The Laboratory

It's here! Embargoed until 9th December, the Christmas Radio Times is now on sale. Quick, fetch the Sharpie! There's our favourite Aardman characters, Gromit and Shaun. But look! Shaun has taken a bite out of the Radio Times. Gromit will not be happy. How on earth did that happen? Find out in the video clip here: And there is an Easter egg (most unsuitable for Christmas): Because they couldn't have the real back cover in the picture, there is an in-universe set of adverts! Also, notice the recursion on the front cover. Gromit is reading a magazine with a picture of himself reading the same magazine! This reminds me of a famous Ladybird book.

One of the most exciting things to happen this year was Sarah getting a new job at the department store Fenwick, only a month after Debenhams folded. It was all down to an enormous amount of effort she put into job-hunting and demonstarting her skills. Adam was impressed because Fenwick is one of the stores of his childhood, taking pride of place on Newcastle's Northumberland Street, with its famous Christmas windows. It first opened in 1882, and soon had a fleet of delivery vans that would drive around Newcastle delivering everything from food to furniture. Still going strong with 9 stores nationally, it still has vans and Christmas windows!   This year's Christmas windows are a collaboration with the new Shaun the Sheep film which is being shown on BBC One on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. There's also a van driving round with Shaun in it to bring good cheer to the Angel of the North!