Today’s queues may be digital, but the fight to secure that must-have present and avoid small, disappointed faces is timeless. Tom Howells looks at the toys topping recent (and less recent) Christmas wish lists

Let’s take a nostalgia trip back 30 years to discover how the most-wanted toys of the festive season season worked

Didn’t get quite the present you wanted from Santa? Well, there is probably someone else, somewhere, who will want it. If you can’t return it for a refund or replacement, why not help out a good cause

Let’s start with the numbers. There are about 13.5 million tame wolves (we call them pet dogs), 12.5 million cats, one million rabbits, 700,000 tortoises and turtles, 700,000 guinea pigs, 600,000 hams

Our pick of the best buys, whatever your budget

Whatever your budget, we’ve found the best presents to please everyone on your list