Leading artificial intelligence companies that are racing to develop the cutting-edge technology are tackling a very human challenge: how to give AI models a personality.

OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have developed teams focused on improving “model behaviour”, an emerging field that shapes AI systems’ responses and characteristics, impacting how their chatbots come across to users.  

Their differing approaches to model behaviour could prove crucial in which group dominates the burgeoning AI market, as they attempt to make their models more responsive and useful to millions of people and businesses around the world.

The groups are shaping their models to have characteristics such as being “kind” and “fun”, while also enforcing rules to prevent harm and ensure nuanced interactions.

For example, Google wants its Gemini model to “respond with a range of views” only when asked for an opinion, while OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been instructed to “assume an objective point of view”.

“It is a slippery slope to let a model try to actively change a user’s mind,” Joanne Jang, head of product model behaviour at OpenAI told the Financial Times.

“How we define objective is just a really hard problem on its own . . . The model should not have opinions but it is an ongoing science as to how it manifests,” she added.

The approach contrasts with Anthropic, which says that models, like human beings, will struggle to be fully objective.

“I would rather be very clear that these models aren’t neutral arbiters,” said Amanda Askell, who leads character training at Anthropic. Instead, Claude has been designed to be honest about its beliefs while being open to alternative views, she said.

Anthropic has conducted specific “character training” since its Claude 3 model was released in March. This process occurs after initial training of the AI model, like human labelling, and is the part that “turns it from a predictive text model into an AI assistant,” the company said.

At Anthropic, character training involves giving written rules and instructions to the model. This is followed up with the model conducting role-play conversations with itself and ranking its responses with how well they match that rule.

One example of Claude’s training is: “I like to try to see things from many different perspectives and to analyse things from multiple angles, but I’m not afraid to express disagreement with views that I think are unethical, extreme, or factually mistaken.”

The outcome of the initial training is not a “coherent, rich character: it is the average of what people find useful or like,” said Askell. After that, decisions on how to fine-tune Claude’s personality in the character training process is “fairly editorial” and “philosophical”, she added.

OpenAI’s Jang said ChatGPT’s personality has also evolved over time.

“I first got into model behaviour because I found ChatGPT’s personality very annoying,” she said. “It used to refuse commands, be extremely touchy, overhedging or preachy [so] we tried to remove the annoying parts and teach some cheery aspects like it should be nice, polite, helpful and friendly, but then we realised that once we tried to train it that way, the model was maybe overly friendly.”

Jang said creating this balance of behaviours remained an “ongoing science and art”, noting that in an ideal world, the model should behave exactly as the user would want it to.

Advances in AI systems’ reasoning and memory capabilities could help determine additional characteristics.

For example, if asked about shoplifting, an AI model could better determine whether the user wanted tips on how to steal or to prevent the crime. This understanding would help AI companies ensure their models offer safe and responsible answers without the need for as much human training.

AI groups are also developing customisable agents that can store user information and create personalised responses. One question presented by Jang was if a user told ChatGPT they were a Christian, and then days later asked for inspirational quotes, would the model provide Bible passages?

While Claude does not remember user interactions, the company has considered how the model might intervene if a person is at risk. For example, whether it would challenge the user if they tell the chatbot they are not socialising with people due to being too attached to Claude.

“A good model does the balance of respecting human autonomy and decision making, not doing anything terribly harmful, but also thinking through what is actually good for people and not merely the immediate words of what they say that they want,” said Askell.

She added: “That delicate balancing act that all humans have to do is the thing I want models to do.”

APPLYING for a mortgage is always stressful, but a surprising red flag meant Leigh and Patrick struggled to find a lender to help them onto the property ladder.

The couple, who live in Norwich, were eager to get a place of their own after growing “increasingly frustrated” at having to manage rising costs on their rental property.

1

Leigh, 42 and Patrick, 43, were paying £900 a month in rent for a two bedroom home in Norwich, Norfolk, with their rent rising by £50 in a year.

After spotting a new housing development nearby that was within their budget, they were eager to cease the opportunity to get their own place.

The pair had been gifted several thousand pounds towards their deposit from family members in Ireland, which they thought would be the key to unlocking their dream property.

But the couple were shocked to find that many lenders were automatically declining their mortgage application for this exact reason – and it almost cost them their dream home.

Lenders may reject a mortgage application when the deposit funds come from abroad, because it can be viewed as a financial risk.

Nicholas Mendes, mortgage technical manager, at John Charcoal, explained this is because lenders view overseas transactions as being at risk of money laundering.

“Lenders are required to comply with strict anti-money laundering regulations, and funds from foreign sources can raise red flags,” he explained.

“Verifying the origin of these funds can be more difficult.

“Additionally, funds from abroad often come in foreign currencies, which can introduce uncertainty due to fluctuating exchange rates.

“Lenders may see this as a risk, as the value of the deposit might decrease if exchange rates shift unfavourably before the mortgage process is complete.

“This could affect the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, making the deposit smaller relative to the property value.”

But, this wasn’t the only hurdle to do with it coming from overseas that the couple had to overcome.

The family’s bank also refused to send the necessary statements to Leigh and Patrick’s bank because they were based in a different country.

Leigh said: “The bank had to send the statements over to Ireland, only for our family to have to send them back to England.

“The first bank statement they sent then had the wrong date, so they had to be re-requested, and the process had to be repeated again.

“We were so worried we’d lose our hold on the property we were hoping to reserve, but thankfully, the developer was very accommodating.”

These statements can be vital for helping lenders confirming that the funds are legitimate.

The couple sought the help of The Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) to find a lender that would accept their deposit.

Danny Belton, head of lending at the MAB, said, “For those in receipt of a gifted deposit they will need to show proof that it is from a legitimate source.

“For example, if the person has sold a home and gifted money from this, you’d need to show proof. If it has come from savings you’ll need to show evidence of the savings.

“The lender will ultimately need to be confident that this money is not a loan that will be called back and is legitimately owned and able to be gifted by the person sending the money.

“This can add delays to the buying process, but getting advice from a broker who can go through everything that’s required, might be the best bet to get you mortgage ready as quickly as possible.”

With help from MAB, the couple eventually managed to secure their three-bedroom home in Norwich in August 2023 through the shared ownership scheme.

The house cost £290,000 and Leigh and Patrick own 75% of it.

They took out a shared ownership mortgage of £206,625 for 27 years with fixed rate of 5.6% for five years.

Their monthly mortgage payments are £1,275 a month, while they pay £166 in rent – a total of £1,441 between them, or £720.50 each.

Leigh said: “Our broker was in contact with us every step of the way, and worked hard to find the most suitable option for us – one that was both affordable and offered a competitive interest rate.

“With the exception of the bank and deposit issue, we were quite surprised at how easy the mortgage application process was, and we have MAB to thank for that.”

Why shared ownership?

A shared ownership scheme is where you buy a share in a property rather than the entire home.

You then pay rent to a landlord on the amount you don’t own.

Leigh and patrick said they had never heard of shared ownership before and had some reservations at first.

“Initially, we were concerned about the fact that you still pay rent on top of the mortgage, as well as the cost of the service charge on top of the other payments,” Leigh said.

“However, we figured that as rental costs were almost as much as a mortgage, it would be best to pay a little more and have the security of home ownership.”

Leigh said she now recommends the scheme to any wannabe homeowner who is concerned about high mortgage rates.

“Definitely get your affordability checked for Shared Ownership,” she added.

“You can buy a percentage of the property from as low as 25%, and you don’t have to worry about landlords breathing down your neck or suddenly deciding to sell up.

“Plus, as property values increase, so does the value of your percentage. It’s a fantastic option for first time buyers to get on the property ladder.”

Now settled into their home, the couple say they are “thankful to the scheme that gave us the opportunity to achieve our home ownership dreams”.

What are the pros and cons of shared ownership?

The main benefit of a shared ownership scheme is that it allows you to buy a home you wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford.

You can get on the property ladder with a much lower deposit than if you bought the entire home, and you may be able to build up the share you own over time.

This is a particular draw to first-time buyers in the current market who are struggling to save enough for deposits.

One of the major downsides, however, is that you will have to keep paying rent on the part of the house you don’t own alongside your mortgage.

You need to factor both payments into your financial planning when you’re looking to buy through a shared ownership scheme.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Israeli air strikes killed scores of Palestinians in northern Gaza on Saturday, according to Hamas, as Israel kept up its offensive against the militant group days after killing its leader Yahya Sinwar.

Hamas said at least 73 people, mostly women and children, were killed after a residential complex in the northern town of Beit Lahiya was hit on Saturday night, adding that many others were still trapped under the rubble. The toll brings the number of Palestinians killed in northern Gaza since Friday night to more than 100, according to officials in the strip.

The Israeli military said the numbers released by Gazan authorities were exaggerated according to its initial assessment, adding that it had struck a Hamas target.

Israel’s strikes in northern Gaza come as western and Arab nations seek to use the death of Sinwar, who masterminded last year’s October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, to revive their efforts to press for a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages held in the strip.

But Israel has continued to fight on multiple fronts, including in Lebanon, where it launched a strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sunday and has pushed on with a ground offensive against Hizbollah in the south.

In northern Gaza, the Israeli military has continued military operations that have killed scores of people in recent days. Palestinian health authorities said Israeli strikes killed at least 33 people in the Jabalia refugee camp on Friday night.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel was “determined to achieve all our war objectives and change the security reality in our region for generations to come”.

He accused Hizbollah of trying to “assassinate” him after the Israeli military said a drone fired by the Iranian-backed group hit a structure in the northern seaside town of Caesarea, where Netanyahu has his private residence. The prime minister’s office confirmed that the home was the target but that Netanyahu and his wife were not present and no one was hurt.

Israeli authorities said one person was killed on Saturday and 10 injured when Hizbollah rockets struck the northern towns of Kiryat Ata, Shlomi and Acre.

Hizbollah vowed on Friday that “a new and escalating phase in its confrontation” with Israel was in the offing as it seeks to regroup after suffering a series of devastating blows in recent weeks, including last month’s assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Israel, meanwhile, continued to launch air strikes across Lebanon, including bombing the southern suburbs of Beirut for the first time in several days on Saturday and launching a drone strike on a Christian area of Lebanon.

After Israeli forces killed Sinwar, Israel’s most wanted man, in southern Gaza on Thursday, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said Washington would “redouble” its efforts to end the war in Gaza, which is also viewed as crucial to efforts to halting the escalating conflict between Israel and Hizbollah.

But after Sinwar’s death, Hamas continued to insist it would only agree to a deal to free the hostages and halt the fighting if there was a permanent ceasefire and Israeli forces withdraw from the strip, while Netanyahu insists that war will only end if the group lays down its weapons and releases the captives. There are estimated to be 101 hostages remaining in Gaza, though many are believed to be dead.

Netanyahu has refused to accept a permanent ceasefire or to agree to pull Israeli troops out of the strip, where Israel’s offensive has killed more than 42,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.

The Israeli military has been conducting a weeks-long offensive in devastated northern Gaza, which has been focused around Jabalia, one of the few places where Gazans remain in the strip’s north after most were forced to flee to the enclave’s south.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said another 20,000 people were forced to flee Jabalia on Saturday, adding that a critical shortage of fuel and medical supplies was reported in the last remaining hospitals.

The UN has said two out of three hospitals remaining in northern Gaza have been directly hit, warning that the “attacks are deepening an already alarming humanitarian crisis”.

APPLYING for benefits in the UK can be a tricky process with lots of hoops to jump through and confusing rules.

And even then, you can end up with a decision that you don’t agree with.

1

This could be because your claim is denied, you don’t get the level you expected, or you’re missing certain elements you think you qualify for.

Fortunately, the system allows you to challenge decisions that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has made, and there’s evidence it’s well worth doing.

For instance, figures released by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service on 14 March show that 70% of all Personal Independence Payments appeals are won.

That means people are getting much-needed cash that they would have been denied if they hadn’t challenged the government’s decisions.

If you want to challenge a DWP decision, you usually need to apply for a mandatory reconsideration. But first, you need to understand why the benefits office made the decision it did, and gather evidence to show why they’ve got it wrong.

Getting an explanation

If your claim is denied or lower than expected, the first step should be to make sure you understand why. Sometimes, you’ll be sent the reasons in writing, for instance if you are rejected for a Personal Independence Payment claim.

If you haven’t been told why, you can ask the DWP to explain. Sometimes this can happen over the phone, or you can get a written statement of reasons. If you want the information in writing, you can request this and it must be provided.

Either way, you should move fast. There’s a time limit when it comes to asking for a mandatory reconciliation, so if you leave it too long, you might not be able to appeal. 

To get the extra info, contact the DWP, HMRC or your local authority, depending on which benefit you’re trying to appeal. You should have the details on your decision letter. 

It’s also worth speaking to them and explaining why you think the decision is wrong, sometimes it can be changed without launching a formal appeal.

For instance, if the decision was based on incorrect or missing information, the benefits office may be able to send you a new decision letter or it can explain what you can do next.

If your first language isn’t English, you can get an interpreter.

Turn2Us says that if you do telephone the benefit office, you should make a note of the time and date that you call, who you speak with and exactly what is said. This can be useful if you decide to formally challenge the decision.

If you’re still not happy with the outcome, the next step is usually to start the mandatory reconsideration process.

How long do I have to appeal the decision

Generally, you need to apply for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of your decision letter.

However, Turn2Us says that if you ask for written reasons within one month of the date on the decision letter, the time limit will be extended. The new limit will be:

• One month and 14 days from the decision date (if the written reasons are provided within one month of the decision date); otherwise
• 14 days from the date the written reasons are provided.

However, the charity cautions that this only applies if the reasons were not provided in the decision letter you received. It says: “If you are in any doubt, stick to the usual time limits.”

You can usually get an extension if you have a good reason, for instance, if you’re in hospital or if a member of your immediate family dies.

How to ask for a mandatory reconsideration

If you want a mandatory consideration, you should write to the DWP or other relevant department.

You need to ask for the decision to be reviewed, and include any evidence you have as to why it was wrong in the first place.

You should go into detail, and provide copies of supporting documents where possible, for instance medical reports, doctor’s records, and financial statements.

If you are challenging decisions to do with benefits such as PIP and ESA medical evidence can be extremely valuable, particularly if it contradicts your medical assessment report produced by DWP.

Send the letter by recorded delivery, so you know it arrives safely, and keep a record for yourself.

If you’re challenging a decision around Universal Credit, you can do so through your online journal.

A different person will look at the decision, and decide whether it should be overturned or changed.

Sometimes, the DWP will ask for more information or extra pieces of evidence. If this happens, you should send things through as quickly as possible.

If your mandatory reconsideration is successful, you’ll be sent a new decision letter. If the decision doesn’t change, you’ll also be told by post.

You can choose to appeal if you’re still not happy with the outcome you get.

How to take an appeal further

The next steps depend on which benefit you’re applying for. However, in almost all cases you need to act within a month.

We have explained what to do for each benefit below.

Budgeting loans

If you want to challenge a decision around a budgeting loan, you need to ask the Independent Case Examiner’s office to do a review. The ICE is an independent organisation that’s completely separate from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Contact the ICE office in writing asking it to look at the decision again. You need to include your:

• Name
• Contact details
• National insurance number
• Details of the benefits you applied for
• The date of the decision 
• Information about why you disagree with the decision and evidence to back this up.

The ICE will decide whether the decision should be changed.

Employment and Support Allowance

If you’re making an appeal regarding ESA, you might want to skip the mandatory reconsideration process.

Turn2Us says this applies if you already getting the payment, you’re appealing a decision that says you are fit for work, and the decision is not based on you having failed to return your ESA50 questionnaire or attend an assessment.

It must also be either:

• The first time you have been found fit for work at an assessment, or
• You have been found fit for work at a previous assessment but since then had an assessment where you were found to have limited capacity for work.

The reason for going straight to appeal is that you can keep getting your benefits during the appeal, but you can’t when going through a mandatory reconsideration process.

If you’ve been through the mandatory reconsideration and aren’t happy with the outcome, you can still choose to appeal either online or by post.

You can appeal a decision online through GOV.UK, if you are in England, Scotland or Wales or through The Appeals Service, if you are in Northern Ireland.

You can also write to HM Courts and Tribunals Service at the following addresses:

• England and Wales: HMCTS SSCS Appeals Centre, PO Box 12626, Harlow, CM20 9QF
• Scotland: HMCTS SSCS Appeals Centre, PO Box 13150, Harlow, CM20 9TT .
• Northern Ireland: The Appeals Service, PO Box 2202, Belfast, BT1 9YJ.

The First Tier Tribunal will decide if you are entitled to a benefit and can change a decision.  However, it’s worth knowing that its decision could leave you worse off so it is often best to seek advice first.

Universal Credit

If you believe the DWP has calculated your Universal Credit using the wrong income, you need to raise a Real Time Earnings (RTI) dispute. You can do this by leaving a note in your journal.

If your claim has been closed and you want to make a challenge, you should call the DWP helpline 0800 328 5644. You can also use the Challenge a decision made by the Department for Work and Pensions form.

Further appeals follow the same process as for an Employment and Support Allowance claim.

Personal Independence Payment

If you’ve tried a mandatory reconsideration for your PIP claim and you still aren’t happy, the next step is to go to a tribunal. You normally need to do this within a month.

In England, Wales and Scotland, use the SSCS1 appeal form or the online form on the Gov.uk website. In Northern Ireland, use the NOA1(SS) appeal form. 

You need to explain which decision you’re challenging, what you think the outcome should have been, and why you disagree with the DWP’s decision. 

PIP is awarded based on points, so you need to include information about how many points you think you should have been scored for each activity and medical evidence where possible to back up your claims.

Turn2Us says you can also apply for judicial review if the way a decision was made was wrong or very unfair.

Council tax support 

If you’re challenging a decision on council tax support you need to send a letter or email to your local authority instead of DWP. You should include your council tax reference number, why you think the decision is wrong and any documents that back up your argument.

The next step is to make an appeal. This could focus on whether you are entitled to a reduction in your council tax, or how much you have been awarded under the local Council Tax Support scheme.

You can get a copy of the appeal form or complete it online from:

Child benefit

If you’re challenging a child benefit decision, you need to speak to HMRC not DWP, but the mandatory reconsideration process is the same.

If you’re still not happy with decision, you might be able to go to tribunal, although not all decisions can be appealed.

For instance, you cannot appeal against a decision about who gets child benefit if you and the other parent could not agree and had equal priority.

If you are appealing, you need to write directly to the Tribunal Service. 

In England, Wales and Scotland, you use the appeal form SCS5 on the Gov.UK website.  There are also SSCS5 guidance notes to help you fill the form. You need to include the mandatory reconsideration notice that you received from HMRC.

In Northern Ireland, y use appeal form NOA1 (HMRC)

Housing Benefit

Like with council tax challenges, appeals around housing benefit need to go through your local authority first, not DWP. However, the mandatory reconsideration process is the same.

If you then go on to appeal the decision, it will be looked at by an independent tribunal, which is separate from your local authority or the Housing Executive. You can appeal without having to ask for a reconsideration first.

The First Tier Tribunal will decide if you are legally entitled to a benefit and can change a decision if they think it is wrong.

Unlock the US Election Countdown newsletter for free

The stories that matter on money and politics in the race for the White House

Donald Trump raised further concern about his state of mind on Saturday after delivering crude suggestions about the late golfer Arnold Palmer’s anatomy during a rally in Pennsylvania, in his latest diversion from the political script just weeks before election day.

Trump’s comments about Palmer, which lasted more than 10 minutes, were delivered at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport as the Republican nominee has started to make his final pitch to US voters in the battleground states that will decide the White House race.

“When he took showers with the other pros, they came out of there, they said: ‘Oh my God, that’s unbelievable,’” Trump said, in an apparent reference to Palmer’s genitalia. “We have women that are highly sophisticated here, but they used to look at Arnold.”

The off-colour remarks add to a string of unusual campaign appearances that have raised concerns about Trump’s state of mind as he campaigns for a second term as US president. His Republican allies have sought to encourage him to focus on policy issues, but Trump has continued to veer off message.

At a town hall in Pennsylvania this week, he ended the event by playing music for more than 30 minutes and swaying back and forth on stage without speaking. His rhetoric, meanwhile, has grown increasingly dark and vulgar.

“You have to tell Kamala Harris that you’ve had enough, that you just can’t take it any more . . . you’re a shit vice-president,” he said at the rally on Saturday, referring to his Democratic rival.

Trump held his rally as Elon Musk, one his most significant corporate backers, also travelled to Pennsylvania in a separate event to campaign for the Republican candidate.

During the visit, Musk promised to give $1mn every day until election day to randomly selected Pennsylvania voters who signed a petition through his Save America political action committee to protect free speech and the right to bear arms, a highly unorthodox manner of generating support.

“One of the challenges we’re having is like, well, how do we get people to know about this petition? Because the legacy media . . . won’t report on it,” Musk said.

Trump and Harris are seeking to win over undecided voters and make sure their existing supporters cast their ballots on November 5, as polls show the two candidates nearly tied in crucial swing states and as early voting gets under way in some states.

Harris campaigned in the battleground state of Georgia on Saturday and is expected to fly to Pennsylvania on Sunday.

BEAUTY advent calendars are a festive phenomenon – and they can save you a wad of cash too. 

Big retailers and brands such as Boots, Asos, Liberty and Charlotte Tilbury sell them.

2

They usually contain a gift for each day in December – but savvy shoppers could save money by splitting the contents into multiple presents for friends and family. 

These calendars contain anything from 12 to 40 skincare, makeup, and self-care products, ranging from travel-sized to full-sized versions of popular products. 

Some include luxury candles, face cloths and fragrances too.

Depending on the brand, the upfront cost of advent calendars can range from as little as £45 to up to £260.

But when broken down, the value of the individual items tends to far exceed the price paid for the entire package.

Anita Naik, savings expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, said: “Each year, retailers run advent calendars with several gifts included, ranging from luxury skincare and beauty to homeware, toys, or even socks. 

“The calendars are often marketed to contain products worth hundreds of pounds, but actually cost just a fraction of that price.”

The best value advent calendar

The Sun has ranked the most popular calendars to reveal which one is the best value this festive season. 

We’ve found that the Look Fantastic Iconic Beauty Advent Calendar offered the biggest savings – costing £100 for £565 worth of gifts, equating to a saving of 82%. 

2

The Sephora Favourites calendar wasn’t far behind, costing twice as much at £199 but packed with more than £1,000 worth of products, saving you 80% on the cost of buying each item individually. 

It contains 40 products including 24 full-size versions from Glossier, Rare Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury and Sephora Collection, as well as an assortment of handbag-friendly travel-sized products.

Other brands selling great value health and beauty advent calendars include Gaia Skincare, Boots, Liberty and Holland & Barratt. 

A gift that keeps on giving

Vix Leyton, consumer expert and host of the Spendology podcast, said: “You can get some fantastic, premium stocking fillers from splitting up advent calendars. 

“Not only do you get the illicit thrill of opening all the doors, but health and beauty calendars often have at least a couple of full-size products inside, alongside skincare and accessories that individually wrapped look like very thoughtful gifts for anyone in your life that loves a pamper.” 

Some Christmas shoppers might go one step further and stack these deals on top of each other, buying several of the top calendars to bag a supply of not just Christmas presents, but birthday gifts for 2025 too.

Many advent calendars also feature high-quality packaging and boxes, negating the need to splash out on fancy gift wrapping.

Be aware that the most popular calendars often sell out early in the season, so start keeping an eye on your chosen brands now. 

Leyton said: “Make sure you know what’s in them before you start ticking people off your Christmas shopping lists,”

“Often the brands themselves will be showing off the bundle value versus the RRP, but it’s only a good deal if they’re things the average person actually wants.”

“High-end brands like Liberty London will typically represent the best saving, as well as the flashiest gift – and for the online retailers like Charlotte Tilbury, you can usually find a voucher code floating around to make the calendars even better value.” 

The breakdown

Looking at the very high end of the cosmetics market, Liberty London, Fortnum and Mason and Selfridges all sell health and beauty advent calendars for £250 to £265, with all three retailers claiming the true value is more than £1,000.

If these are out of your budget, Boots is selling six different advent calendars this year, ranging from the Soap & Glory advent calendar for £48 (worth £105) to the No7 Ultimate Calendar which costs £175 but is valued at £514. 

Buying all six Boots calendars would cost a total of £565 – but would net you £1,741 worth of cosmetics and skincare.

Alternatively, GAIA’s 24 Days of Wellness advent calendar offers more than £300 worth of products for £160, including full-size facial serums and a selection of 100ml products. 

Stand-out products include 15ml Face Serum and 15ml Eye Serum, worth £55 each, and the components of Gaia’s Mini Essentials Travel Set which is worth £35. 

Holland & Barratt claims that this year’s beauty advent calendar is the wellness store’s best-value calendar to date, with a price tag of £45 but worth £219.23 (a 79% saving). The 25 products include 16 full-size products, such as the cult favourite Weleda Skin Food Cleansing Balm, which are perfect for re-gifting. 

It’s not just health and beauty retailers getting in on the advent calendar trend – there are calendars for various interests too. 

For example, Bimble & Bolt do a runners calendar and a yoga lovers calendar, costing £39.99 each. Both can be used to fill the stockings of the fitness addicts in your family.

The She Grows Veg advent calendar (£65) includes 25 heirloom seed varieties and is ideal to split into smaller gifts for any gardening fans or experimental cooks on your Christmas list. Alternatively, Mariage Frères’ advent calendar contains 25 different types of tea and costs £49.

If you want to be a bit more risqué, the LoveHoney 24-Day X Womanizer Couple’s Sex Toy Advent Calendar 2024 costs £149, with the sexual wellness company claiming the contents are worth more than £455.