What Britain Buys — Season 1

What Britain Bought in 2016 offers an insightful look back at the rollercoaster year we've just had and examines how national events have shaped the UK's ú7 billion a week shopping habit. To find out where and how our hard-earned cash has been spent, Mary Portas catches up with some of the nation's leading retailers, including John Lewis, Maplin, Waterstones, ASOS, Superdrug, Hobbycraft and Waitrose. Mary meets buyers, forecasters and influencers who cast their eyes back over the 'I can't believe we bought that', the 'I still need to get one of those' and the 'I couldn't live without mine' moments of the year. Along the way, Mary gets the inside view on some of the year's most surprising trends that left even the most seasoned retailers scratching their heads. So if you haven't eaten a cake shaped like a Corgi, fixed your brows, contoured your face, drunk birch water, posed with a frozÚ, bought a tent, or poked around for a Pikachu, then where have you been?

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What Britain Buys is an eye-opening and intriguing look at how we shop, which products we buy, and what our £6.7 billion a week shopping habit says about Britain today. This time, Mary Portas discovers how in 2016 it's not just what we buy, but how we buy, that is changing -with the switch to contactless spending, with cards, phones and even watches. Mary looks at the trend of putting snail slime on the face, and face masks for the bottom; at the millions of mums - and dads - doing the school run in leggings; what car pool karaoke means for the dash cam; how smart toys are affecting the way our kids play; and how virtual reality is on the verge of changing the way we all see the world.

Mary Portas examines why British shoppers are spending more on pets than ever - a massive ú4.6 billion a year. Why is Victoria Beckham making the news wearing flat shoes, not heels? What products of the 1970s are making a comeback? And there's a look at the rise of 'she sheds' as a rival to the 'man cave'.

Mary Portas looks at the impact that Brazil is having on our bottoms. With M&S predicting that the shape of the humble knicker is changing, what might this mean for jeans? As a country, the UK is moving away from disposable fashion and spending more on experiences, from cycling to festivals or weddings. Britain is a world leader of the outdoor music event, with festivals having a direct impact on high street trends. Mary also meets some mamils, who form a big part of the booming cycle industry. There's also a look at the impact that social media is having on weddings, from cakes to dresses and flowers. And, lastly, should you digitally detox and swap your smartphone for a new 'dumb' phone?