How to Spend It Well at Christmas with Phillip Schofield

In the first episode Phillip rates some of the latest "must have" toys, from stocking fillers to big ticket items, so he can give viewers the heads-up on what will be top of kids’ Christmas lists this year. With more than 200 interactive toys on the market, he hosts the Best Toy in Show Competition to test the latest high-tech electronic pets. Will the most expensive prove to be the most popular with our six and seven year old testers? Coronation Street’s Simon Gregson tests new board games with his and other families in Manchester to find out which game is worth splashing out on this Christmas. Football legend Chris Kamara takes to the race-track to test out electric ride-on toys with a group of young drivers - pulling out his speed gun in a bid to find the best motor that fits under the Christmas tree. While collectable toys have never been more popular, Phillip asks how much it actually costs to get a whole set, and the programme’s young investigators are given £50 to spend on Hatchimals, CollEGGtibles and Lego Mini Figures to see how far their money stretches. For teenagers, Phillip risks a fall by testing Segway’s high-tech roller skates that power themselves, while comedian Sally Phillips and her children find out what computer consoles are worth getting without breaking the bank. And with long-suffering parents in mind, Phillip investigates messy play toys including slime, sand and pens to ask which toy could cost the most in post-play clean-up time? He also reveals what he thinks are this year’s top five blockbuster toys.

Episode two investigates the best gifts and gadgets for your nearest and dearest - and to help Phillip through that minefield, he enlists the help of his wife Stephanie along with the most discerning of judges, the great British public. People often go for expensive branded products at Christmas in the hope of spoiling their loved ones, but are big brands really worth the extra spend? Ten couples, including presenter Ore Oduba and wife Portia, take part in a series of blind test-offs to see if brand or budget is better when all the labels are removed. Fashion expert Gok Wan is on a mission to find the perfect present for his beloved dog Dolly. He visits an exclusive pet boutique who sell collars up to the value of £1,000 as well as testing out more affordable gifts including a dog selfie ball holder and looks at some unusual treats for Christmas including a “Pawsecco” drink and squeaky sprout balls. Also in the show, Love Islanders Jack Fowler, Josh Denzel and Jack Fincham test the latest wireless headphones and the public use their noses for a blind sniff test across a price range of popular floral perfumes on the market. With a quarter of us now having a smart device in our home, Phillip tests out the best-selling tech that can control everything from music to coffee to opening your blinds in the morning, all with a tap of the screen, asking whether they're worth splashing out on this christmas. At the end of the show Phillip reveals his top three picks of the best gifts and gadgets this Christmas.

With just a week to go before Christmas, Phillip turns his attention to the food and drink you’ll be buying for the big day. He’s joined by wife Steph along with a host of celebrities to test what’s on offer for the last big shop, from turkeys to mince pies to edible wreaths. Members of the cast of Emmerdale blind taste luxury canapes from the big supermarkets to find out which one gets the thumbs up from the Woolpack. A group of English, French, Spanish and Italians take part in the European Championships of Fizz to get some answers to whether the best festive bubbly is Prosecco, Cava, Champagne or our very own English sparkling wine. Tasting them with the labels hidden, will they be able to identify their own nation’s fizz and which will they crown king of the bubbles? Celebrity chef Matt Tebutt prepares three turkeys for Phillip and Steph to sample - from £20 to £100 - with the aim to discover whether it is worth paying more for your bird. Phillip also looks at kitchen gadgets on sale this Christmas - from a tea bag squeeze to the “Instant Pot” that claims to cook a chicken in just 25 minutes. But what’s worth getting and what could be just a gimmick to avoid? And finally, Steph and Dom of Gogglebox fame test the alcoholic drink of the moment - gin. But which one should savvy shoppers buy? At the end of the show Phillip will be recommending his top three picks for the perfect tasty Christmas.