The new John Lewis advert has arrived, starring Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, and voiced by Paul Whitehouse. You can check it out below.
It sees Dame Kristin play grandmother, Gloria as she welcomes her family into her home in London on Christmas Eve, only to be disappointed to discover that her two grandchildren, Maggie and Freddie have messed up her immaculate study to counteract their boredom.
In a failed attempt to keep them entertained, Gloria brings out her toy dog, Pickles from the attic, who ends up coming to life, berating Gloria who has lost her confidence in buying a present they will appreciate, saying that "You can do better than cash".
Gloria is dragged out of the house by Pickles, as the pair embark on a last minute gift finding mission to John Lewis.
On Christmas morning, the grandchildren find a key from Gloria, instead of the expected cash in their gift cards. The key opens the door to Gloria's study, which has been transformed into a 'Gran Cave', which includes sparkling lights, disco lights, as well as a turntable and dancing together.
Dame Kristin Scott Thomas said in a statement: "I simply couldn’t resist the opportunity to lead a John Lewis Christmas advert – it’s such a cherished part of the festive season".
"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".
The advert is also set to a Sam Fender cover of the Rolling Stones' track, You Can’t Always Get What You Want.
Sam Fender also added: "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".
On this ad, 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".
The advert will premiere on John Lewis social media channels, including YouTube and Instagram on November 3 a6 7.30pm before being shown on ITV and Channel 4 between 8pm and 9.15pm.
Proceeds from the sale of Fender's cover, backed by his 2020 cover of Winter Song, will also go towards the Teenage Cancer Trusta charity selected by the artist, and John Lewis’s charity partner for its Building Happier Futures programme, Action for Children.
Check it out below.
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