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.

====

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:

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

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.

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