Dame Kristin Scott Thomas said she couldn’t resist the chance to star in this year’s John Lewis Christmas ad – alongside a retro toy dog.
The 20th edition of the retail giant’s festive blockbuster stars the Bafta-winning actress as grandmother Gloria, who is trying to find the perfect gift for her grandchildren.
With help from Pickles the dog – a vintage Little Snoopy Pull Along Toy voiced by comedian Paul Whitehouse – Gloria decides against giving out envelopes of cash.
Instead Gloria glides in a pink tuk-tuk down Oxford Street – pre predestrianation – to pick out this year’s presents. “You can do better than cash,” Pickles tells her before the pair pull up outside a John Lewis branch.
As the family arrives on Christmas Day, Kristin’s character presents her grandchildren with a key to a room that has been transformed into a ‘Gran Cave’ – complete with sparkling lights, disco balls and a record player. The children, Freddie (played by EastEnders actor Jahsaiah Williams) and sister Maggie, give their grandmother a huge hug before the advert ends with them dancing in the makeshift den together.
With the tagline, ‘Don’t give up on giving,’ John Lewis says this year’s campaign has been made with the cost-of-living crisis in mind. All items seen in Gloria’s fun room have either been recycled from elsewhere in her house or cost less than £100, in a bid to show making magical memories doesn’t always come with a hefty price tag.
The soundtrack this year is provided by Geordie rocker, and rumoured Glastonbury headliner, Sam Fender with a brand new cover of the Rolling Stones classic, You Can’t Always Get What You Want.
Released today, the song is Sam’s first new music since single Rein Me In became the longest-running Number One in UK chart history.
All John Lewis profits from each record sold will be donated to UK leading charity Action for Children, supporting those who have grown up in care to build brighter futures. Sam, 32, is joined on the track by a children’s choir from his old school and an award winning colliery band from the north east.
After giving permission for the Stones track to be used in the festive offering, Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger said: “I’m a fan of Sam’s work, so I was pleased to hear he was covering one of my songs. I think he’s done a great job with it.” Sam said: “It was a privilege to rework such an iconic song by such a legendary band. In the spirit of Christmas, we re-recorded the children’s choir with the kids from my old school, John Spence Community High School, and we arranged a brass section with the Easington Colliery Band.” The campaign, created by Saatchi & Saatchi for the fourth year in a row, was directed by Lucy Forbes, the BAFTA-winning director known for her work on This Is Going to Hurt, who is currently working on the new Harry Potter series for HBO.
The advert has been eight months in the making with the team starting work on the Christmas ad back in February. Filming took place during August’s heatwave when temperatures soared to 32 degrees. Dame Kristin, star of Slow Horses and romcom classic Four Weddings and a Funeral, was the muse for grandmother Gloria from the very beginning, with the creative team delighted when the actress said ‘yes’ to the role. “I simply couldn’t resist the opportunity to lead a John Lewis Christmas advert – it’s such a cherished part of the festive season,” said Kristin. “Plus, Gloria’s journey captured my heart straight away. She represents so many parents and grandparents who want nothing more than to create lasting memories with the younger generation. Working alongside Pickles to create the ‘Gran Cave’ was an absolute joy, and I hope the ad brings a big smile to families across the UK this Christmas.” Rosie Hanley, Marketing & Loyalty Director at John Lewis, said: “The John Lewis Christmas advert is a beloved tradition, but for its 20th edition, we wanted it to feel extra special.
“Bringing in the sparkle of Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Sam Fender has helped bring this story to life beautifully. It’s a storyline that so many of our customers will relate to; I’ve definitely resorted to putting cash in an envelope for fear of getting it wrong.
“But our message this year is simple: ‘Don’t give up on giving.’ We hope this restores the nation’s gift-giving confidence and encourages customers to rediscover the joy of choosing something truly thoughtful for the people they love.” Last year’s advert was Where Love Lies, featuring a teenage son and a dad reconnecting over a 90s dance record. The most watched John Lewis Christmas advert of all times remains Man on the Moon, soundtracked by Oasis’ Half the World Away.
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