of Dream Toys' selection committee says: "In all the years I've been selling toys, you know we've chased around Tracy Island, we've chased around Care Bears and Cabbage Patch Kids, but this seems to be just gone to another level and the thing is about Hatchimal, it comes as an egg, by nurturing it and keeping it warm the chick inside the egg starts to become warm, starts to become alive, starts to make noises and after a while it starts to spin around inside the egg and it starts pecking and it starts to break the egg open and then literally you hatch the egg."

Securing a Hatchimal this year might be tricky. According to Grant, there is already a worldwide shortage of the toy because the factory can't make enough of them.

Globally the demand for the Hatchimal is over a quarter of a million units, and the company expects to sell over 100,000 toys at around £60 each.

Grant says the shortage has meant some people are buying them to resell at a profit.

He says: "Something that's really disappointing for me as a parent and as a grandparent is that you've got the speculators involved. You've got people that are buying them when they can and putting back onto a number of the internet channels at nearly double the price, so parents who are desperate to get the toy they want for their own children are buying them from people who never wanted them, they only bought them because they wanted to make money on them, it's really disappointing, but this is going on throughout the world, it's happening in Canada, it's happening in the (United) States, it's happening in the UK, just everybody's chasing around for Hatchimals this Christmas."

One of the less expensive toys making the list this year is the Silly Sausage which tests your dexterity.

This is the new Barbie range developed to reflect the diversity in our societies.

The shape of the dolls is less extreme and more in keeping with natural proportions of young women.

There is even a 'curvy' Barbie, but you have to look closely to tell the difference between them.

There is a great deal of trepidation in the industry.

Analysts say 2015 was a record year with the global market valued at 86 billion dollars with an average growth of 7% across all the major markets.

But the US election and Britain's withdrawal from the EU is creating a great deal of uncertainty, over currency values and more importantly the security of existing trade deals.

Frederique Tutt, a global analyst who's a specialist on the toy industry says we shouldn't assume that it's going to be a gloomy future.

Tutt says: "Just like Brexit in June we've seen the election hasn't actually traumatised the UK market at all, so since the Brexit vote the toy market has been faring really well with an increase of three percent."

Toy retailers operate many months ahead so Tutt says there won't be price rises this year.

This is because trading is done in US dollars and most companies will have already stocked up on the currency to hedge against any drastic changes.

Tutt however admits price increases are likely next year and she says: "Probably ten percent. If we had to put a figure I would say there is a risk toys can rise by ten percent (in 2017)."

This Darth Vader is more of an adult toy.

Hidden sensors mean he can call out when you least expect him to.

Although there's the same old excitement about the approach of the winter holidays and the biggest gift buying time of the year, the industry is concerned about what lies ahead.

Grant says: "Many decisions that people are considering are on pause until we know the outcome of some of the discussions that are taking place about free passage of goods, movement of people and so on."

They say a puppy isn't just for Christmas, but sometimes they are.

London, UK - 9 November 2016

1. Close tilt up of Hatchimals egg box the most popular toy

2. Mid of Tiana Wilson with Santa who is holding a Hatchimal waiting for the toy to hatch

3. Various of Tiana Wilson and Santa Claus listening to toy hatch

4. Close of egg showing beak poking through eggshell

5. Close of Santa Claus watching

6. Various of Santa and Wilson releasing the hatching toy

7. Close of Wilson listening to the Hatchimal sing Happy Birthday

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tiana Wilson:

"So it can walk and then it sings Happy Birthday sometimes as well and then the eyes light up in different moods and stuff."

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Grant, retailer, Chairman, Dream Toys selection committee:

"In all the years I've been selling toys, you know we've chased around Tracy Island, we've chased around Care Bears and Cabbage Patch Kids, but this seems to be just gone to another level and the thing is about Hatchimal, it comes as an egg, by nurturing it and keeping it warm the chick inside the egg starts to become warm, starts to become alive, starts to make noises and after a while it starts to spin around inside the egg and it starts pecking and it starts to break the egg open and then literally you hatch the egg."

10. Mid of Hatchimal on the floor being stroked

11. Various of packaged Hatchimals

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Grant, retailer, Chairman, Dream Toys selection committee:

"Something that's really disappointing for me as a parent and as a grandparent is that you've got the speculators involved. You've got people that are buying them when they can and putting back onto a number of the internet channels at nearly double the price, so parents who are desperate to get the toy they want for their own children are buying them from people who never wanted them, they only bought them because they wanted to make money on them, it's really disappointing, but this is going on throughout the world, it's happening in Canada, it's happening in the (United) States, it's happening in the UK, just everybody's chasing around for Hatchimals this Christmas."

13. Mid of boy playing with toy gun

14. Close tilt down of girl playing with the new Bluetooth connected Furby which responds to what she does with her smartphone, or tablet computer

15. Wide of woman showing girl how the new Furby works

16. Low wide angle of the girl tickling the Furby toy

17. Pan from Christmas tree to wide of girl walking her toy dog on a lead

18. Close of toy dog on a lead walking

19. Mid zoom out of a girl seated cuddling an interactive puppy

20. Mid zoom in to boys playing with Bluetooth Furbys

21. Low mid view of caterpillar going past boys and Furbys

22. Zoom out from wrapped Christmas presents in giant sack to reveal Santa Claus walking with analyst Frederique Tutt

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederique Tutt, toy industry analyst, NPD:

"Just like Brexit in June we've seen the election hasn't actually traumatised the UK market at all, so since the Brexit vote the toy market has been faring really well with an increase of three percent."

24. Tracking shot past model wearing costume of Silly Sausage to boy and girl playing Silly Sausage

25. Various of Silly Sausage toys being played

26. Wide of new range of Barbie dolls

27. Close tilt up of one of the new 'curvy' Barbie

28. Close tilt down from new afro Caribbean Barbie

29. Various of Barbies

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederique Tutt, toy industry analyst, NPD:

"Probably ten percent. If we had to put a figure I would say there is a risk toys can increase by ten percent (in 2017)."

31. Close of bendy and stretchy muscle man toy

32. UPSOUND: (English) voice of Darth Vader from Star Wars over tilt up shot of Vader model

"Release your anger. If you only knew the power of the dark side."

33. Wide of Darth Vader model

34. Various of children playing with dog in a bath toy

35. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Grant, retailer, Chairman, Dream Toys selection committee:

"Many decisions that people are considering are on pause until we know the outcome of some of the discussions that are taking place about free passage of goods, movement of people and so on."

36. Zoom in of boy stroking interactive puppy

UK CHRISTMAS TOYS

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTIONS: AP CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH: 6:06

SHOTLIST:

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

London, UK - 14 November 2018

1. Various of Santa Claus playing Nerf Laser Ops with young girl (£44.99)

2. Various of two boys playing Laser X (£49.99)

3. Santa Claus with Laser Ops gun

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Santa Claus:

"One of my favourite toys, I do like lots of them and there's 12 of them here, of the favourites. We've got everything from Harry Potter and Lego, we've got Harry Potter's wands and there's the L.O.Ls which is the unwrapping games as well. We've got lots of Nerf as well, Monopoly."

5. Wide of display showing DreamToys top 12 toys

6. Various of L.O.L. Surprise Under Wraps collectible figures (£14.99)

7. Close of box for Laser X

8. Tilt up of Cra-Z-Slimy Creations Super Slime Studio (£29.99)

9. Monopoly Fortnite Edition (£21.99)

10. Harry Potter Wizard Training Wand (£24.99)

11. Close of box for Harry Potter Hogwarts Lego (£74.99)

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Grant, Chairman, DreamToys committee:

"Children's oriented films are really good for toys. So obviously we have Harry Potter this year, we've got Toy Story next year. We've got the Lego movie which brings the Lego bricks to life. So when we get a good movie coming out it does have an ongoing benefit for the toy industry."

13. Various of young girl playing with Harry Potter Wizard Wand

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Isabella Bonnell, 10-years-old:

"It's so fun because you get to learn all these different spells and it's fun practicing them. It makes funny noises when you do a spell."

15. Various of Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall Lego (£89.99)

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Marius Lang, Lego:

"There's a relevancy. Harry Potter is now back with Lego so we're very very proud that a lot of kids will hopefully find Lego underneath the Christmas trees and have the chance, together with their parents, to be creative and imaginative."

17. Various of Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall Lego

18. Tilt up of young girl dancing (Doing the Floss from Fortnite)

19. Various of young boy playing Monopoly Fortnite Edition

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Ashton Eiman, 12-years-old:

"It's very good. It's got all the characters. These are all in Fortnite at the moment and I really like it."

21. Eiman playing Monopoly Fortnite

22. Various of Gary Grant looking at top 12 toys

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Grant, Chairman, DreamToys committee:

"It's key. The industry looks at what's going on within a child's life. What are they playing with, what are they watching. But also the other part of the industry which has been thriving this year are the collectible items."

24. Tilt down of children playing

25. Close of boy with Fingerlings Untamed Jailbreak T-Rex Playset (£24.99)

26. Various of girl unwrapping L.O.L. Surprise Under Wraps collectible figures

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Frederique Tutt, Toy analyst:

"Collectibles is really driving the market in the UK. Sales are 30 percent (higher) compared to last year. So they will want to have the whole collection. So this is series 1 and then you get series 2, series 3 and there's no end of fun."

28. Tracking shot of child with Air Hogs Supernova drone toy (£39.99)

29. Various of FurReal Ricky, Trick Lovin' Pup (£134.99)

30. Various of children playing GraviTrax (£39.99)

31. SOUNDBITE (English) SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Grant, Chairman, DreamToys committee:

"So much is still uncertain about next year regarding Brexit. But as I said most of the toys come from the Far East and obviously items coming in to the UK, apart from a devaluation of the pound, I can't really see that there's going to be any issues unless we have a major problem with our ports with our stock being delayed."

32. Various of children playing with Cra-Z-Slimy Creations Super Slime Studio

33. SOUNDBITE (English) Jackson Knopf, 9-years-old:

"Definitely Laser X, the slime thing and some Lego."

34. Tilt down of DreamToys exhibit hall

35. Various of Santa Claus waving

LEADIN:

Laser guns, Harry Potter wands and a poopin' puppy are just some of the must-have toys for children this Christmas.

Despite an impending Brexit, the UK toy industry says it's expecting a bumper 2018, buoyed by movie and gaming inspired gifts.

STORYLINE:

You better watch out, Santa Claus is coming to town and he's carrying a laser.

Father Christmas was on hand to try some of this year's top 12 toys for 2018, announced by the UK Toy Retailers' Association at its DreamToys exhibit.

Laser guns make the list and are proving popular with people of all ages.

Santa Claus says: "One of my favourite toys, I do like lots of them and there's 12 of them here, of the favourites. We've got everything from Harry Potter and Lego, we've got Harry Potter's wands and there's the L.O.Ls which is the unwrapping games as well. We've got lots of Nerf as well, Monopoly."

The top toys are selected by a panel of retailers and experts and it's a predictive list of what's expected to be popular.

There's everything from collectible L.O.L Surprise dolls to a slime studio and a Fortnite edition of Monopoly.

But with a new Harry Potter film due out, anything related to the boy wizard is expected to dominate, according to the chairman of  the DreamToys committee, Gary Grant.

"Children's oriented films are really good for toys. So we have Harry Potter this year, we've got Toy Story next year. We've got the Lego movie which brings the Lego bricks to life. So when we get a good movie coming out it does have an ongoing benefit for the toy industry," he says.

The Harry Potter Wizard Wand has cast a spell on ten-year-old Isabella Bonnell who's trying it out.

"It's so fun because you get to learn all these different spells and it's fun practicing them. It makes funny noises when you do a spell," she says.

There are also new Lego options available for Potter fans, including various figurines, the Hogwarts Express and a model of the Great Hall.

"There's a relevancy. Harry Potter is now back with Lego so we're very very proud that a lot of kids will hopefully find Lego undreneath the Christmas tress and have the chance, together with their parents, to be creative and imaginative," says Marius Lang from Lego.

But it's not just film franchises that are helping to sell toys.

This girl is 'flossing' - a dance move that players of ever-popular video game Fortnite will be familiar with.

Hasbro has teamed up with Epic Games to release a Fortnite edition of Monopoly.

Twelve-year-old Ashton Eiman says it's just as exciting as the video version: "It's very good. It's got all the characters. These are all in Fortnite at the moment and I really like it."

Grant says keeping up with film, TV and other trends is needed to appeal to young consumers.

"It's key. The industry looks at what's going on within a child's life. What are they playing with, what are they watching. But also the other part of the industry which has been thriving this year are the collectible items."

These dinosaur collectibles are from the Fingerlings Untamed Jailbreak T-Rex playset and are on the top 12 list.

So too are the L.O.L Surprise Under Wraps dolls.

Toy analyst Frederique Tutt says: "Collectibles is really driving the market in the UK. Sales are 30 percent (higher) compared to last year. So they will want to have the whole collection. So this is series 1 and then you get series 2, series 3and there's no end of fun."

The UK is the fourth largest toy market in the world after the US, China and Japan and has annual sales of 3.5 billion pounds.

One of the more quirky cuddly creatures in the popular Paws and Claws category is Ricky the pup.

What makes him special is his ability to eat treats and then later poop them out.

There's also some unease in the toy industry about the UK's upcoming exit from the European Union which could see supply lines disrupted.

"So much is still uncertain about next year regarding Brexit. But as I said most of the toys come from the Far East and obviously items coming in to the UK, apart from the devaluation of the pound, I can't really see that there's going to be any issues unless we have a major problem with our ports with our stock being delayed," says Grant.

Nine-year-old Jackson Knopf has already decided what he wants from Father Christmas: "Definitely Laser X, the slime thing and some Lego."

With more than five weeks to go until Christmas, Santa will no doubt be busy keeping note of who wants what.  

====

Clients are reminded:

(i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com.

(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service

(iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory.

LEADIN:

Laser guns, Harry Potter wands and a poopin' puppy are just some of the must-have toys for children this Christmas.

Despite an impending Brexit, the UK toy industry says it's expecting a bumper 2018, buoyed by movie and gaming inspired gifts.

STORYLINE:

You better watch out, Santa Claus is coming to town and he's carrying a laser.

Father Christmas was on hand to try some of this year's top 12 toys for 2018, announced by the UK Toy Retailers' Association at its DreamToys exhibit.

Laser guns make the list and are proving popular with people of all ages.

Santa Claus says: "One of my favourite toys, I do like lots of them and there's 12 of them here, of the favourites. We've got everything from Harry Potter and Lego, we've got Harry Potter's wands and there's the L.O.Ls which is the unwrapping games as well. We've got lots of Nerf as well, Monopoly."

The top toys are selected by a panel of retailers and experts and it's a predictive list of what's expected to be popular.

There's everything from collectible L.O.L Surprise dolls to a slime studio and a Fortnite edition of Monopoly.

But with a new Harry Potter film due out, anything related to the boy wizard is expected to dominate, according to the chairman of  the DreamToys committee, Gary Grant.

"Children's oriented films are really good for toys. So we have Harry Potter this year, we've got Toy Story next year. We've got the Lego movie which brings the Lego bricks to life. So when we get a good movie coming out it does have an ongoing benefit for the toy industry," he says.

The Harry Potter Wizard Wand has cast a spell on ten-year-old Isabella Bonnell who's trying it out.

"It's so fun because you get to learn all these different spells and it's fun practicing them. It makes funny noises when you do a spell," she says.

There are also new Lego options available for Potter fans, including various figurines, the Hogwarts Express and a model of the Great Hall.

"There's a relevancy. Harry Potter is now back with Lego so we're very very proud that a lot of kids will hopefully find Lego undreneath the Christmas tress and have the chance, together with their parents, to be creative and imaginative," says Marius Lang from Lego.

But it's not just film franchises that are helping to sell toys.

This girl is 'flossing' - a dance move that players of ever-popular video game Fortnite will be familiar with.

Hasbro has teamed up with Epic Games to release a Fortnite edition of Monopoly.

Twelve-year-old Ashton Eiman says it's just as exciting as the video version: "It's very good. It's got all the characters. These are all in Fortnite at the moment and I really like it."

Grant says keeping up with film, TV and other trends is needed to appeal to young consumers.

"It's key. The industry looks at what's going on within a child's life. What are they playing with, what are they watching. But also the other part of the industry which has been thriving this year are the collectible items."

These dinosaur collectibles are from the Fingerlings Untamed Jailbreak T-Rex playset and are on the top 12 list.

So too are the L.O.L Surprise Under Wraps dolls.

Toy analyst Frederique Tutt says: "Collectibles is really driving the market in the UK. Sales are 30 percent (higher) compared to last year. So they will want to have the whole collection. So this is series 1 and then you get series 2, series 3and there's no end of fun."

The UK is the fourth largest toy market in the world after the US, China and Japan and has annual sales of 3.5 billion pounds.

One of the more quirky cuddly creatures in the popular Paws and Claws category is Ricky the pup.

What makes him special is his ability to eat treats and then later poop them out.

There's also some unease in the toy industry about the UK's upcoming exit from the European Union which could see supply lines disrupted.

"So much is still uncertain about next year regarding Brexit. But as I said most of the toys come from the Far East and obviously items coming in to the UK, apart from the devaluation of the pound, I can't really see that there's going to be any issues unless we have a major problem with our ports with our stock being delayed," says Grant.

Nine-year-old Jackson Knopf has already decided what he wants from Father Christmas: "Definitely Laser X, the slime thing and some Lego."

With more than five weeks to go until Christmas, Santa will no doubt be busy keeping note of who wants what.

London, UK - 14 November 2018

1. Various of Santa Claus playing Nerf Laser Ops with young girl (£44.99)

2. Various of two boys playing Laser X (£49.99)

3. Santa Claus with Laser Ops gun

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Santa Claus:

"One of my favourite toys, I do like lots of them and there's 12 of them here, of the favourites. We've got everything from Harry Potter and Lego, we've got Harry Potter's wands and there's the L.O.Ls which is the unwrapping games as well. We've got lots of Nerf as well, Monopoly."

5. Wide of display showing DreamToys top 12 toys

6. Various of L.O.L. Surprise Under Wraps collectible figures (£14.99)

7. Close of box for Laser X

8. Tilt up of Cra-Z-Slimy Creations Super Slime Studio (£29.99)

9. Monopoly Fortnite Edition (£21.99)

10. Harry Potter Wizard Training Wand (£24.99)

11. Close of box for Harry Potter Hogwarts Lego (£74.99)

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Grant, Chairman, DreamToys committee:

"Children's oriented films are really good for toys. So obviously we have Harry Potter this year, we've got Toy Story next year. We've got the Lego movie which brings the Lego bricks to life. So when we get a good movie coming out it does have an ongoing benefit for the toy industry."

13. Various of young girl playing with Harry Potter Wizard Wand

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Isabella Bonnell, 10-years-old:

"It's so fun because you get to learn all these different spells and it's fun practicing them. It makes funny noises when you do a spell."

15. Various of Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall Lego (£89.99)

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Marius Lang, Lego:

"There's a relevancy. Harry Potter is now back with Lego so we're very very proud that a lot of kids will hopefully find Lego underneath the Christmas trees and have the chance, together with their parents, to be creative and imaginative."

17. Various of Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall Lego

18. Tilt up of young girl dancing (Doing the Floss from Fortnite)

19. Various of young boy playing Monopoly Fortnite Edition

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Ashton Eiman, 12-years-old:

"It's very good. It's got all the characters. These are all in Fortnite at the moment and I really like it."

21. Eiman playing Monopoly Fortnite

22. Various of Gary Grant looking at top 12 toys

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Grant, Chairman, DreamToys committee:

"It's key. The industry looks at what's going on within a child's life. What are they playing with, what are they watching. But also the other part of the industry which has been thriving this year are the collectible items."

24. Tilt down of children playing

25. Close of boy with Fingerlings Untamed Jailbreak T-Rex Playset (£24.99)

26. Various of girl unwrapping L.O.L. Surprise Under Wraps collectible figures

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Frederique Tutt, Toy analyst:

"Collectibles is really driving the market in the UK. Sales are 30 percent (higher) compared to last year. So they will want to have the whole collection. So this is series 1 and then you get series 2, series 3 and there's no end of fun."

28. Tracking shot of child with Air Hogs Supernova drone toy (£39.99)

29. Various of FurReal Ricky, Trick Lovin' Pup (£134.99)

30. Various of children playing GraviTrax (£39.99)

31. SOUNDBITE (English) SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Grant, Chairman, DreamToys committee:

"So much is still uncertain about next year regarding Brexit. But as I said most of the toys come from the Far East and obviously items coming in to the UK, apart from a devaluation of the pound, I can't really see that there's going to be any issues unless we have a major problem with our ports with our stock being delayed."

32. Various of children playing with Cra-Z-Slimy Creations Super Slime Studio

33. SOUNDBITE (English) Jackson Knopf, 9-years-old:

"Definitely Laser X, the slime thing and some Lego."

34. Tilt down of DreamToys exhibit hall

35. Various of Santa Claus waving

LEADIN:

Christmas is coming and children around the world are preparing their wish lists for Santa.

The toy industry is keen to predict and shape what this year's must-have toy will be.

The DreamToys event in London, brings a gang of child testers together to promote the season's best-selling gadgets and gizmos.

STORYLINE:

From drones to teddy bears, who can predict which toys will become treasured possessions and which ones will be condemned to the bottom of the toy box a few days after Christmas.

The DreamToys event in London brings together a board of industry analysts and experts to pick the top toys they expect to be the most sought after each Christmas, then organises a promotional event to market the must-have list of the top toys.

One of the stars of this year's show is Roarin' Tyler the Tiger by FurReal.

This interactive toy pet responds to sound and motion commands - tickle him and he purrs affectionately, tell him to sit and he sits... sometimes.

The animatronic tiger can move his eyes, ears, head, mouth and tail. He even has a rubber toy chicken of his own to play with.

Nine year old Louise Edwards is playing with Tyler at DreamToys. She says he could serve as a substitute for her own pet.

"Because my cat used to just sit around all day and then when I found this, when it came out, I was like 'I really want this' because it's like my cat but a bit more interactive because my cat just used to sit there all day because he was blind."

FurReal Roarin' Tyler costs £134.99.

But not everything is cute and cuddly at DreamToys in London.

This fluffy unicorn has fangs - it is part of the Feisty Pets range. It doesn't make this year's must-have list.

In many countries the top-selling toy at the moment is the LOL Surprise by MGA - the same people who gave us the Bratz dolls.

These tennis ball sized toys contain tiny dolls which can be dressed and accessorised.

LOL Surprise is part of the the blind-bag collectible trend which is seeing enormous growth - in the UK collectible sales increased by 24 per cent in 2017 compared to the previous year and represent one in every five toys sold, according to analysts the NPD Group.

LOL was only launched in April this year and is already the market leader in the UK, U.S. and Spain.

Andrew Laughthon, senior vice president of Europe, MGA explains what the new LOL Surprise is all about:

"It comes with seven layers of surprise. It builds on the unboxing, every kid can unbox this, so you take each layer off and you get a surprise under each layer. The great thing about it, after you've gone through all those different layers you end up with a fantastic doll at the end."

Retailing at £9.99 it is just in the pocket money price point, but according to Frederique Tutt, a toy industry analyst at the NPD Group, demand is outstripping supply and parents might want to consider shopping earlier rather than missing out later.

She says: "I think it's now (shops are running out of LOL toys) but they're getting supplied as often as they can. But it's the number one selling toy in the US and the UK, in Spain, in many of the countries that the NPD Group tracks. So it's difficult to meet demand."

It's Tutt's job to track trends and she thinks the excitement of children posting on YouTube unboxing videos is driving the collectible market.

She explains: "I think it's the surprise element, the kid doesn't know what's going to be inside so they're really excited to open it and that brings us to some viral videos that we can see on YouTube, the kids unboxing this element of surprise for them is really important and this has been a driving trend in the market this year especially."

Another surprise is hatching inside this large egg.

Summer Meyepa is rubbing the egg to speed up the hatching process of her Hatchimal - of course, she doesn't yet know what is inside.

She says: "It's actually a Hatchimal, I'm not sure which one because they're always a surprise so I'm hoping it's going to be a really good one that's really cuddly and really cute."

It takes a lot of rubbing to warm up the baby Hatchimal but soon there is movement inside and Summer's excitement increases as the egg cracks open and two babies pop out.

"It is actually dancing, it's literally just cracked it and I've got one... I've got two, and I think that they're maybe twins," she says.

Hatchimals Surprise cost £74.99 from Spin Master Toys.

Another collectible are the Fingerling monkeys from WowWee, priced at £14.99.

These little monkeys cling to your fingers and have 40 actions and 50 different sounds.

Nine year old Abigail Silverlock has been making her monkeys react to her.

She says: "I like to collect them because then you can just hang them all over you and you can hang them on your fingers and your bags and your cardigans."

It might all look like fun and games but this is a serious business, in the UK alone annual Christmas toy sales are worth £1.2 billion according to the NPD Group's Consumer Tracking Service.

The average Christmas toy spend per child is £121 (up to age 11) with an average of 11 presents received.

But after a particularly buoyant 2016, the toy market in the UK is slightly down year-on-year and will be hoping to regain ground over the important Christmas period.

Gary Grant, chair of the DreamToys committee says: "In 2017 so far the (toy) market is down about two per cent and I think it's a lack of confidence in the market place, brought about by a number of factors, the Brexit factor, there's a lack of confidence, the general economic factor, there's a lack of confidence, rising prices, whether that's fuel prices for vehicles or whether it's interest rates that have just gone up a quarter of a point, that is going to drain an element of disposable income out of people's pockets so we're going through uncertain times. But 40 per cent of the toy trade's entire year turnover is just in a very short period of eight weeks and we've every expectation that by the time we get to Christmas Eve we will have caught up on the small decline that we've experienced year-to-date."

The Christmas sales drive is already in full swing... but will toy retailers be landing on their feet at the end of the festive period?

London, November 8, 2017

1. Mid of boy flying drone

2. Close of boy tilts down to remote control

3. Wide of children playing at Dream Toys

4. Wide top shot of event and Christmas tree

5. Pull focus of star on Christmas tree

6. Mid of Louise Edwards playing with FurReal Roarin' Tyler (£134.99)

7. Close of Tyler being stroked

8. Low angle of Louise telling Tyler to lie down

9. Close of Louise tickling the tiger

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Louise Edwards, nine-year-old, voxpop

"Because my cat used to just sit around all day and then when I found this, when it came out, I was like 'I really want this' because it's like my cat but a bit more interactive because my cat just used to sit there all day because he was blind."

11. Various of Feisty Pets Glenda Glitterpoop unicorn

12. Close pan right of LOL Surprise series dolls

13. Tilt up of LOL balls

14. Mid of Andrew Laughthon opening ball

15. Close of opening

16. Mid of same

17. Close of LOL doll with water bottle

18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Andrew Laughthon, senior vice president of Europe, MGA

"It comes with seven layers of surprise. It builds on the unboxing, every kid can unbox this, so you take each layer off and you get a surprise under each layer. The great thing about it, after you've gone through all those different layers you end up with a fantastic doll at the end."

19. Various set up shots of Frederique Tutt, global toy industry analyst, NPD Group

20. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederique Tutt, global toy industry analyst, NPD Group

"I think it's now (shops are running out of LOL toys) but they're getting supplied as often as they can but it's the number one selling toy in the US and the UK, in Spain, in many of the countries that the NPD Group tracks. So it's difficult to meet demand."

21. Pan right of chart showing the seven layers of surprises in the LOL surprise ball

22. Tilt up of poster for LOL doll reading: (English) "Take me home!"

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederique Tutt, global toy industry analyst, NPD Group

"I think it's the surprise element, the kid doesn't know what's going to be inside, so they're really excited to open it and that brings us to some viral videos that we can see on YouTube, the kids unboxing this element of surprise for them is really important and this has been a driving trend in the market this year especially."

24. Low angle of Summer Meyepa rubbing Hatchimals egg

25. Close of egg being rubbed

26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Summer Meyepa, nine-year-old, voxpop

"It's actually a Hatchimal, I'm not sure which one because they're always a surprise so I'm hoping it's going to be a really good one that's really cuddly and really cute."

27. Close of egg starting to crack

28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Summer Meyepa, nine-year-old, voxpop

"It is actually dancing, it's literally just cracked it and I've got one... I've got two, and I think that they're maybe twins."

29. Wide low angle of Summer playing

30. Wide of Abigail Silverlock playing with Fingerlings monkeys

31. Close of monkeys

32. SOUNDBITE: (English) Abigail Silverlock, nine-year-old, voxpop

"I like to collect them because then you can just hang them all over you and you can hang them on your fingers and your bags and your cardigans and stuff."

33. Set up shot of Gary Grant with Tyler Tiger

34. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Grant, chair of the DreamToys committee

"In 2017 so far the (toy) market is down about two per cent and I think it's a lack of confidence in the market place, brought about by a number of factors, the Brexit factor, there's a lack of confidence, the general economic factor, there's a lack of confidence, rising prices, whether that's fuel prices for vehicles or whether it's interest rates that have just gone up a quarter of a point, that is going to drain an element of disposable income out of people's pockets so we're going through uncertain times. But 40 percent of the toy trade's entire year turnover is just in a very short period of eight weeks and we've every expectation that by the time we get to Christmas Eve we will have caught up on the small decline that we've experienced year-to-date."

35. Low angle of boy playing with acrobat toy

35. Close of face

36. Close of finger pressing button

37. Low angle of acrobat jumping and landing upright

LEADIN:

Christmas is coming and children around the world are preparing their wish lists for Santa.

The toy industry is keen to predict and shape what this year's must-have toy will be.

The DreamToys event in London, brings a gang of child testers together to promote the season's best-selling gadgets and gizmos.

STORYLINE:

From drones to teddy bears, who can predict which toys will become treasured possessions and which ones will be condemned to the bottom of the toy box a few days after Christmas.

The DreamToys event in London brings together a board of industry analysts and experts to pick the top toys they expect to be the most sought after each Christmas, then organises a promotional event to market the must-have list of the top toys.

One of the stars of this year's show is Roarin' Tyler the Tiger by FurReal.

This interactive toy pet responds to sound and motion commands - tickle him and he purrs affectionately, tell him to sit and he sits... sometimes.

The animatronic tiger can move his eyes, ears, head, mouth and tail. He even has a rubber toy chicken of his own to play with.

Nine year old Louise Edwards is playing with Tyler at DreamToys. She says he could serve as a substitute for her own pet.

"Because my cat used to just sit around all day and then when I found this, when it came out, I was like 'I really want this' because it's like my cat but a bit more interactive because my cat just used to sit there all day because he was blind."

FurReal Roarin' Tyler costs £134.99.

But not everything is cute and cuddly at DreamToys in London.

This fluffy unicorn has fangs - it is part of the Feisty Pets range. It doesn't make this year's must-have list.

In many countries the top-selling toy at the moment is the LOL Surprise by MGA - the same people who gave us the Bratz dolls.

These tennis ball sized toys contain tiny dolls which can be dressed and accessorised.

LOL Surprise is part of the the blind-bag collectible trend which is seeing enormous growth - in the UK collectible sales increased by 24 per cent in 2017 compared to the previous year and represent one in every five toys sold, according to analysts the NPD Group.

LOL was only launched in April this year and is already the market leader in the UK, U.S. and Spain.

Andrew Laughthon, senior vice president of Europe, MGA explains what the new LOL Surprise is all about:

"It comes with seven layers of surprise. It builds on the unboxing, every kid can unbox this, so you take each layer off and you get a surprise under each layer. The great thing about it, after you've gone through all those different layers you end up with a fantastic doll at the end."

Retailing at £9.99 it is just in the pocket money price point, but according to Frederique Tutt, a toy industry analyst at the NPD Group, demand is outstripping supply and parents might want to consider shopping earlier rather than missing out later.

She says: "I think it's now (shops are running out of LOL toys) but they're getting supplied as often as they can. But it's the number one selling toy in the US and the UK, in Spain, in many of the countries that the NPD Group tracks. So it's difficult to meet demand."

It's Tutt's job to track trends and she thinks the excitement of children posting on YouTube unboxing videos is driving the collectible market.

She explains: "I think it's the surprise element, the kid doesn't know what's going to be inside so they're really excited to open it and that brings us to some viral videos that we can see on YouTube, the kids unboxing this element of surprise for them is really important and this has been a driving trend in the market this year especially."

Another surprise is hatching inside this large egg.

Summer Meyepa is rubbing the egg to speed up the hatching process of her Hatchimal - of course, she doesn't yet know what is inside.

She says: "It's actually a Hatchimal, I'm not sure which one because they're always a surprise so I'm hoping it's going to be a really good one that's really cuddly and really cute."

It takes a lot of rubbing to warm up the baby Hatchimal but soon there is movement inside and Summer's excitement increases as the egg cracks open and two babies pop out.

"It is actually dancing, it's literally just cracked it and I've got one... I've got two, and I think that they're maybe twins," she says.

Hatchimals Surprise cost £74.99 from Spin Master Toys.

Another collectible are the Fingerling monkeys from WowWee, priced at £14.99.

These little monkeys cling to your fingers and have 40 actions and 50 different sounds.

Nine year old Abigail Silverlock has been making her monkeys react to her.

She says: "I like to collect them because then you can just hang them all over you and you can hang them on your fingers and your bags and your cardigans."

It might all look like fun and games but this is a serious business, in the UK alone annual Christmas toy sales are worth £1.2 billion according to the NPD Group's Consumer Tracking Service.

The average Christmas toy spend per child is £121 (up to age 11) with an average of 11 presents received.

But after a particularly buoyant 2016, the toy market in the UK is slightly down year-on-year and will be hoping to regain ground over the important Christmas period.

Gary Grant, chair of the DreamToys committee says: "In 2017 so far the (toy) market is down about two per cent and I think it's a lack of confidence in the market place, brought about by a number of factors, the Brexit factor, there's a lack of confidence, the general economic factor, there's a lack of confidence, rising prices, whether that's fuel prices for vehicles or whether it's interest rates that have just gone up a quarter of a point, that is going to drain an element of disposable income out of people's pockets so we're going through uncertain times. But 40 per cent of the toy trade's entire year turnover is just in a very short period of eight weeks and we've every expectation that by the time we get to Christmas Eve we will have caught up on the small decline that we've experienced year-to-date."

The Christmas sales drive is already in full swing... but will toy retailers be landing on their feet at the end of the festive period?

London, November 8, 2017

1. Mid of boy flying drone

2. Close of boy tilts down to remote control

3. Wide of children playing at Dream Toys

4. Wide top shot of event and Christmas tree

5. Pull focus of star on Christmas tree

6. Mid of Louise Edwards playing with FurReal Roarin' Tyler (£134.99)

7. Close of Tyler being stroked

8. Low angle of Louise telling Tyler to lie down

9. Close of Louise tickling the tiger

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Louise Edwards, nine-year-old, voxpop

"Because my cat used to just sit around all day and then when I found this, when it came out, I was like 'I really want this' because it's like my cat but a bit more interactive because my cat just used to sit there all day because he was blind."

11. Various of Feisty Pets Glenda Glitterpoop unicorn

12. Close pan right of LOL Surprise series dolls

13. Tilt up of LOL balls

14. Mid of Andrew Laughthon opening ball

15. Close of opening

16. Mid of same

17. Close of LOL doll with water bottle

18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Andrew Laughthon, senior vice president of Europe, MGA

"It comes with seven layers of surprise. It builds on the unboxing, every kid can unbox this, so you take each layer off and you get a surprise under each layer. The great thing about it, after you've gone through all those different layers you end up with a fantastic doll at the end."

19. Various set up shots of Frederique Tutt, global toy industry analyst, NPD Group

20. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederique Tutt, global toy industry analyst, NPD Group

"I think it's now (shops are running out of LOL toys) but they're getting supplied as often as they can but it's the number one selling toy in the US and the UK, in Spain, in many of the countries that the NPD Group tracks. So it's difficult to meet demand."

21. Pan right of chart showing the seven layers of surprises in the LOL surprise ball

22. Tilt up of poster for LOL doll reading: (English) "Take me home!"

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederique Tutt, global toy industry analyst, NPD Group

"I think it's the surprise element, the kid doesn't know what's going to be inside, so they're really excited to open it and that brings us to some viral videos that we can see on YouTube, the kids unboxing this element of surprise for them is really important and this has been a driving trend in the market this year especially."

24. Low angle of Summer Meyepa rubbing Hatchimals egg

25. Close of egg being rubbed

26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Summer Meyepa, nine-year-old, voxpop

"It's actually a Hatchimal, I'm not sure which one because they're always a surprise so I'm hoping it's going to be a really good one that's really cuddly and really cute."

27. Close of egg starting to crack

28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Summer Meyepa, nine-year-old, voxpop

"It is actually dancing, it's literally just cracked it and I've got one... I've got two, and I think that they're maybe twins."

29. Wide low angle of Summer playing

30. Wide of Abigail Silverlock playing with Fingerlings monkeys

31. Close of monkeys

32. SOUNDBITE: (English) Abigail Silverlock, nine-year-old, voxpop

"I like to collect them because then you can just hang them all over you and you can hang them on your fingers and your bags and your cardigans and stuff."

33. Set up shot of Gary Grant with Tyler Tiger

34. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Grant, chair of the DreamToys committee

"In 2017 so far the (toy) market is down about two per cent and I think it's a lack of confidence in the market place, brought about by a number of factors, the Brexit factor, there's a lack of confidence, the general economic factor, there's a lack of confidence, rising prices, whether that's fuel prices for vehicles or whether it's interest rates that have just gone up a quarter of a point, that is going to drain an element of disposable income out of people's pockets so we're going through uncertain times. But 40 percent of the toy trade's entire year turnover is just in a very short period of eight weeks and we've every expectation that by the time we get to Christmas Eve we will have caught up on the small decline that we've experienced year-to-date."

35. Low angle of boy playing with acrobat toy

35. Close of face

36. Close of finger pressing button

37. Low angle of acrobat jumping and landing upright

LEADIN:

Christmas is coming and children around the world are preparing their wish lists for Santa.

The toy industry is keen to predict and shape what this year's must-have toy will be.

The DreamToys event in London, brings a gang of child testers together to promote the season's best-selling gadgets and gizmos.

STORYLINE:

From drones to teddy bears, who can predict which toys will become treasured possessions and which ones will be condemned to the bottom of the toy box a few days after Christmas.

The DreamToys event in London brings together a board of industry analysts and experts to pick the top toys they expect to be the most sought after each Christmas, then organises a promotional event to market the must-have list of the top toys.

One of the stars of this year's show is Roarin' Tyler the Tiger by FurReal.

This interactive toy pet responds to sound and motion commands - tickle him and he purrs affectionately, tell him to sit and he sits... sometimes.

The animatronic tiger can move his eyes, ears, head, mouth and tail. He even has a rubber toy chicken of his own to play with.

Nine year old Louise Edwards is playing with Tyler at DreamToys. She says he could serve as a substitute for her own pet.

"Because my cat used to just sit around all day and then when I found this, when it came out, I was like 'I really want this' because it's like my cat but a bit more interactive because my cat just used to sit there all day because he was blind."

FurReal Roarin' Tyler costs £134.99.

But not everything is cute and cuddly at DreamToys in London.

This fluffy unicorn has fangs - it is part of the Feisty Pets range. It doesn't make this year's must-have list.

In many countries the top-selling toy at the moment is the LOL Surprise by MGA - the same people who gave us the Bratz dolls.

These tennis ball sized toys contain tiny dolls which can be dressed and accessorised.

LOL Surprise is part of the the blind-bag collectible trend which is seeing enormous growth - in the UK collectible sales increased by 24 per cent in 2017 compared to the previous year and represent one in every five toys sold, according to analysts the NPD Group.

LOL was only launched in April this year and is already the market leader in the UK, U.S. and Spain.

Andrew Laughthon, senior vice president of Europe, MGA explains what the new LOL Surprise is all about:

"It comes with seven layers of surprise. It builds on the unboxing, every kid can unbox this, so you take each layer off and you get a surprise under each layer. The great thing about it, after you've gone through all those different layers you end up with a fantastic doll at the end."

Retailing at £9.99 it is just in the pocket money price point, but according to Frederique Tutt, a toy industry analyst at the NPD Group, demand is outstripping supply and parents might want to consider shopping earlier rather than missing out later.

She says: "I think it's now (shops are running out of LOL toys) but they're getting supplied as often as they can. But it's the number one selling toy in the US and the UK, in Spain, in many of the countries that the NPD Group tracks. So it's difficult to meet demand."

It's Tutt's job to track trends and she thinks the excitement of children posting on YouTube unboxing videos is driving the collectible market.

She explains: "I think it's the surprise element, the kid doesn't know what's going to be inside so they're really excited to open it and that brings us to some viral videos that we can see on YouTube, the kids unboxing this element of surprise for them is really important and this has been a driving trend in the market this year especially."

Another surprise is hatching inside this large egg.

Summer Meyepa is rubbing the egg to speed up the hatching process of her Hatchimal - of course, she doesn't yet know what is inside.

She says: "It's actually a Hatchimal, I'm not sure which one because they're always a surprise so I'm hoping it's going to be a really good one that's really cuddly and really cute."

It takes a lot of rubbing to warm up the baby Hatchimal but soon there is movement inside and Summer's excitement increases as the egg cracks open and two babies pop out.

"It is actually dancing, it's literally just cracked it and I've got one... I've got two, and I think that they're maybe twins," she says.

Hatchimals Surprise cost £74.99 from Spin Master Toys.

Another collectible are the Fingerling monkeys from WowWee, priced at £14.99.

These little monkeys cling to your fingers and have 40 actions and 50 different sounds.

Nine year old Abigail Silverlock has been making her monkeys react to her.

She says: "I like to collect them because then you can just hang them all over you and you can hang them on your fingers and your bags and your cardigans."

It might all look like fun and games but this is a serious business, in the UK alone annual Christmas toy sales are worth £1.2 billion according to the NPD Group's Consumer Tracking Service.

The average Christmas toy spend per child is £121 (up to age 11) with an average of 11 presents received.

But after a particularly buoyant 2016, the toy market in the UK is slightly down year-on-year and will be hoping to regain ground over the important Christmas period.

Gary Grant, chair of the DreamToys committee says: "In 2017 so far the (toy) market is down about two per cent and I think it's a lack of confidence in the market place, brought about by a number of factors, the Brexit factor, there's a lack of confidence, the general economic factor, there's a lack of confidence, rising prices, whether that's fuel prices for vehicles or whether it's interest rates that have just gone up a quarter of a point, that is going to drain an element of disposable income out of people's pockets so we're going through uncertain times. But 40 per cent of the toy trade's entire year turnover is just in a very short period of eight weeks and we've every expectation that by the time we get to Christmas Eve we will have caught up on the small decline that we've experienced year-to-date."

The Christmas sales drive is already in full swing... but will toy retailers be landing on their feet at the end of the festive period?

London, November 8, 2017

1. Mid of boy flying drone

2. Close of boy tilts down to remote control

3. Wide of children playing at Dream Toys

4. Wide top shot of event and Christmas tree

5. Pull focus of star on Christmas tree

6. Mid of Louise Edwards playing with FurReal Roarin' Tyler (£134.99)

7. Close of Tyler being stroked

8. Low angle of Louise telling Tyler to lie down

9. Close of Louise tickling the tiger

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Louise Edwards, nine-year-old, voxpop

"Because my cat used to just sit around all day and then when I found this, when it came out, I was like 'I really want this' because it's like my cat but a bit more interactive because my cat just used to sit there all day because he was blind."

11. Various of Feisty Pets Glenda Glitterpoop unicorn

12. Close pan right of LOL Surprise series dolls

13. Tilt up of LOL balls

14. Mid of Andrew Laughthon opening ball

15. Close of opening

16. Mid of same

17. Close of LOL doll with water bottle

18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Andrew Laughthon, senior vice president of Europe, MGA

"It comes with seven layers of surprise. It builds on the unboxing, every kid can unbox this, so you take each layer off and you get a surprise under each layer. The great thing about it, after you've gone through all those different layers you end up with a fantastic doll at the end."

19. Various set up shots of Frederique Tutt, global toy industry analyst, NPD Group

20. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederique Tutt, global toy industry analyst, NPD Group

"I think it's now (shops are running out of LOL toys) but they're getting supplied as often as they can but it's the number one selling toy in the US and the UK, in Spain, in many of the countries that the NPD Group tracks. So it's difficult to meet demand."

21. Pan right of chart showing the seven layers of surprises in the LOL surprise ball

22. Tilt up of poster for LOL doll reading: (English) "Take me home!"

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Frederique Tutt, global toy industry analyst, NPD Group

"I think it's the surprise element, the kid doesn't know what's going to be inside, so they're really excited to open it and that brings us to some viral videos that we can see on YouTube, the kids unboxing this element of surprise for them is really important and this has been a driving trend in the market this year especially."

24. Low angle of Summer Meyepa rubbing Hatchimals egg

25. Close of egg being rubbed

26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Summer Meyepa, nine-year-old, voxpop

"It's actually a Hatchimal, I'm not sure which one because they're always a surprise so I'm hoping it's going to be a really good one that's really cuddly and really cute."

27. Close of egg starting to crack

28. SOUNDBITE: (English) Summer Meyepa, nine-year-old, voxpop

"It is actually dancing, it's literally just cracked it and I've got one... I've got two, and I think that they're maybe twins."

29. Wide low angle of Summer playing

30. Wide of Abigail Silverlock playing with Fingerlings monkeys

31. Close of monkeys

32. SOUNDBITE: (English) Abigail Silverlock, nine-year-old, voxpop

"I like to collect them because then you can just hang them all over you and you can hang them on your fingers and your bags and your cardigans and stuff."

33. Set up shot of Gary Grant with Tyler Tiger

34. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Grant, chair of the DreamToys committee

"In 2017 so far the (toy) market is down about two per cent and I think it's a lack of confidence in the market place, brought about by a number of factors, the Brexit factor, there's a lack of confidence, the general economic factor, there's a lack of confidence, rising prices, whether that's fuel prices for vehicles or whether it's interest rates that have just gone up a quarter of a point, that is going to drain an element of disposable income out of people's pockets so we're going through uncertain times. But 40 percent of the toy trade's entire year turnover is just in a very short period of eight weeks and we've every expectation that by the time we get to Christmas Eve we will have caught up on the small decline that we've experienced year-to-date."

35. Low angle of boy playing with acrobat toy

35. Close of face

36. Close of finger pressing button

37. Low angle of acrobat jumping and landing upright

LEADIN:

London is getting ready to party for the festive season and that's reflected in the windows of the city's most famous shops.

Elaborate Christmas displays are already helping to draw in the crowds.

STORYLINE:

Have you ever seen a dancing queen quite like this one.

Quintessentially British store Fortnum and Mason is treating shoppers to a bizarre window display which includes a disco dancing lobster, among more traditional fare such as food hampers.

Others include flying mince pies carrying a basket of gifts. Everything is gigantic including the sweets, spinning candy lollies, glittering ice creams and the not so traditional Christmas pudding.

Christmas puddings are usually laced with brandy and a couple of silver charms, but this one is spilling out the cash and it's all gold.

In the skies above Regent Street angels are shielding tourists, their wings glittering with blue and gold wings.

Toy store Hamley's is also getting into the party swing with some real dancing elves, who probably should be helping a busy Father Christmas to get ready for toy deliveries.

At Selfridges, Father Christmas has cast aside his traditional attire, and working is far from his mind.

All the Santas in the windows are enjoying a rock and roll Christmas with as much glamour as they can muster.

Whether bustling streets will means busy cashiers inside the shops is what retailers are waiting to discover.

Concerns about Brexit and the economy might persuade people to be a little more low key in the UK.

London, UK - 21 November 2018

1. Pull focus and tilt down to gold lobster in disco window dressing at Fortnum and Mason

2. Various of lobster disco in window

3. Mid of shoppers looking in window

4. Close of window with nutcracker, port and fine wines for a hamper

5. Mid of window showing giant hampers, teaspoon and teapot in winter garlands

6. Wide low angle of shop sign

7. Tilt down on giant candy stick to advent calendar

8. Wide of Fortnum and Mason shop windows

9. Various of basket of presents being carried by flying mince pies

10. Various of window with sweets being carried by train

11. Mid of visitors and shoppers

12. Various of giant ice creams in shop window

13. Various of window with giant Christmas pudding with gold coins spilling out

14. Wide of windows

15. Various of gold and blue illuminated angel sculptures above Regent Street

16. Various of windows of Penhaligan's perfume store

17. Various of elves dancing outside Hamley's toy store

18. Close tilt down of "Christmas is calling" sign to shoppers below

19. Various of shoppers

20. Wide of red rock n roll Father Christmas in Selfridges' window

21. Various of 'glam rock' sequin costume

22. Tilt up of green 'glam rock' Father Christmas wearing snakeskin boots

23. Mid of window with 'glam rock' Father and Mother Christmas with piano sculpture

24. Close of neon sign in window reading: "Let's rock this Christmas!"

25. Mid of rock n roll Father Christmas with Mother Christmas in background

LEADIN

Looking to splurge on the ultimate luxury Christmas present? Then look no further than Europe's most expensive bouquet featuring a combination of rare flowers and precious gems.

It's a bargain at just over half a million British pounds (US$644,000).

STORYLINE

The iconic Christmas windows at London's Harrods are lit up - which means the capital's festive period has officially started.

This year the store's theme is 'Fantastica'. Each window has a different festive display, from 'Party Time' by Ellie Saab to a sparking 'Left Over Fridge' from Dolce and Gabbana.

But while Harrods is a global shopping mecca for the super rich, the types of gifts being chosen in the luxury sector are changing.

"Nowadays you can't really surprise people. Everything can be achieved and bought," says Natasha Van Der Minkelis, Managing Director of The Flower Fashion.

With that in mind, Minkelis decided to create a gift to amaze even the wealthiest Christmas shopper.

Along with Tivon Fine Jewellery, which marks its 55th anniversary this year, she's created ''Europe's most expensive bouquet".

"We've used rare gems and the rare flowers to combine and make the whole thing look spectacular," explains Minkelis.

"This creation came up to half a million (British) pounds," she adds.

While Minkelis, one of London's most sought after florists, brings the creativity it's undoubtedly Tivon Fine Jewellery who have provided the enormous price tag.

The bouquet is full of stunning jewellery, such as a necklace featuring a huge mint-bottle-green tourmaline set in fine diamonds and a gala pendant with a 18.07 carat blue tanzanite.

But one single ring makes up almost half of the value of the whole bouquet: a gala ring, known as the Madame M, which is worth 250,000 British pounds.

"The centrepiece is a large 20 carat Columbian emerald and it's adorned all around with fine white diamonds as well as green tsavorites, garnets from Central Africa and the piece is spectacular," explains Ariel Tivon, Creative and Sales Director of Tivon Fine Jewellery.

He puts the combined value of the bouquet with all its jewels at a staggering 575,000 British pounds.

However he adds that for the super rich, gifts such as this go beyond the overall value of the product.

"This is about the experience, it's not just about the gift. The gifts are certainly there to stay but the experience of receiving such a gift, such a spectacular array, I think that's really going to stand out in somebody's memory," he says.

Back in the city, Christmas windows are also sparkling at Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and many other high end stores.

New West End Company, which represents 600 shops and businesses around Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street, predicts that 2.51 billion British pounds will be spent in London's West End over the eight-week festive period.

Rosie Shephard, Founder of the Luxury Communications Council, whose members include brands such as Burberry, Cartier, Rolex and Fortnum & Mason, says the way people are shopping, particularly at the top end, is changing.

"What we're seeing is of course, as has been for a while, is people turning from the product side of things to the more experience side of things," she says.

In terms of luxury goods she adds that the current trend is "hyper personalisation":

"So it's now not enough just to buy a luxury handbag, that luxury handbag now needs to have your initials on it to make it really that much more special."

Shephard believes the depreciation of the British pound, created by Brexit uncertainty, is encouraging more foreign tourists to come to the UK to shop.

And she adds there is one nationality in particular who simply can't resist the lure of Christmas shopping in London:

"Christmas is actually very much focussed on the US market," she says.

"It's them that really come over and love our quaint Christmas traditions and actually book most of the hotel suites and then really take advantage of our shopping."

London, UK - 16 November 2018

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Various of Christmas window at Harrods store

2. Wide of Harrods building

3. Various of Christmas windows at Harrods

4. Mid of Cartier jewellery in Christmas window at Harrods

++DAY SHOTS++

5. Close of ring with large peridot gem and diamonds being placed into the "Most Expensive Bouquet in Europe"

6. Mid of Natasha Van De Minkelis, Managing Director of The Flower Fashion and co creator of bouquet, fixing ring into bouquet

7. Close of Minkelis taking another ring from box

8. Wide of Minkelis and Ariel Tivon, Creative and Sales Director of Tivon Fine Jewellery and co creator of bouquet

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Natasha Van De Minkelis, Managing Director, The Flower Fashion

"Nowadays you can't really surprise people. Everything can be achieved and bought and ordered and that's how the idea of the most expensive bouquet came up, not just in London but the whole of Europe. So we've used rare gems and the rare flowers to combine and make the whole thing look spectacular."

10. Low shot of Minkelis putting flower into bouquet

11. Mid of Minkelis placing necklace with large mint-bottle-green tourmaline set in fine diamonds into bouquet

12. Close of necklace

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Natasha Van De Minkelis, Managing Director, The Flower Fashion

"This creation came up to half a million (British Pounds). There is no specific client for it yet. We're hoping to sell it really soon, as we do have a few opportunities for that."

14. Close of cocktail ring with peridot gem being placed into bouquet

15. Various of white gold gala ring with large tanzanite being placed into bouquet

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Natasha Van De Minkelis, Managing Director, The Flower Fashion

"We can tailor any request, for example a Christmas bouquet can be done with a Christmas decoration in it, some special maybe glass baubles which people use for the Christmas trees, we would use for bouquets and then play with the diamonds around it, put it on a very nice box and and the ribbon on top of it."

17. Pull focus from ring box to white gold and diamond pendant with tanzanite gem on bouquet

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Ariel Tivon, Creative and Sales Director of Tivon Fine Jewellery

"The biggest piece within the array of the bouquet is the 'Madame M' ring. Now the Madame M ring is a very special ring."

19. Various of the Madame M ring in the bouquet

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Ariel Tivon, Creative and Sales Director of Tivon Fine Jewellery

"It's a very grand gala ring. The centrepiece is a large 20 carat Columbian emerald and it's adorned all around with fine white diamonds as well as green tsavorites, garnets from Central Africa and the piece is spectacular, it does come with a price tag of 250 thousand (British) pounds."

21. Close of Madame M ring being placed into bouquet

22. Close of rings in ring box

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Ariel Tivon, Creative and Sales Director of Tivon Fine Jewellery

"This is about the experience, it's not just about the gift. The gifts are certainly there to stay but the experience of receiving such a gift, such a spectacular array, I think that's really going to stand out in somebody's memory."

24. Tilt up of bouquet

25. Wide of bouquet

26. Wide of Christmas window at Selfridges store

27. Close of sign reading (English) Selfridge & Co Limited

28. Various of Christmas window at Selfridges

29. Shoppers walking past Christmas lights outside Dior and Chanel on New Bond Street

30. Mid of Christmas lights on Regents Street

31. Various of Rosie Shephard, Founder of the Luxury Communications Council, at her desk

32. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosie Shephard, Founder, Luxury Communications Council

"The way people are spending is generally changing and at the top end we are seeing even more of that. What we're seeing is of course, as has been for a while, is people turning from the product side of things to the more experience side of things. And that might be gifting someone a city break but it also might be gifting someone a really interesting learning experience, like cooking master classes and things like that. That whole sector is seeing a really big rise. On the more luxury goods side of things we're really seeing this trend of hyper personalisations so it's now not enough just to buy a luxury handbag, that luxury handbag now needs to have your initials on it to make it really that much more special."

33. Various of exterior of Fortnum & Mason store

34. Mid of Christmas window at Fortnum & Mason

35. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosie Shephard, Founder, Luxury Communications Council

"Another thing people are really doing is working with a particular designer brand or a particular jeweller to create something bespoke for that loved one. So they might sit with a jeweller and design something really special for them. So it's a complete one off piece and we're seeing more and more of that."

36. Various of Christmas window at Fortnum & Mason

37. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosie Shephard, Founder, Luxury Communications Council

"Interestingly Christmas is a bit of a unique time for London in terms of people's shopping habits and where these customers are coming from. Unlike the summer months where the Middle Easterns flock in to spend a lot of money in the London sector, Russians are fairly consistent throughout, but Christmas is actually very much focussed on the US market. It's them that really come over and love our quaint Christmas traditions and actually book most of the hotel suites and then really take advantage of our shopping."

38. Close of Christmas window at Fortnum & Mason

UK CHRISTMAS SHOPS

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTIONS: AP CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH: 3.49

SHOTLIST:

Associated Press

London, UK - 21 November 2018

1. Pull focus and tilt down to gold lobster in disco window dressing at Fortnum and Mason

2. Various of lobster disco in window

3. Mid of shoppers looking in window

4. Close of window with nutcracker, port and fine wines for a hamper

5. Mid of window showing giant hampers, teaspoon and teapot in winter garlands

6. Wide low angle of shop sign

7. Tilt down on giant candy stick to advent calendar

8. Wide of Fortnum and Mason shop windows

9. Various of basket of presents being carried by flying mince pies

10. Various of window with sweets being carried by train

11. Mid of visitors and shoppers

12. Various of giant ice creams in shop window

13. Various of window with giant Christmas pudding with gold coins spilling out

14. Wide of windows

15. Various of gold and blue illuminated angel sculptures above Regent Street

16. Various of windows of Penhaligan's perfume store

17. Various of elves dancing outside Hamley's toy store

18. Close tilt down of "Christmas is calling" sign to shoppers below

19. Various of shoppers

20. Wide of red rock n roll Father Christmas in Selfridges' window

21. Various of 'glam rock' sequin costume

22. Tilt up of green 'glam rock' Father Christmas wearing snakeskin boots

23. Mid of window with 'glam rock' Father and Mother Christmas with piano sculpture

24. Close of neon sign in window reading: "Let's rock this Christmas!"

25. Mid of rock n roll Father Christmas with Mother Christmas in background

LEADIN:

London is getting ready to party for the festive season and that's reflected in the windows of the city's most famous shops.

Elaborate Christmas displays are already helping to draw in the crowds.

STORYLINE:

Have you ever seen a dancing queen quite like this one.

Quintessentially British store Fortnum and Mason is treating shoppers to a bizarre window display which includes a disco dancing lobster, among more traditional fare such as food hampers.

Others include flying mince pies carrying a basket of gifts. Everything is gigantic including the sweets, spinning candy lollies, glittering ice creams and the not so traditional Christmas pudding.

Christmas puddings are usually laced with brandy and a couple of silver charms, but this one is spilling out the cash and it's all gold.

In the skies above Regent Street angels are shielding tourists, their wings glittering with blue and gold wings.

Toy store Hamley's is also getting into the party swing with some real dancing elves, who probably should be helping a busy Father Christmas to get ready for toy deliveries.

At Selfridges, Father Christmas has cast aside his traditional attire, and working is far from his mind.

All the Santas in the windows are enjoying a rock and roll Christmas with as much glamour as they can muster.

Whether bustling streets will means busy cashiers inside the shops is what retailers are waiting to discover.

Concerns about Brexit and the economy might persuade people to be a little more low key in the UK.

====

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