Television presenter Josie Gibson has publicly criticised Marks & Spencer over the eye-watering price of one of its premium Christmas dishes, suggesting the cost is comparable to a short holiday.
A Festive Roast Over Pricing
The This Morning star took aim at the retailer's £195 Luxury Beef Wellington, created in collaboration with celebrity chef Tom Kerridge. In a light-hearted but pointed segment presented in a pub quiz style on December 18, 2025, Gibson questioned the value of the festive centrepiece.
She humorously contrasted the dish's price with a series of alternative purchases, stating: "What can you get for £195? You can get a Ryanair return flight to Paris, you can take a family of four to Flamingo Land twice." She added that the same sum could buy three 50-inch smart televisions.
Supermarket Showdown: The Budget Alternative
Gibson directly compared the M&S offering to a far more affordable version from the frozen food specialist Iceland. She highlighted that Iceland's Luxury Beef Wellington retails for just £30.
"Get a load of this," she said, "you could buy 195 Iceland lasagnes, and this my friends is the Iceland luxury Beef Wellington that retails at £30." This means, for the price of one M&S Wellington, shoppers could theoretically purchase six and a half of the Iceland versions.
Richard Walker, Executive Chairman of Iceland Foods, endorsed Gibson's comparison. He said: "Josie summed it up perfectly, why settle for one extravagantly priced centrepiece when you can feed the whole family and still have change?"
Public Reaction and Justification
The presenter's comments sparked a wave of reaction on social media. One user quipped about the high price, writing: "I think it would be justifiable if it included Tom Kerridge to do the cooking and cleaning up for this price."
Another commenter focused on the sheer cost per weight, noting: "£92 per kilo. That's hilarious." This observation underscores the premium nature of the product, which goes far beyond the cost of its ingredients.
Gibson's segment, which also touched on topics like the capital of New Zealand and the Battle of Waterloo before landing on the quintessential English dish, has ignited a broader conversation about the cost of luxury food items during the festive season and what constitutes fair value for consumers.
