Black Friday 2020: What date do the UK sales start and how will coronavirus affect the offers?

Though coronavirus has managed to wreak havoc with just about every other event planned for 2020, Black Friday is set to go on as normal this year. At least online.

While the high street isn't likely to see the deal-hunting Black Friday crowds of years past, many online retailers will take this opportunity to boost sales before the end of the year. In this competitive retail landscape, we might see some of the biggest discounts ever - and many already have a jump-start on the sales.

So far, stores are offering big discounts on TVs, tech, beauty, smart devices, and more, meaning those looking to get their Christmas shopping done early are spoilt for choice.

We have prepared the following guide to help you find the best Black Friday deals this year, including the best offers currently on sale:

What date do the UK sales start?

Technically, Black Friday 2020 should start on November 27, but many retailers launch early deals in an attempt to entice more customers.

This year, Cyber Monday will take place on November 30, though we don't expect there to be a massive difference in sale prices or products offered over the weekend. Cyber Monday started in 2005, when an American trade association noticed a spike in online sales the Monday after Thanksgiving, but the world's shift towards digital-first purchasing has made Cyber Monday less relevant.

You'll find that the best online deals are announced from Black Friday through to Cyber Monday, with a few 'Lightning Deals' released throughout.

Where can I find the best Black Friday deals - which retailers have offers?

It's no surprise that Amazon leads the pack, as it is not only responsible for bringing Black Friday to the UK, but offers the widest range of deals in the widest range of categories - including TVs, tech, mobile phones, appliances, laptops, tablets, consoles, smart devices and more. 

Amazon has said it will not undercut its annual Prime Day deals with Black Friday prices this year, meaning if you're interested in deals on Kindles, Echos, and other Amazon-branded devices you may want to start shopping now.

Both John Lewis and Currys PC World are also considered hot spots for Black Friday deals, and tend to launch a few big bargains before the day itself. Both stores also price-match many of their competitors' best deals, making Currys an easy one-stop-shop for tech and John Lewis a worthwhile destination for high-end lifestyle products.

Argos also gets in on early deals with big discounts. The store is a go-to for smart tech, video gaming and consoles, which can tick quite a few categories off the average Christmas shopping list, too.

For beauty products, Boots is a brilliant store to keep bookmarked, as are cross-category retailers such as Very and AO. They work hard to beat Amazon's prices every year - particularly for home appliances. 

How can I find the best deals this week?

The Telegraph will be updating our Black Friday channel with offers as soon as they're made available, so it's worth bookmarking our pages now. 

Don't forget to sign up to email updates from retailers, download their apps, and follow them on social media. That way, you'll get notifications in real-time. 

Do your research in advance and bookmark the products at the top of your wish list – you'll create a shortcut to seeing the discounts as soon as the sales roll in.

If you sign up for Amazon Prime, Amazon will give you exclusive discounts as well as early access to 'lightning deals' (the ones that usually sell out within minutes) 30 minutes before the rest of the internet. That extra time sometimes proves crucial on popular Black Friday deals.