Seconds out…round five. Well, we’ve had John Lewis stealing the show for a few days, so we’re now passing the reins – quite literally it seems – to another batch of festive feasts.
And, where better to go than to M&S, where agency Mother has brought in arguably the sexiest and most buffed Santa ever, with James Norton starring in “The Home of Christmas” campaign.
Helmed by Smuggler director Shannon Murphy, Mr Claus is encouraged by his wife, played by Lucy Punch, to shave off his famous beard and ditch his signature red suit to leave the North Pole to see how everyone prepares for the most magical time of the year.
His Christmas adventure takes him through the moments that make the season special: seeing people getting dressed up, gathering around a table of nibbles, choosing gifts people will genuinely love, and decorating the home for Christmas.
Along the way, Santa discovers that Christmas magic doesn’t just come from the North Pole. It’s created in homes across the country, around tables, under trees and in the moments shared with the people we love. And he’s not the only one helping to make it happen. From food and fashion to beauty, gifting and home, M&S reckons it can be there for every festive moment, which is why the campaign is aptly named ‘The Home of Christmas’.
Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins, looking very skinny, provides musical accompaniment to the spot, with her rendition of Heaven Is a Place on Earth, which plays in the background to connect moments such as Santa attending a children’s choir concert, enjoying a Christmas dinner invite, and acing a game of charades.
The campaign will appear across TV, video on demand, cinema, outdoor, social media, radio, digital display and print, with each channel showing how M&S Food, Fashion, Home and Beauty come together to create Christmas.
To support the campaign further, M&S’s Pantheon store on Oxford Street will be transformed to mirror the world of ‘The Home of Christmas’ and bring the breadth of the brand’s festive offering under one roof.
Over at Sky, meanwhile, Sky Creative has unveiled “That’s Christmas Sorted”, claimed to be the broadcaster’s biggest ever Christmas campaign, bringing together character costumes from the full breadth of its entertainment offering across Sky’s own TV, Cinema and Sports to Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix and Hayu.
From festive blockbuster films and must-watch series to the biggest sporting moments, everyone has their own idea of perfect Christmas viewing, with Sky bringing it all together.
The TV ad, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dave Meyers at RadicalMedia, is a 60-second film that returns to Sky’s costume emporium, where famous outfits spring to life and take to the dancefloor to Groovejet by Spiller featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
From the original Wicked dresses and Monica’s famous turkey head from Friends, to costumes from Bridgerton, Game of Thrones, Moana, Love Actually and, er, Premier League kits, the film brings together an unlikely cast of entertainment favourites to create magic on screen that only Sky can deliver.
Dave, whose music video credits include Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar and Harry Styles, brings his sense of visual spectacle to the campaign, alongside choreographer Shay Latukolan, whose work on Jungle’s Back On 74 became a global cultural hit.
That’s Christmas Sorted launches across TV, OOH and social, with key takeovers of London Underground and the Piccadilly Lights. The campaign will be amplified across digital and social for a Christmas-special collaboration with the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL) UK, who get in on the fun by breaking into the backstage studio space, trying on the costumes and putting their own SNL UK style spin on the characters.
Sky TV marketing director Rose Holden said: “Christmas is about coming together, and for lots of families that means finding something everyone wants to watch. With Sky, there’s so much great entertainment to choose from, from our own TV, Cinema and Sports to Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix, and Hayu, all in one place.
“That’s what this campaign celebrates, the incredible choice you can only get with Sky, brought to life in one joyful festive moment. And what is more joyful than some much-loved characters having a big dance party!”
Of course Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Aardman, and right on time Barbour has managed to get the top duo of Wallace and Gromit on board yet again. (They must have very deep pockets in those Barbour jackets.)
The film follows the pair as they head into the snowy British countryside to test Wallace’s latest creation: the Walk-o-matic. Combining his trusty armchair with enormous wheels fashioned from Barbour wellies, the invention promises all the pleasures of a winter walk without the inconvenience of actually walking.
Naturally, things don’t quite go to plan. After Wallace’s contraption sends him flying into a snowdrift, Gromit comes to the rescue with a cosy Barbour jumper, returning the favour after receiving his own waxed dog coat earlier in the film. There’s even a guest appearance from Shaun the Sheep and his flock.
Barbour global marketing director Jamie McCall said: “We’re delighted to be continuing our creative partnership with Aardman. Barbour and Aardman share a distinctly British heritage, a passion for craftsmanship and an appreciation for the attention to detail that make something truly special.”
What’s the betting Monty Don will make a guest appearance next year, now that his departure from Gardeners’ World has freed him up from the BBC’s strict advertising rules?
If we were gambling folk we might put a few quid on that but Allwyn UK, operator of The National Lottery, is aiming to turn everyone into a punter with its “This Christmas It Could Be You” campaign.
Developed by creative agency of record VCCP and supported by Studio 59, Allwyn’s in-house agency team, with media strategy and buying led by Hearts United, the campaign is led by a new TV ad.
Directed by Tim McNaughton, through Arts & Sciences in collaboration with VCCP’s global content creation studio Girl&Bear, with VFX and post production by Framestore, the wintry festive spot tells the story of a reindeer, who dreams of flying after watching a robin take to the skies.
Refusing to let an early setback stand in his way, the reindeer perseveres and ultimately achieves the seemingly impossible. Witnessing the magical moment, a nearby rambler is inspired by what he’s seen, prompting him to reach for his National Lottery ticket in a moment of possibility.
The National Lottery’s Ambassador-in-Chief, Claudia Winkleman, delivers the closing sign-off in the TV advert: ‘Amazing Things Happen When You Believe. This Christmas It Could Be You.’
Alongside the campaign’s hero advertising, Claudia will also front two brand-new ‘Because Of You’ Good Causes storytelling films made by The Gate, meeting the people behind National Lottery-funded projects across the UK and sharing stories of community, creativity and opportunity.
A major partnership with LADbible will also help tell campaign stories to younger audiences through a mix of festive-themed social content. Featuring Rizzle Kicks star and bestselling author, Jordan Stephens, the series will explore stories of winners and National Lottery-funded Good Cause projects showing how belief, opportunity and a little bit of luck can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
The partnership will be extended through a network of creators, who will follow the journey of a National Lottery ticket to discover how it helps Good Causes across the UK. By asking people a simple question, ‘What do you believe in?’, they will uncover authentic stories that bring the impact of National Lottery funding to life.
Allwyn marketing and brand director at Steve Parkinson said: “’This Christmas It Could Be You’ is our biggest-ever campaign to date and the first to bring the entire National Lottery portfolio together under a single Christmas platform. Building on the successful return of the original ‘It Could Be You’ last year, the campaign taps into the magic, optimism and possibility that make Christmas such a special time of year.
“At its heart, The National Lottery is all about belief. It’s that moment when you ask yourself, ‘What if?’ Whether that’s imagining how a win could change your life, or seeing the extraordinary impact National Lottery funding has on communities across the UK.
“Every ticket played goes towards helping generate more than £33m for Good Causes each week, while also creating life-changing winners. This campaign celebrates those moments of possibility and reminds players that, this Christmas, it really could be you.”
Related stories
John Lewis ‘Gloria and Pickles’: Bigmouth strikes again
Aldi, Levi’s, Gap and Shelter: Driving home for Xmas
John Lewis ‘Gloria and Pickles’: Bigmouth strikes again
Asda, Lidl, Boots, Sports Direct: Get this party started
John Lewis, Thatchers, Very, Dogs Trust: Santa Baby
Debenhams, Argos, Tesco, Sainsbury’s: And, we’re off
Don’t peak too early in your Xmas activity, charities told
Be the first to comment on "M&S, Sky, Barbour, Lottery: Let it snow, let it snow"