i’m santa’s little helper!
Phillip Schofield on why he loves being able to help us choose the perfect presents this year and his own Christmas traditions…
As Phillip Schofield walks into a West London studio for an exclusive cover shoot and interview with TV Times, he grins broadly when he spots our bauble-laden Christmas tree – complete with a smartphone as we know the This Morning star loves his gadgets! Soon Phillip is pulling cheeky poses as he peeps through the branches!
‘I’m feeling Christmassy!’ smiles Phillip, 56, whose ITV show
How to Spend It Well at Christmas returns for a second series this week.
Once again, the three-parter will see him testing the latest toys and gizmos, and food and drink, to reveal what we should and shouldn’t buy for 25 December.
Here, Phillip tells us more…
What do you love about the show? This is the second Christmas one we’ve done and it’s fun and helpful. Last Christmas people said, ‘This is brilliant, I’ve sorted all my presents.’ And today someone on Twitter said, ‘Please tell me it’s coming back, because I haven’t bought anything yet!’
The first episode focuses on toys. What stood out for you?
I tried some Segway e-skates, which were great, but the fun police have stopped them being used in parks! Riding on a giant toy unicorn was fun, too. We also look at Poopsie Unicorn, which poos glitter. It’s absurd but each to their own!
You also let some children loose on white furniture with pens, slime and modelling clay to test how messy they are. Was it carnage?! That was a crazy day but the kids were terribly well behaved. It was hard for them to realise that, just once, they could do anything they wanted. But once the first one drew on me – that was it!
We know you love a Christmas gadget! Which ones do you want to find in your stocking?
Gadgets are my thing! I have to crawl under the tree to turn off my Christmas lights but we try out a smart plug that turns them off at the touch of a button so I’m having one. Also, as everybody knows,
I’m a wine fan and we found a magnetic decanter cleaner that’s cheap and effective. If there isn’t one in my Christmas stocking I’ll be very disappointed because I’ve dropped the biggest hints!
Which celebrities help you road test products this time?
The Emmerdale gang had a ball tasting food and drink and we had a brilliant afternoon with Gok Wan and his dog Dolly looking at pet toys. There’s a clip that goes on top of your phone and you put a ball in it and the dog’s immediately interested in the ball and you get the best dog pictures. Dolly adored it.
Your wife, Steph, is again testing things with you in the show. Which of you would you say is the biggest Christmas fan?
Steph has a hard job as we have a 17-strong family, so organising that is a military operation, but I’m the best clearer-upper. Our eldest daughter, Molly, is Mrs Christmas, though! She insists that we watch The Polar Express every Christmas Eve and although she’s 25 and her sister Ruby is 22, we still make a big arrow on the lawn with oats and glitter pointing to the back door so Santa knows where to come!
Do you buy a gift for your This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby? Yes, I’ve some ideas but Holly’s not easy to buy for, although she is a clever off-piste buyer. She once bought me an amazing contraption that turns big square ice cubes into round ice balls. It’s genius.
Is it odd watching her in the jungle with Dec on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!? We’re all good mates so it’s not weird. But Holly’s terrified of everything – that’s why I am watching! Joe Swash told me, ‘I hope she realises with the live tasks, when they release the bugs, it’s like a moving carpet advancing towards you.’ Unfortunately she’d gone by the time I heard that so I couldn’t warn her! [Phillip laughs evilly!]
Next year you’re back with a new series of Dancing on Ice. Who are you excited about seeing skate? We have a brilliant line-up but everyone is intrigued by [TOWIE star] Gemma Collins. She’s a quitter so it’s about whether this is the one she actually competes in! I’m looking forward to the Torvill and Dean biopic on ITV at Christmas, too. Chris Dean will be teased relentlessly in rehearsals!
factual / 8pm / ITV
Dread christmas shopping?
Fear not – Phillip Schofield is back with a three-part guide to what to put under the tree and what to leave on the shelves. Today he investigates the year’s most coveted toys, like Poopsie Unicorn (yes, it does exactly what you think!), and reveals how expensive seemingly cheap collectibles could be. While stars including Simon Gregson and Sally Phillips and their kids test board games and retro computer games, Phillip has fun helping gleeful kids prove whether slime, modelling clay or felt tips cause the most mess! Don’t part with your cash without watching.
See cover story page 6