Famous faces dropped for M and S Christmas ads

Marks & Spencer has employed a troupe of showgirls in its bid to win over shoppers this Christmas, it revealed today.

In a break with tradition, the retailer’s festive advertising campaign has abandoned its usual celebrity line-up to feature a cast of dancing girls, men and children.

The advert, set in a theatre, will show the cast dressing up backstage and practising dance moves ahead of a performance.

M&S has typically relied on a series of well-known faces for its Christmas campaign, with previous years’ adverts featuring stars such as footballer David Beckham, actress Helen Mirren and singer Will Young.

But this year’s advert will see supermodel Erin O’Connor surrounded by a cast of unknown dancers.

Steven Sharp, head of marketing, e-commerce, store design and development, said the adverts would showcase ranges such as partywear, lingerie, children’s outfits and men’s suits.

He said: “We wanted to capture the fun and excitement of getting ready for a special occasion, so we chose to film our ad behind the scenes in a theatre.”