22 minutes ago Shoppers take to the streets Christmas rush to stock up on presents (and turkeys) in Britain's festive last

Brits made up in wooly jumpers and scarves - and sometimes Santa hats - are on the lookout for the best deals ahead of the big day on Wednesday.

Politics

34 minutes ago Met Office confirms Christmas Day weather forecast for Greater Manchester

Just two more sleeps until the big day

Society

38 minutes ago AI imagines what George Michael would look like now as Wham! lands Christmas number 1

George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley's Wham! secured the Christmas number one for the second year running – but tragically died before he could see the momentous achievement

Politics

41 minutes ago Married women will hate me... but I am the other woman. And I'll tell you that Christmas is hardest on us mistresses

It's that time of year again. The time when the world rejoices, families come together - and lovers carve out that little bit of special time alone. Unless, that is, you are the other woman.

Politics

43 minutes ago Swinney reassures Scots over public safety at Christmas after Magdeburg attack

Five people – including a nine-year-old boy – were killed and more than 200 injured in the attack in the German city.

Events

49 minutes ago The kindness of strangers: on a stressful day, I reversed into another mum’s car – and she told me not to worry

Perhaps she could hear a child’s shrieks over the blasting Baby Shark, but in that moment she chose mercyThis is the first in a series of stories on the kindness of strangersLast year, on a hot afternoon just before Christmas, I was picking my daughter up from childcare. That in itself is usually a pretty stressful situation. But on this day my seasonal anxiety was compounded by a toddler’s sleep regression and a family fight that, after decades of simmering tension, was at last boiling over.Out of respect for involved parties – and fear of setting off round two – I’ll skip the details. But for the sake of this story all you need to know is that I was trying to back out of a very busy car park while a child screamed and I wondered if the people I loved most in the world would ever speak to each other again. Somewhere in that fugue of emotional and auditory anguish I backed right into another mum’s car. Continue reading...

Politics

50 minutes ago Alternative Christmas Films: bored of what's on the box? Try these 13 alternative Christmas features instead

Sick of “sugarplum fairy-tales?” Try these 13 alternative festive films this year instead ❄

Politics

50 minutes ago Call the Midwife Christmas special air date, cast and trailer as it's split into two episodes

Call the Midwife’s Christmas special is being split into two parts for the first time in the show's 12-year history.

Politics

50 minutes ago Love Actually fans only just realising real reason Rowan Atkinson's character took so long to wrap present

Fans of Love Actually have finally realised the real reason that Rowan Atkinson spends such a long time wrapping that present in his scene in the Richard Curtis movie

Politics

50 minutes ago Nigella Lawson's turkey warning as 'one request must be made to butchers'

Fretting about how your Christmas turkey is going to turn out? Calm down, and pour yourself a Baileys - this Nigella Lawson recipe has got you covered - and relies on just on a simple request to the butcher.

Events