Seconds out…round four. While John Lewis’ pesky grandkids seem to have won the award for starring in the most polarising ad of the year (see our very own Creative Review Adometer), that bothersome root vegetable, is back, among others, as the festive fight continues.
Our friends over at the Food Standards Agency insist that carrots only last about four weeks in the fridge before going soft and inedible. Someone should tell Aldi – and McCann Manchester for that matter – as Kevin the Carrot is now ELEVEN YEARS OLD, although whether the character is soft and inedible is up for debate.
Naturally, some pundits question how much longer it can go on, others, apparently, can’t get enough so they will be pleased to know that this year’s TV spot sees festive celebrations put on hold when the family realises their beloved Cauli Dog has gone missing.
Cue Kevin and his “daughter” Chantenay putting up ‘LOST’ posters, only to discover a trail of tiny paw prints, leading them into the snow-dusted wilderness to continue their search.
Along the way, a well-meaning scarecrow’s questionable directions send them briefly off course and bring them face-to-face with what appears to be a grizzly bear, only for it to be revealed as a cuddly squirrel, while Kevin also takes a tumble.
The paw prints eventually lead them back home, where the Carrot clan searches every corner with a fine-tooth comb. Suddenly they hear soft snoring coming from inside a Christmas cracker where Cauli Dog is found safe and sound, with Chantenay declaring: “Cauli, I love you.”
The ad closes with Aldi’s festive endline: “All You Want For Christmas”. Quite when all this veg will make its way on to a Christmas dinnerplate, remains to be seen. Starcom has handled media.
Aldi UK marketing director Kristin Sonfield said: “Kevin has become a much-loved part of Christmas for so many families, so we’re thrilled to have him back on our screens alongside Chantenay and Cauli Dog. Their latest adventure brings plenty of festive fun, familiar faces and, of course, a little bit of Christmas chaos. But at its heart is a lovely reminder that, for all the presents and celebrations, the real magic of Christmas comes from spending it with the people who matter most.”
Over at Levi, they are channelling a darker side with a stop-motion film entitled “Let’s Get Fuzzy” which shifts the focus away from the brand’s signature denim to winter knitwear, spotlighting cosy jumpers as seasonal essentials while celebrating community and comfort.
Directed by Blink/Blinkink duo Stevie Gee and Essy May, the film is set in a little snowy mountain cabin where a gathering of friends is interrupted by an imposing and scary-looking yeti.
Rather than panic, the group tosses the creature an oversized sweater, transforming the intruder into an embraced guest and highlighting the festive spirit of welcoming outsiders in.
Levi’s use of stop motion also serves as a heritage throwback. The campaign pays tribute to the brand’s 1995 Levi’s commercial ‘Clayman’, directed by Steve ‘Spaz’ Williams, which Levi’s claims made history as the first full-length TV commercial shot entirely in Claymation. In fact, it was Aardman who hold that title, but, hey it’s Christmas so we won’t make a big thing out it…
Levi’s global chief marketing officer Kenny Mitchell said: “Let’s Get Fuzzy’ is another step in our ambition to be the world’s leading denim lifestyle brand, putting into focus our range of sweaters as the perfect pairing to our iconic denim this holiday season and building on our ambition to grow across categories.”
The global campaign will run across online and in stores, with in-person activations at select Levi’s outlets, where customers can personalise items with fuzzy bespoke embroidery and custom holiday patches.
Meanwhile, Gap’s campaign for 2026 brings together three choirs – A Cappella Academy, Tonality and Sainted – to perform a reimagined version of the Jackson 5 classic I’ll Be There.
Directed by Carissa Gallo, “Give Your Gift” aims to celebrate self-expression and togetherness through music, while showcasing Gap’s festive clothing and gifting collections.
As part of its Christmas push, Gap is spotlighting its CashSoft knitwear range, which returns with new silhouettes alongside bestselling crew necks, cardigans and festive Fair Isle designs. It is also expanding its sleepwear and signature “sweats” offering, with matching family pyjamas and fleece styles for women, men and children.
Meanwhile, its GapBag collection has been updated for the festive season with new textures and sizes, including cable-knit pouch bags, charms and smaller accessories aimed at gifting shoppers.
Gap chief marketing officer Fabiola Torres said: “The spirit of this campaign celebrates unity and togetherness. That’s the sentiment we aim to bring to our customers this season, offering new opportunities to engage with our brand and create memorable experiences that bring Gap’s gifting destination to life.”
Finally, a far more sobering, emotional but ultimately rewarding ad comes from housing and homelessness charity Shelter, which has launched its Winter Appeal this week.
It is a story of modern homelessness, created by agency Meanwhile and produced by Magna Studios, told through a mother and daughter’s bond as they fight to escape the kind of bleak temporary accommodation that so many families who are homeless are stuck in right now.
With an original track scored and performed by Irish singer, songwriter, and producer, Maverick Sabre, the two-minute film shows the pair in the build-up to the big day, only to show their excitement isn’t for Christmas at all, it’s for moving out of horrific conditions they find themselves in, into a safe, secure social home of her own.
Their story reflects the experiences of families who turn to Shelter for advice and support. More than 177,000 children are currently homeless in temporary accommodation, which can be riddled with damp and mould or so cramped that children have to share a bed with their parents or siblings.
We see the pair as the countdown to Christmas begins, where hope grows in the sobering and stark confines, which is based on real-life temporary accommodation examples.
As we move through the story, we see more of where they are living, and hints of mum’s anxious struggle to find safe accommodation for her and her daughter.
It is families like this that Shelter exists to help. From challenging unsafe conditions to helping parents navigate a system that feels stacked against them, the charity’s housing experts make sure families don’t have to face homelessness alone.
Finally, as the film ends, there is a sense of relief, as the pair receive the keys to their new social home, thanks to help from the charity.
Shelter acting chief executive Mairi MacRae said: “Right now, thousands of children don’t have a safe place to call home. With a record number of families stuck homeless, and a chronic lack of genuinely affordable homes, children often end up in freezing bedsits and grotty hostels for months or years on end.”
“Every day our services hear from families like the one in this film. Many of them are facing another winter in a damp, mouldy room that threatens their health, without any space to play or do their homework. As the film depicts so well, parents are often left trying to handle the uncertainty of not knowing when things will get better, fearing for their family’s future.”
“From supporting families to challenge unsafe conditions to helping parents navigate a system that feels stacked against them, our housing experts make sure families don’t have to face homelessness alone. By donating to our Winter Appeal, people could help connect a family to an adviser who will support them on their journey to a safe, secure and permanent home.”
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