SECRET SANTA – HO HO NO!

• Welsh shoppers spend £8.67 on Secret Santa gifts, 21 percent less than the average Brit
• Twenty-three per cent will buy two or more Secret Santa gifts this year
• Nineteen per cent have received a rude or insulting gift
• A quarter have re-gifted a present they didn’t like

A BAG OF SPROUTS, novelty loo roll and a Simon Cowell mask are among the strangest Secret Santa gifts Brits have received, according to a new survey.

Researchers who polled 2,000 UK adults identified some of the weird and wonderful presents they’ve ever received – including cat food and Cumberland sausages.

Other bizarre items include a T-shirt with their work bestie’s face on it, an inflatable turkey and a grow your own boyfriend kit.

Commissioned by high street chain, Wilko, the research also identified the top 40 most popular Secret Santa presents, with a festive tipple taking top spot, followed by chocolate and gift cards.

Sweets, socks, perfume and toiletries featured too, along with photo frames, flowers and make-up.

Wilko’s Christmas buyer, said: “Taking part in Secret Santa is an age-old tradition and great way to express your creative or humorous side, but also allows you to be thoughtful and sentimental.

“It’s a great way to bond with colleagues and friends, whether new or existing, and whether you are purchasing an item that stands as a long-running joke between pals, or a lovely gift for a more distant colleague.

“If you don’t know your Secret Santa well, it’s always worth taking the time to get to know them and doing a little research. Don’t get gifts that are too cheeky or risqué if you want to avoid embarrassment, but a bit of humour never goes a miss.”

One in 10 see Secret Santa as a chance to be mischievous and get someone something weird and wonderful.

Further to this, more than half would find it funny if they were to receive a risqué gift.

But not everyone would see the funny side – one in seven admitted they were given items that were ‘inappropriate’ or ‘insulting’.

Carried out through OnePoll.com, the research also found one in five would hate to receive their boss in a Secret Santa.

And one in seven wouldn’t like to have to buy something for a colleague they don’t get on with. But unfortunately, 25 per cent have had to buy for a person they don’t like – and a fifth have even swapped who they’ve received as Secret Santa as a result.

On the flip side, one in seven admitted they’re so worried they’ll receive a naff gift this year, they’ve told others what they want to avoid disappointment.

Perhaps as a result of getting a present they didn’t like, one in seven regret taking part in Secret Santa and one quarter don’t think others put enough effort in.

Generous workers in Northern Ireland fork out the most on their colleagues for Secret Santa, dropping £17.36 on their colleagues; while those in the south west will spend £8.54.

The research found that people in the North East are the most excited secret Santa players, while people in Wales admitted they were anxious about choosing the right thing.

Christmas buyer at Wilko, added: “Although a third people said they find Secret Santa fun; a quarter admit they are worried about buying the ‘wrong’ item. It’s for this reason, we created our own Secret Santa vending machine to help hapless shoppers and commuters at Paddington Station this year.

“Whether they were looking for gift inspiration for that ‘social butterfly’ or even the ‘office joker’, we like to think you’ll find everything you need at Wilko. Where we aim to offer products that meet customer needs, make life easier and are at prices our customers can depend on.”

Wilko has hundreds of great value secret Santa presents and stocking fillers to make even the fussiest of recipients smile, this Christmas. For the full range of gifts and inspiration visit www.wilko.com

Top 40 Secret Santa presents

1. Alcohol
2. Chocolates
3. Gift card
4. Book
5. Candles
6. Money
7. Sweets
8. Socks
9. Perfume
10. Bubble bath
11. Lotions / soaps
12. Stationery
13. A plant
14. Notebook
15. Jewellery
16. Make-up
17. Puzzle
18. Clothing
19. Diary
20. Board game
21. CDs
22. Photo frame
23. Charity donation
24. Blanket
25. Flowers
26. Calendar
27. Magazine subscription
28. Kitchenware
29. Coffee maker
30. Cushions
31. Keyring / chain
32. A book of jokes
33. Tea pot / tea cosy
34. Vitamins / herbal remedies
35. Salt and pepper shakers
36. Fruit
37. Ornament
38. Extra hot chilli sauce
39. A clock
40. Glasses