This year, for the first time ever, children will be able to talk to Santa Claus himself in a live two-way conversation, thanks to the magic of AI.

Portable North Pole (PNP), the world’s number one Santa app, has combined advanced and safe AI technology with the timeless spirit of Christmas. The new Talk to Santa option will allow children to have an authentic two-way conversation with St Nick, share their wishes, and receive personalised, natural responses in a live, magical experience that feels straight from the North Pole.

Alexandre Bérard, CEO, creators of Portable North Pole, said: “For 18 years, Portable North Pole has been trusted to create Christmas magic with personalised videos and calls for millions of families worldwide. With Talk to Santa, we’re bringing that experience to life like never before – giving more children a chance to speak with Santa himself, in real time.”

The new AI-powered conversation system is built with advanced speech recognition and has been developed with parents, integrating carefully designed responses to ensure that every moment feels authentic, warm, safe and filled with Christmas spirit. Each conversation is built within strict safety parameters, ensuring the content remains appropriate, family-friendly and secure. And with Talk to Santa available at just £14.99 (as part of the Magic Pass or by purchasing credits) it’s a great way to keep the magic alive for believers of all ages, without breaking the bank.

New for Christmas 2025

This season, Portable North Pole has expanded its offering of personalised messages from Santa to include even more magical options for families:

• Talk to Santa (NEW) – Experience the first-ever real-time, two-way interactive conversation with Santa Claus.
• Children Stories (NEW) – Parents can choose from over 30 customised audio stories narrated by Santa himself, to make story-time a magical moment.
• Write Your Own Topic Calls (NEW) – A new feature that lets parents personalise Santa’s message to address specific moments or milestones in their child’s life.
• 12 New Videos and 5 New Calls – Discover Santa’s bustling workshop, all-new videos and exciting new scenes and features, that capture the true spirit of Christmas for audiences of all ages.

PNP includes over 100+ personalised Santa videos, calls and stories, featuring both free and premium messages for birthdays, life lessons and special moments year-round.

Families can start a FREE TRIAL and create their own personalised Santa experiences at www.portablenorthpole.com or by downloading the Portable North Pole app on iOS or Android. Standard single video prices start at £6.99 and the recommended Magic Pass, which unlocks the complete PNP magical experience is available at an introductory price of £14.99.

With over 30 million app downloads and more than 340 million personalised videos and calls delivered, Portable North Pole continues to be the global leader in online personalised Christmas entertainment. Available on iOS, Android and web, and in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish and German, families can enjoy an experience that brings Santa’s magic to even more families around the world.

Portable North Pole continues to donate up to 5% of online sales to over 25 children’s hospitals worldwide, including the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital; Barts and The London Charity for the Royal London Children’s Hospital; Birmingham Children’s Hospital; and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

Ahead of the 43rd London Marathon, research from Paddy Power Bingo reveals the nation is overflowing with confidence – just not necessarily ability.

Over four million Brits (6%) believe they could beat the world marathon record – clocking 26.2 miles in under two hours. And not after months of prep and protein shakes – they reckon they could do it with zero training.

CAN’T RUN? BECOME THE PM INSTEAD

Of course, running 26.2 miles may not be your thing. No problem. According to the research:

• 4.8 million Brits (7%) think it’d be easier to become Prime Minister than run a marathon
• 2.7 million would rather walk the entire length of England (that’s 556 miles, by the way)
• And over a million believe an Ironman triathlon – which includes a marathon after a 112-mile cycle and 2.4-mile swim – would be an easier option.

MARATHON ROUTE? APPARENTLY JUST A MYSTERY TOUR

When asked which iconic locations you pass on the London Marathon, 11% of Brits said… none. As in, zero London landmarks. No Big Ben, no Tower Bridge, no Buckingham Palace – just a long, anonymous run through who-knows-where.

And some clearly think the event is less capital city, more UK sightseeing tour:

• 12% think it passes Wembley Stadium
• 2% say the Angel of the North (which is 272 miles away)
• 1% expect to get a scenic view of the White Cliffs of Dover on their way to the finish line

TOP FIVE MARATHON MISHAPS: MOST INCORRECT LOCATIONS

DISTANCE? ANYONE’S GUESS

Despite being one of the world’s most iconic races, 43% of Brits don’t actually know how far a marathon is.

• Only 56% correctly said 26.2 miles
• 53% of women got it wrong compared to 35% of men
• And for those identifying as “Other”, a staggering 71% had no idea

THE MARATHON ‘ICK’ IS REAL

While many Brits cheer on the runners with pride, not everyone’s feeling the love.

• 10% dislike seeing fully grown adults in fancy dress
• 8% moan about the traffic
• 3% say marathon runners give them the ick
• 2% admit they hate pretending to care by clapping for hours on the sidelines

LIE TO ME, MARATHON EDITION 

Turns out over five million Brits (7%) have straight-up lied about completing a marathon. Top reasons?

• “It’s easier than admitting I haven’t” – 46%
• “I thought I’d be judged” – 32%
• “I exaggerated a half marathon” – 22%
• And yes, 7% did it to “impress someone they fancy”

LONDONERS LEAD THE PACK… IN FALSE BELIEF 

Leading the charge in overconfidence are Londoners, with a full 10% believing they could leg it around the capital’s 26.2-mile route in under two hours without any training and still be home in time for Sunday roast.

Not far behind are the proud people of Manchester, Belfast and Birmingham, with 9% of locals in each city backing themselves to break records, Eliud Kipchoge-style.

WHAT PADDY POWER BINGO HAS TO SAY

On behalf of Paddy Power Bingo, Paddy Power said: “Only in Britain could millions of people believe they can run faster than the actual world record holder – without so much as a warm-up.

“We salute the confidence. But let’s be honest – most would be out of breath halfway through tying their laces.

“That’s why at Paddy Power Bingo, we reward stamina of a different kind – like lasting a full game without needing a nap.”

To test your luck from the comfort of your sofa – no trainers required – head to Paddy Power Bingo.

Indeed, the search term ‘cheap family days out’ has seen a 70% increase in Google searches in the last 12 months, clearly indicating that families are on the hunt for a bargain. 

Meanwhile, according to Visit England, almost a half are either ‘cautious and being very careful’ due to the cost-of-living crisis. 

Dan Jones, operations manager at Experiences.co.uk, said: “Easter can present the challenge of keeping the kids entertained while sticking to a budget. 

“We hope that these exciting five experiences for under £25 will offer something different while providing long lasting memories.” 

60 Minute Bounce Centre Session 

Jump for joy…children, and adults alike, will jump at the chance to experience these indoor sessions where bouncing is the name of the game. 

They are a great way to exercise while having fun as a family and because they take place indoors can be enjoyed no matter the weather. 

Paddington Bear Tour in London – Child 

Young fans of the bear with the stare will love this official Paddington Bear walking tour of London. 

The two-and-a-half hour tour starts at Paddington Station before proceeding to memorable locations from the books and films, including Portobello Road Market. 

Slip N Slide Water Adventure Ticket – Devon 

An 86-metre-long waterslide awaits children and adults looking for a one-hour watery thrill that promises plenty of family fun. 

When the waterslide excitement has finished, then it’s a lovely setting to enjoy a leisurely picnic surrounded by the beautiful Devon countryside. 

Wizards London Bus Tour of Harry Potter Locations – Child 

This wizardry experience for young Harry Potter fans starts off from King’s Cross St Pancras station in a tour bus with an expert guide. 

Highlights include visiting locations such as Platform 9 ¾, plus locations that were used as backdrops including The Leaky Cauldron and Gringotts Bank. 

East Kent Railway Tickets for Two 

Evoke the golden era of train travel with a leisurely four-mile round trip travelling through rolling Kent countryside and also through the Golgotha tunnel. 

There’s also the chance to explore the visitor centre and small museum, or take a relaxing walk in the nearby Knees Woodland. 

For more information about Experiences.co.uk, and its full range of activities, visit www.experiences.co.uk.  

With just days to go until Sunday 30th March, the extraordinary experiences with DrivingExperience.com can be booked online up to the last minute. 

Dan Jones, operations manager at DrivingExperience.com, said: “If it’s got four wheels, then chances are you can drive it with DrivingExperience.com. 

“Such a wide range of experiences means there’s sure to be the perfect package for mum this Mother’s Day. After all, Mother’s Day is a very special time and these are very special vehicles.” 

Supercars are always a perennial favourite and the Treble Supercar Blast can be booked as a special offer for Mother’s Day, reduced to just £69 from £109. Behemoths available for mum to drive include Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins. 

Off-road action is possible with the Off Road Challenge 2 for 1 which offers a full day of adventure including quads, buggies and rally karts. A pub lunch is also included before heading back to the action. 

Mums who want to drive sideways can enjoy the Learn to Drift Half Day Drifting Experience with 6 Passenger Laps. This extreme driving experience includes learning drifting, doughnuts and figures of 8 before finishing with an unforgettable high-speed passenger ride.  

It’s possible to super-size the action with an awesome 60 Minute Extended HGV Driving Experience which allows mum to drive a 44-ton DAF truck accompanied by a qualified instructor – it could even be the start of a new career. 

With DrivingExperience.com there’s even the chance for mum to go ‘airborne’ with a 1:1 Hovercrafting Adventure. The fun-packed experience includes flying over water and land – a unique ‘surf and turf’.  

Dan added: “Our experiences have been designed to provide an adrenaline rush in a safe environment, so mum can rest assured she’ll be in good hands.” 

For more information about DrivingExperience.com, visit www.drivingexperience.com.  

Over double the number of Brits (19%) would rather bring Princess Diana back from the dead in order to meet her, compared to the Queen (9%), according to a new study.

The research by Paddy Power Bingo, asked the famous question of who respondents would most like to meet – dead or alive – and reveals that the former Princess of Wales featured most in people’s top five.

Looking specifically at those who are no longer with us, physicist Albert Einstein (11%) and Queen front-man Freddie Mercury (10%) also made many top five lists. Queen Elizabeth II, however, only made it to sixth on the list, popular with fewer than half of the real Queen of Hearts, Diana.

Top 10 deceased famous faces Brits would want to bring back to meet:

A quarter of people said the top reason for wanting to meet their heroes was to enjoy their talent again, shortly followed by wanting to hear their life story (23%).

A slightly more shallow 2% of respondents said they’d want bragging rights for meeting the famous face, while 1% just want to take a selfie with them.

For those still alive and well, David Attenborough scored highest, with over a fifth (22%) of Brits saying he’d be in their top five celebs they’d most like to meet. Following the well-loved English broadcaster is Adele (11%) and Catherine, Princess of Wales (10%) – the highest ranking Royal.

Top 10 famous faces Brits would want to meet:

Kate is joined by her husband as the most sought-after members of the Royal Family, with William making 6% of people’s top five. Despite his upcoming Coronation, King Charles ranked lower than his eldest son, with just one in twenty wanting to come face-to-face with the new Monarch.

The least popular royals included Harry, Camilla with Meghan, with Harry sitting just above the Queen Consort, showing that the Nation might still have a sweet spot for the runaway Royal.

Royal Family members Brits would most like to meet:

Despite the belief that ‘you should never meet your heroes’, more than three in five (71%) disagreed with this notion, with just 1% of Brits saying that it was a terrible experience when meeting their favourite star.

A spokesperson for Paddy Power Bingo said, “We’ve all been in the pub or at a friends for dinner when someone asks the question “Who would you most like to meet, dead or alive?”, and now we know definitively what the nation thinks. 

“As Charles’ Coronation takes place next week, there’s still a clear love for Princess Diana, and the popularity of the Princess of Wales title has continued as people would much rather meet Kate than the new King himself. Maybe Brits just aren’t that keen on sausage fingers.”

Sunderland’s ‘in at the deep end’, or IATDE, has received the prestigious Autism Swim Provider of the Year award in recognition of its excellence and inclusive approach.

The school is the only Autism Swim Approved Centre in the North-East and offers more than 70 classes and courses for people of all ages and abilities – helping more than 700 people each and every week. IATDE was co-founded by Mark McNichol, from South Tyneside, who has been a qualified swimming instructor for more than 20 years.

Mark said: “Since founding IATDE, we have always aimed to be an open, accepting and accommodating swim school for everybody within the local community.

“Over the years we realised that there was a huge gap in the market and children who were neurodiverse were missing out on lessons. Therefore, in partnership with Autism Swim and support from the STA we started upskilling all of our teachers to enable us to become more inclusive and accessible to all.”

Children on the autism spectrum are 160 times more likely to drown than their peers. This hugely underreported statistic was the catalyst for Autism Swim being established in 2016. Autism Swim announces the winner of Provider of the Year each year to celebrate those who prioritise inclusion and embody their mission.

Since the swim school was set up in 2008, ‘in at the deep end’ has become nationally and internationally recognised for its high standards, outstanding safety, extensive staff training, flexibility, and affordability. The school holds the Swimming Teachers Association (STA) STAMark award – the definitive health and safety qualification for the industry – and was named in the national STA return to swimming guidance document.

STA UK’s Commercial Director Zoe Cooper believes the industry still has a long way to go in bridging the inclusivity gap. However, in her opinion, IATDE and Autism Swim are certainly making positive waves. She said: “We are proud of our partnership with Autism Swim, and the pathways we have created to help UK swim schools access their specialist training.  In at the Deep End, one of our affiliated swim schools, is a shining example of this success, and we congratulate Mark and his team for being named Autism Swim Provider of the Year – it’s an incredible achievement.”

From swimming lessons for children, aqua natal classes, and birthday pool parties, to lifeguard training, first aid courses, and autism friendly sessions, ‘in at the deep end’ offers more than 60 classes and courses for all ages and abilities at Castle View Community and Fitness Centre, Sunderland, and Thornhill Academy, Sunderland. They are also planning to run classes from an additional venue in Seaham to accommodate more people from January.

To find out more about IATDE, go to: www.inatthedeepend.com

Sunderland’s Holy Trinity Church, now events space Seventeen Nineteen, was a popular wedding venue for local people for decades.

And although it has not held any ceremonies since the 1980s, those who got married there – or who have relatives that did -can help ensure those nuptials are preserved.

Volunteer Alison Myers is currently collecting stories and photographs from couples and families who have memories and memorabilia of weddings which took place at the church.

And once gathered, the team at Seventeen Nineteen will be working with acclaimed group, Durham Quilters Guild, to create a traditional wedding quilt inspired by the stories, which will go on show at the venue.

“The last wedding held at Holy Trinity was in the 1980s,” said Lily Daniels, Participation and Engagement Officer at Seventeen Nineteen.

“We’ve already had people come forward with some fantastic stories and photographs – some dating back to the 1920s – but we’d love to see more.”

Alison will be collecting the information throughout November, with the aim of starting the quilt in early 2023 and unveiling it at a special tea party for everyone who has been involved.

“The North East has a big link to quilting so this seemed the perfect way of using all of this incredible information and photographs,” said Lily.

Anyone wanting to share their stories or images can call in at Seventeen Nineteen at Church Street East during opening hours or can get in touch by emailing 17nineteen@thecct.org.uk