No doubt as to what the hot topic among parents is this year. Stores in Ireland are sold out of them and when a new consignment arrived in Safeways stores in Britain this week, parents went gaga. Despite efforts to keep news of the Teletubbies arrival under wraps, desperate parents began queuing as soon as word of the delivery leaked out.

The vigil began as early as 3 a.m. outside one store with people driving through the night to guarantee Christmas gifts for their children. By mid-morning, the Anniesland branch in Glasgow had almost run out of its consignment of 1,500 Teletubbies.

The dolls were kept under lock and key in unmarked boxes in supermarket depots before being delivered to the stores just after midnight.