Britain has become a nation reliant on appliances, unable to carry out basic tasks without the help of a gadget, according to new research from AppliancesDirect.co.uk, as part of its 'Power On: The Evolution of Appliances' report. The research found that 46% of Brits would not be able to reheat food without a gadget to do it for them, while 40% would struggle to make toast without an appliance, despite this only requiring a grill. And 25% wouldn't be able to make a cup of tea or coffee - a task that in most cases involves simply boiling water with a pan, without using a kettle.

Almost one in four confesses to not knowing how to wash clothes without having a washing machine on hand to do most of the work - and, shockingly, one in five wouldn't know how to dry clothes without a tumble dryer. Washing machines (81%) topped the list of appliances British adults confessed they couldn't live without, closely followed by dishwashers (36%), toasters (33%) and coffee machines (18%). I agree with the washing machine part!

Perhaps unsurprisingly, millennials - those aged 18 to 30 years - many of whom will have grown up with mobile phones and access to the Internet, is the generation that would fare worst if they had to do without electrical appliances in their home. 40% wouldn't know how to make tea or coffee without a kettle while 63% wouldn't know how to wash or dry clothes without an appliance to do so. I wholeheartedly agree with the company's marketing manager Mark Kelly, who says that while appliances definitely make everyday tasks a lot easier, we Brits should ensure we know how to do basic things such as boil water and wash our clothes, in case our appliances break or there is a power cut.

As someone who can recall the three-day-week, where we didn't have any power at all for long periods, I know full well the importance of being able to 'wing it'... When it comes to these gadgets, which have clearly become crucial to so many people's ability to function, I look forward to seeing plenty of old favourites as well as new innovations very soon, alongside so many other industry products, furniture and ancillaries at KBB Birmingham, at the NEC from 4th - 7th March. Our rolling preview starts today. If you want to be included, do please send your press release and images without delay.

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Yours,

Jan Hobbs