Christmas adverts 2023: John Lewis releases much-anticipated festive film
John Lewis, M&S and TK Maxx are among the retailers who have released their 2023 Christmas campaigns.
Nothing says it's time to start thinking about Christmas like the debut of festive adverts from some of our favourite retailers and brands.
This year, no time was wasted as the collection of Christmas campaigns kicked off on November 1 with the release of Very's 2023 advert, featuring a pack of pink flamingos.
But the one we have all been waiting for — the John Lewis Christmas advert — is finally here. Known for their wholesome storylines and great soundtrack, the John Lewis ads have a bit of a reputation for making us emotional and reminding us of what Christmas is all about.
While this year's Christmas campaign isn't much of a tear-jerker, it still gives us the warm fuzzy feeling we associate with the festive season.
Starring the adorable Alfie, this year's John Lewis Christmas advert tells the joyful tale of an unexpected friendship. An enthusiastic Alfie buys a seed that claims it will grow a Christmas tree but it soon becomes clear to the family that this is no ordinary tree.
Snapper, the Venus flytrap causes a bit of a commotion in the house. The fast-growing plant becomes an equally big personality who wants to join in all the fun of Christmas before he is cast out into the cold to make way for a traditional tree.
But on Christmas morning, Alfie is missing his new friend and wants him to be a part of the festivities. He brings Snapper a Christmas present and soon, his family follows suit.
Titled 'Snapper, The Perfect Tree,' this year's Christmas campaign celebrates classic and changing traditions.
The ad’s soundtrack is an original song called ‘Festa’ — which means celebration — composed for the campaign by Italian electro-pop duo Le Feste Antonacci and performed by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
The soundtrack will be released in longer form as a charity single, with a proportion of the proceeds going to the John Lewis Partnership’s Building Happier Futures charities, which help young people with experience of the care system and families in need.
Very kicked off the festive season with the launch of its Christmas advert on November 1. The theme for this year’s campaign is 'Let’s Make It Sparkle’ with three flamboyant flamingos at the heart of the feelgood campaign.
It opens with a dull, grey cityscape where pigeons are doing their Christmas shopping before viewers are introduced to Very’s new brand characters; fun, sassy flamingos called Cherry, Kerry and Terry.
As pink thunderclouds roll in to the sound of Girls Aloud’s ‘Merry Christmas, Everybody,’ a team of pink flamingos appear, carrying Very parcels. With puffs of pink glitter, the parcels transform the ordinary into the extraordinary with great gifts.
The aim of the campaign is to encourage customers to transform everyday experiences into something wonderful.
Combining fashion, fun and furry friends, TK Maxx features a catwalk of adorable farm animals dressed to the nines in its Christmas advert this year.
The ad opens with Eve and Gwen Stefani’s early noughties hit 'Let Me Blow Ya Mind' before the fashionable animals strut through the snow in their new outfits.
The setting for this advert is like a scene from , with snowy mountains surrounding a small countryside cottage and a barn.
First out the barn doors is a turtle neck-clad alpaca busking a crossbody bag, swiftly followed by a pair of ducks rocking Harry Styles-inspired pearls, an elegant silk scarf and suave pink bow tie and a hedgehog scurrying out into the cold in a cosy pink cashmere woolly hat.
The iconic “lil’ goat” also makes its return from the 2020 TK Maxx Christmas campaign, joining the stylish winter parade in a beret and pink jacket.
The farmer asks his wife, “Did you buy all the farm designer outfits?”
M&S pulled out all the stops for this year’s Christmas advert, with cameos from stars such as Hannah Waddingham, Zawe Ashton, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Tan France. Non-Christmas songs seem to be the theme this year and this advert is set to a cover of Meatloaf’s ‘I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)’, re-recorded by artist and singer-songwriter Ray BLK.
Set across four homes, we see our stars struggle with Christmas traditions like arts and crafts and decorating until finally, they decide to only embrace the traditions that they enjoy.
The 2023 campaign was directed by Ally Pankiw, best known for and . The concept is inspired by how, for many, it can be difficult to strike the balance between celebrating everything we love about Christmas and taking on tasks we do not enjoy as much but feel obligated to complete. It’s all about encouraging people to embrace only doing the things that they truly love about Christmas.
“This Christmas, do only what you love,” is the message.
It’s all about giving joy at Boots this Christmas. This year’s festive advert tells the story of a young girl who wants to show her appreciation for Santa by giving him a present this year.
The young girl and her mother embark on an epic journey to the North Pole, armed with a bag full of Boots goodies. On their way, they give strangers presents to show their appreciation, including a Dyson Airwrap for a pilot with long locks.
From car and train to plane and snowmobile, finally, they arrive with just one present left for the main man himself — a pair of Boots Travel Flight Socks, perfect for the big journey ahead.
Titled ‘Thank you, Santa,’ the campaign aims to encourage customers to give joy this Christmas.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
