Marks & Spencer taste test: We tried two types of Percy Pig and told M&S not to 'mess with' one

The original M&S Percy Pig was created in 1992 - and a lot of work went into making the now iconic sweet.

M&S told GB News: "Developing Percy took almost a year as Percy's texture was completely unique to anything produced before. Eventually, though, the team cracked it - and the loveable Percy face we all recognise was born.

"Original Percy is a unique flavour combination – a mouth-watering blend of raspberry, grape, elderberry, blackcurrant and mandarin – but of course, variations of that combination can be seen across his many different types of sweets and the family of Percy pals which accompany him."

Reversy Percy hit shelves a decade ago and is back after shoppers pleaded for its revival. Reversy Percy is made using "the same iconic flavours as the OG" - using only real fruit juice and no artificial colours or flavourings - but with more jelly than foam. And he's vegan too. But which Percy sweet treat is better?

The verdict

Reversy Percy M&S (150g) priced at £1.90

2/5

Although Reversy Percy is flying off the shelves, the GB News team weren't too keen on the Percy Pig spin-off.

It received mostly a mixture of zero, one, two and three-star reviews, although two GB News judges awarded it a rating of four out of five stars.

The consensus was that the team was not overly impressed - after all, it's hard to improve on the perfection of Percy Pig.

One said: "It's certainly different. I prefer the original - too much jelly in these ones and not sweet enough."

Another thought its 10-year absence was not long enough: "There's a reason these were off the market for so long - stick to the originals."

A displeased taste tester critiqued its "hard" texture, while another said it was "bland and not as good". Another agreed that it lacked in flavour.

One remarked: "I don't know who was demanding that these were brought back but they were horribly mistaken." Another agreed: "Don't bring it back."

However, the Percy Pig spin-off did have a few fans in the newsroom. One said: "Percy Pigs are great in whatever format! Just not as good as the originals."

Another disagreed, calling the sweets "delicious" and claiming they "are perhaps even better than the originals".

Percy Pig (170g) priced at £1.90

4.7/5

M&S' Percy Pig received a near-perfect score of 4.7/5. Everybody loves a classic and the GB News team was delighted to tuck into the beloved sweet.

Percy Pig received exclusively four and five-star reviews from judges.

One reviewer described it as "very juicy, reliable and fruity" and "not too sickly". Another praised its "perfect" ratio. A third said it was "sweet and always the best".

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Comparing it to Revery Percy, one die-hard Percy Pig fan stated: "Old is gold. If it isn't broken, don't fix it."

Another seconded this: "Just as God intended." A third echoed the sentiment: "Better the devil you know."

One Percy Pig fan added it is a "favourite and the only sweet I eat - don't mess with it."

Another described it as "unbeatable" - it seems that Reversy Percy never stood a chance.

M&S fans can tuck into several tasty treats alongside Percy Pig and Reversy Percy this summer, all available in stores now.

Colin Party Time is full of party-themed sweets including party hats, balloons, his face and more in six fabulously fruity flavours.

Christmas Colin’s Greatest Bits and Percy Pig ‘n’ Mix are also returning for some "summer action", with the supermarket revealing that these will be here to stay all year round.

Percy Piglets Multipacks are also up for grabs, ideal for on-the-go snacking or in party bags for little ones.