Pandemic Christmas ads focus on family, hope and kindness

The pandemic was on the minds of retailers when making adverts for what is set to be a Christmas unlike any other, writes Denise O’Donoghue

Cian Kearney from Douglas stars in SuperValu's Christmas advert. Picture credit: Still from SuperValu ad.

The battle of the Christmas adverts has begun, with UK retailer John Lewis releasing its 2020 offering one day after Irish supermarket SuperValu generated much discussion with its video of a young boy wishing and hoping to see his grandfather at Christmas.

Released on Wednesday, the one-minute clip shows a young boy decorating a Christmas tree with his parents as a radio bulletin details the latest Covid-19 restrictions before he nervously asks: "Is he still coming this year?"