Formby Welcomes TV Show This Morning as Buddy the Reindeer Goes Global

Buddy the reindeer has captured hearts all over the world, but today his story took another magical turn right here in Formby. This morning, ITV’s This Morning came to film a special live broadcast all about Buddy — and Formby Bubble was there capturing it as it happened, bringing this extraordinary moment straight to our community.

Filming for ITV1 This Morning of Buddy the Reindeer with Colson Smith at Enchanted Forest in Formby

The film crew arrived at The Enchanted Forest Christmas experience at Shorrocks Hill, where Buddy is now staying. Steve, who runs the Enchanted Forest, was interviewed live, joined by Nick from Southport Offshore Rescue, whose team played such a vital role in finding Buddy during his dramatic escape. The segment was presented by actor Colson Smith, well known for playing Craig in Coronation Street, who spent the morning in Formby sharing Buddy’s story with viewers across the country.

Seeing the cameras rolling, the forest backdrop, and Buddy standing safely at home made it feel like a true Christmas moment — and Formby Bubble was proud to film and share every second.

Just days ago, Buddy sparked a huge rescue effort after slipping away from a Christmas event in Formby on Saturday 29 November. Residents spotted him running through the village and towards the beach, prompting police, Coastguard teams, Southport Offshore Rescue Trust, and even Royal Marines training nearby to join forces to protect him. Using thermal binoculars and a police drone, Buddy was eventually found asleep in the Formby dunes, exhausted but safe, before a vet was able to secure him and return him home to North Wales.

What nobody expected was how far this charming story would travel. From the UK to Canada, America, Australia and beyond, Buddy’s adventure has captured global attention, with reports from Reuters and news outlets across the world turning our little Formby reindeer into an international star.

And today’s live appearance on This Morning was the perfect way to show that Buddy is safe, content, and resting for the remainder of the year — all while shining a lovely festive spotlight on our community.

The live show that was broadcast on ITV1 on Tuesday 2nd December 2025 at The Enchanted Forest in Formby

Formby may be a small village, but today it was at the centre of a worldwide Christmas story… and Buddy is now officially the most famous reindeer of the season.

The Enchanted Forest Christmas Experience website can be found HERE