7 h. ago Kylie Minogue gets her – and Amazon’s – first Christmas No 1, with Xmas

Exclusive song for online retailer prevents a hat trick of Christmas No 1s for Wham!, as Kylie becomes first woman to secure UK No 1 singles in four different decadesKylie Minogue has scored her first UK Christmas No 1, and eighth No 1 single overall, with the song Xmas.She beat competition from Wham!’s mega-streaming Last Christmas, which has been Christmas No 1 for the past two years: it was last week’s chart-topper but drops to No 2. Also in the race was Lullaby from the charity campaign Together for Palestine, which reached No 5. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Kylie steals festive No 1 with XMAS but here are some Christmas number one hit wonders!

It’s official - XMAS by Kylie - has been crowned the Christmas Number One 2025, narrowly beating Wham’s! Last Christmas to the top of the charts

Events

9 h. ago What is Mad Friday? When it is and why it's called Mad Friday

Here’s everything you need to know about Mad Friday, or Black Eye Friday as it’s also known.

Politics

9 h. ago Harry and Meghan share sweet new pic with Archie and Lilibet for Christmas card

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have unveiled their 2025 Christmas card photo, which features a sweet new family snap with their two children, Archie and Lilibet

Politics

9 h. ago 2025’s paltry Christmas Day lineup is not what Britain’s television industry needs

It’s a particularly drab year on the British festive television front, writes Micha Frazer-Carroll. The Big Four need to get their act together soon – or risk ceding Christmas to American streaming giants

Politics

9 h. ago BBC pulls 2025 Christmas special from schedule just days before broadcast

The BBC has confirmed a Christmas special has been pulled from its festive schedule, with the show now set to air in 2026 instead

Politics

11 h. ago The great Christmas getaway begins: Millions of festive travellers head home on 'Frantic Friday' with traffic gridlock, 'busiest ever' airports and warnings of rail chaos

The AA has predicted that this year will see the busiest Christmas getaway on record, continuing an upwards trend since the relaxing of coronavirus travel restrictions.

Events

11 h. ago Rock around the Christmas tree with the best music books of 2025

From John Lennon to John Williams these are the years best books and biographies on music

Culture

11 h. ago As a child, our family Christmas photo was an annual trauma. As a parent, I understand it now | Sean Szeps

In our house, the Christmas photo still exists. But it follows a very different set of rules: Keep it quick, keep it casual, and if it’s not funny what’s the point?In my family, Christmas isn’t just a holiday It’s an obsession. And my mother? She’s the matriarch of mistletoe.Every December, our home transformed into a living snow globe. We didn’t just buy ornaments, we made them. We didn’t watch Christmas movies, we lived them. We’d cut down our own trees, hand-string popcorn garlands and spend full afternoons debating the correct angle of the angel on top of the tree. Continue reading...

Society

13 h. ago From a showstopping pavlova to a £7 sherry: what top chefs bring to Christmas dinner

Looking for a great supermarket champagne? Need an easy recipe to take to a party? Or just some really good cheese Yotam Ottolenghi, Giorgio Locatelli, Ixta Belfrage and others reveal the best snacks, drinks and desserts to make and buy for the big dayChristmas is a time of overwhelming choice, especially when it comes to food. So, to help you navigate the festive feasting, we asked 16 top chefs and cooks to tell us what they buy or make to give to the people brave enough to invite them over.Reassuringly, it turns out that even the most decorated chefs love a Ferrero Rocher, a nice glass of sherry, a good mince pie and a decent cheeseboard at this time of year. And everyone is attached to their own traditions, whether that’s the apple tart Matthew Ryle’s family loves in place of Christmas pudding, the hot chocolate-and marshmallow kit Yotam Ottolenghi’s kids can never resist, or Sabrina Ghayour’s favourite truffle-infused cheddar. Continue reading...

Economics

16 h. ago This glittering European city has the only Christmas market you need to visit in 2025

With the magical Grote Markt and a flourishing cultural scene, Mary Novakovich believes this Flemish city is the perfect place to get in the festive spirit

Politics

19 h. ago Reeves to Ryanair: Take the Guardian’s Christmas business quiz

Do you know your Tesla from your Jaguar? Test your 2025 business knowledge here with our annual quiz Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago A chef’s Christmas: Anna Haugh’s Irish family favourites – recipes

Red chicory leaves with blue cheese, honey and walnuts; a big jug of caramelised swede and honey soup; a turkey wellington with red wine gravy, cranberry relish and a hispi and sprout slaw; and a showstopping yule log to finishChristmas lunch in my family is about as traditional as it comes, and is pretty much the same every year no matter who’s house we’re at (including at least three monumental rows about things that happened years ago). Everyone chips in, too, even the kids – well, they’ve got to earn their dinner somehow. Rather than shooing them off to watch cartoons while the adults do all the work, we make sure they’re hands-on in the kitchen alongside us, especially with the annual yule log. Not only is this a valuable life lesson, it also helps develop and strengthen our family culture. The children get to share in that sense of pride at a job well done, too, and everyone feels a part of the occasion. And isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Continue reading...

Society

20 h. ago A Christmas message from the First Dog on the Moon Institute | First Dog on the Moon

Yes things are certainly grim all over but let us take a moment Sign up here to get an email whenever First Dog cartoons are publishedGet all your needs met at the First Dog shop if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints Continue reading...

Politics

21 h. ago How to wrap presents like a pro: Victoria Beckham's gift wrapper shares her secrets

Gift-wrapper to the stars Jane Means, who has worked for the royal family, has revealed the top gifting and decorative wrapping trends for Christmas 2025.

Politics

29 h. ago Here are the best (and worst) supermarket mulled wines for Christmas 2025

One of the best parts about Christmas is getting to enjoy all of the seasonal treats that you usually can’t get your hands on throughout the rest of the year.

Politics

32 h. ago 30 pictures from Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 as final weekend approaches

With 274 market stalls, a return of festive huts by Albert Square, and a huge Ferris Wheel, the Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 have been huge

Sport

33 h. ago Christmas Dangers for Dogs 2025: Here are 8 festive foods your dog mustn't eat

Here’s what you need to know before adding a festive extra to your dog’s bowl

Politics

34 h. ago Scotland Christmas 2025 opening times for Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi, Sainsbury's

Here is all the info you need before heading out for a last minute xmas shop 🛒

Politics

35 h. ago Monklands Christmas Toy Appeal 2025 the 'most successful in recent times'

More than 600 items - and counting - were handed into the donation points, with organisers even having to “dig deep” to gather in gifts due to the volume of toys.

Politics