Entertainment
This Morning viewers ‘sick of it all’ as guests appear on show to defend already stockpiling for Christmas – including mum with 300 presents for her kids
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This Morning viewers were left incensed as guests who are stockpiling for Christmas appeared on the show, including one who’d already bought 300 items for her children.
During Wednesday’s edition of the ITV show, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield introduced Pat Smith and Rachel Mardesden, who revealed their sizeable collections of items purchased for the festive season.
But with 73 days still to go until Christmas Day, those watching at home weren’t thrilled to see their stockpiling efforts, particularly following the pandemic and while there is a shortage of HGV drivers in the country.
Holly and Phil chatted with Rachel from Leeds, who’d already purchased 300 presents for her children, wrapped up in the background, costing her over £2,500.
On her reasoning behind her early haul, she said: ‘Last year, with Covid and everything that was going on, the deliveries were taking absolutely ages to get here – if they even got here at all.’
Rachel even urged other parents to do the same, having started shopping for gifts back in July.
This Morning guest Rachel already had plenty of presents wrapped (Picture: ITV)
Phillip asked her later on: ‘Isn’t what you’re doing quite selfish?’
‘I don’t think it’s selfish, it’s one day I like to make really special. I do sacrifice a lot throughout the year to make it special,’ Rachel commented.
Rachel told him she was not stockpiling as she wasn’t buying multiples of each item.
She said: ‘I’m just buying one of each thing, I’m not stopping anyone from buying them.
They also spoke to guest Pat, who told the hosts: ‘I’ve not stockpiled on things like turkeys, I’ve more gone candy canes and crisps I’ve gone more for everyone on the family, not just for me.’
After being asked whether she felt it was ‘essential’ she responded: ‘To us, I would say yes, this is kind of what Christmas is about to us, it’s all about family.
Phil and Holly were bemused by the guest (Picture: ITV)
‘To me, it’s that time where the family you haven’t seen for the rest of the year gets together.’
But Phil wasn’t satisfied with her response, and asked: ‘But is Christmas really all about crisps?’
‘No, it’s not but it’s snacks and stuff we’re going to have, we’ve got shortbreads, all the sweets and crisps, stuff we’re just going to snack on throughout the Christmas period really.
‘Last year, everyone did [stockpile], it made it a lot harder just to get anything, it made it a lot harder to get anything, not just Christmas stuff… I decided in the last few months I didn’t want to be in that same predicament this year,’ she explained via video link.
Those watching at home expressed their dismay over the segment amid the continued issues with supplies in the UK.
One wrote on Twitter: ‘People overload with shopping and end up binning it #thismorning.’
This Morning welcomed two guests getting their presents in early (Picture: ITV)
Another added: ‘We are only 11 minutes in and I’ve shouted “oh f**k off” to the tv a least 5 times already #ThisMorning.’
‘There’s no shortage just shop as you normally would and you’ll be fine #ThisMorning,’ a third advised.
‘I’m sick of it all. Not doing it, if we have nothing for Christmas so be it. I can’t take the stress anymore #thismorning,’ agreed another.
However, some were in full support of the savvy shoppers, as one commented: ‘When my children were small I had most of their Christmas presents by this time in the year. I didn’t realise it was stockpiling, I thought it was being organised #ThisMorning.’
‘Sorry but you can’t blame people for buying Christmas food when it’s on the shelves ready to be bought!! #ThisMorning.’
They welcomed resident consumer expert Alice Beer onto the show, who reassured viewers stockpiling is not needed.
She explained supermarkets and shops can accommodate the extra demand for certain items by replacing items that are bought less in the festive period.
More: Holly Willoughby
However, figures from the ONS show 17% of Brits have been unable to buy essential food in the last fortnight.
The data set comes as the UK continues to play host to a supply chain crisis, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitting food and fuel shortages could continue until Christmas.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.
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