Candi's Christmas Gift

Candi's Christmas Gift is a one-off television special, starring British singer Candi, produced for ITV, that aired on Saturday 24 December 2011 from 6:30 pm to 7:30pm. Candi hosted the programme, which featured a host of other performers. The show followed Candi, as she visited five families, who due to financial difficulties were set to have a rubbish christmas, and from her own pocket, bought each family something to ensure they would have christmas they'd never forget. Besides that, the show also featured several performances including the likes of Aftershock, Chase Elite, Crystal Barker and Candi herself.

Production
Tabloid newspaper The Daily Mirror published a report on 28 November 2011 claiming that Candi would receive £150,000 for appearing in a programme entitled Candi's Christmas Gift; ITV confirmed the programme two days later, with Elite saying that she would be "changing some people's lives". The programme was recorded through the week beginning 12 December at the BBC Television Centre.

Show
The show began with Candi and Babycakes in the studio. The pair welcome the viewers and explain to them the show will feature Candi's closest friends and family performing, as well as featuring the singer making positive changes to five families Christmas. After a performance by Chase Elite, he joins Candi on the sofa as they introduce the first video. After the video INTOXICATED perform before an advert break. Candi performs with Aftershock next, before the second video. Following this is a performance by Crystal Barker and another ad break. The third video follows, and a performance by Difused. The fourth video is shown with a final ad break. Candi performs her current single, then the final video is shown. To end the show, Candi performs her upcoming single. The show finishes.

Video 1
Candi visits a family who haven't got much money and live in a 2 bedroom flat. Besides that stress, their only daughter (Emma) suffers from autism and is extremely bullied. Candi goes into the girls room and see's it's covered in posters of Chase Elite (god knows why!) Candi and the girl sit on the bed and have a heart to heart. Candi then tells the little girl she's meant to be at school, and so her chauffeur takes them there. They arrive as an assembly is happening, and Candi goes on stage as the little girl sits right at the front. “Everybody, I have a treat for Emma here, who is the prettiest and coolest girl I know. This is my brother... Chase Elite!” The children all screams some of the staff boo, and Chase performs his christmas song 'Under My Christmas Tree' for Emma. Afterwards, while everyone wants to talk to Emma because she is the queen bitch now, Candi brings Emma's parents on stage, and reveals she has bought them a new house for christmas, filled with tons of presents. She's all installed a swimming pool as Emma loves to swim. It's very sweet and everyone is crying boohooo.

Video 2
Shaniqua lives in the rough area of London. She lived with her parents until one night her dad was shot in a street fight. As if that wasn't bad enough, Shaniqua's mum then killed herself with the stress. Shaniqua's only remaining family is her grandmother and grandfather in India, but they're an extremely poor family who can't afford flights, meaning Shaniqua has been living in an orphanage for two years. Candi comes into the dumping ground with a Nintendo DS and games for everyone, as well as a copy of her album, which is signed. Ooooooh! Candi takes Shaniqua outside as a hellicopter approaches them. Shaniqua gets excited thinking she's getting a helicopter tour of London, but the bright pink helicopter lands and Shaniqua's grandparents get out the helicopter. Major emotional everyone cries again. Candi then has her chauffeur drive them all to a fancy street, and shows them a new home, where they can all live together. She's also paid off all the payment for it, so it's sorted. The family cry as Candi drives into the sunset like the saint she is.

Video 3
Candi visits a family of one mother and two children. The father was killed last month in the army and they don't want to spend Christmas in the house. Candi asks them to open a card she hands them, and they do. One of Candi's range of eyelashes falls out. There's five in total and they are perfect for a stocking filler. #ProductPlacement. The mother looks in the envelope and finds a note. The children read it out – you are going to Disneyland Florida for Christmas! They all cry. 5 star hotel all paid for, and all-inclusive for everything! 'I know I can't bring your daddy back, but I still love you all, you're cute like a Jigglypuff!'

Video 4
Elsie is 86 and recently fell down some stairs and can't walk anymore. However she needs an operation and her husband Jim can't afford the £15,000 price. Candi strolls in the house. 'Take those heels of on my beige carpet' screeches Elsie. Candi sits down with the pair and hands them a cheque, for £20,000. “£15,000 is for the operation” Candi tells them “And £5,000 is for yourself. Go wild.” Lovely

Video 5
Mary is a social outcast because she cuts herself, is an emo and has a name like Mary. The only thing she loves in life is MIDNIGHT. Candi arrives and gives her back stage passes to meet the star, and Mary passes out when she does. But it's a faint of happiness! Finally she wakes up in a shop, and Candi takes her shopping, buys her loads of prada stuff and gets her looking hot. Now she's not a social outcast, but Candi tells her she will leave her name as Mary, because 'you should never change who you are on the inside'. Candi then hands Mary one of her pinkberries she designed, and tells her to keep it. That's hot and That's deep.

Reception
The show was met with a mixed reception from critics. Anna Pickard of The Guardian described the programme as "an hour of commissioning genius" claiming Candi was a "marketing dream", despite Stuart Heritage of the same publication arguing that "the show was pleasant, but nothing we haven't seen before on TV". In a separate article, Heritage voiced his belief that the programme was nothing but a chance for Candi to advertise her proudcts. "Her album was shown, she performed three singles and mentioned her new single at every occasion. She even managed to advertise her eyelashes range and how it was a perfect stocking filler. How is that even allowed!?". Rick Fulton of the Daily Record was complimentary of the programme as he stated "An hour of the the UK's National Treasure on ITV1! The public is going to love this, and rightly so!" Crystal Barker, who featured in the programme, praised Candi by complimenting her hairstyle and by stating that her performance had "gone up another level". Sian Brewis of the Leicester Mercury was critical of the programme; she claimed that it was an "hour-long plug for Candi's products". Rachel Holmes, writing in The Guardian, was also critical of the show, criticising the fact Candi was shown as a saint for spending her own money on these people, when she was actually paid £150,000 for the show, which worked out at £2,500 a minute, including adverts. However she failed to mention that Candi did actually spend a lot more than £150,000 on the people she visited.

According to an article on Celebrity Gossip site 'Fameless', "Candi scooped 9.03 million which nabbed 31% of viewers from rival station BBC1". It also claimed that ITV1 were thrilled with the success of their two Christmas Specials (the other was 'Syd's Monsters @ Christmas special') and it is believed a second episode could be broadcast Christmas Eve 2012.