Tisn't the season: Selfridges' Christmas launch fails to raise any ho-ho-ho
London department store starts the festive countdown - 147 shopping days before 25 December

London enjoyed some long overdue summer sun yesterday, with temperatures a "balmy" 22 degrees, says The Sun.
But there was a late-December vibe on Oxford Street when Selfridges became the "first in the world" to launch its Christmas department - a full 147 shopping days before the big day.
So, were customers caught up in the festive spirit? Not quite.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Sun quotes shoppers branding the move "ridiculous" and "delusional".
In some cases - such as former Leeds United director and now Penzance councillor David Haigh - there was simply shock. Others took to Twitter to express anger at the move.
Selfridges' customer service team tried to (politely) head off criticism by saying the department is especially aimed at tourists. The full festive range isn't available yet and only a selection of "London-inspired Christmas decorations and stocking fillers" can be found.
For some people, though, there can never be enough Christmas - including, it seems, Oxford University academic Ben Goldacre, the man behind the popular Bad Science.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Selfridges festive food products go on sale on Friday, says the Daily Telegraph, while the full Christmas offering of 130,000 product lines is available from 4 September.
-
Frauds: ‘fantastically stylish’ crime heist caper is a ‘triumph’
The Week Recommends Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker play a pair of ex-cons planning one last job
-
The struggles of Aston Martin
In the Spotlight The car manufacturer, famous for its association with the James Bond franchise, is ‘running out of road’
-
The end of ‘golden ticket’ asylum rights
The Explainer Refugees lose automatic right to bring family over and must ‘earn’ indefinite right to remain
-
Christmas trees: losing their magic?
In the Spotlight Festive firs are a yuletide staple but are their days numbered?
-
The nightmare before Christmas: is the party over for the office festive do?
Talking Point Seasonal cheer and morale-boosting benefits under threat from economic woes and employee disinterest – or dread
-
Brexit and Covid threaten Christmas turkeys
Speed Read Supply is predicted to drop by 20% this festive season owing to staff shortages
-
Shops start stocking the Christmas shelves
Speed Read Brits are already planning ahead for the festive season
-
Tesco facing Christmas card forced labour claims
Speed Read Six-year old’s discovery of a note from prisoners in a Chinese gulag puts spotlight on retailer’s relationship with suppliers
-
Sales of Christmas puddings down on 2018
Speed Read Supermarket data shows slump in demand for festive food
-
Iceland Christmas TV ad banned for being ‘too political’
Speed Read Controversial commercial depicts orangutan mourning loss of his rainforest home
-
Greggs apologises for swapping Jesus with a sausage roll in Nativity Scene
In Depth Photo shows a savoury pastry in a manger, watched over by three wise men