John Lewis Christmas 2023 advert features Harry Potter actress and soap star
John Lewis has finally dropped its Christmas 2023 advert – and there’s a few faces in it you may have seen before.
The festive campaign centres on a young boy called Alfie, played by youngster Teddy Holton-Frances, who grows his own Christmas tree after buying a ‘Grow Your Own Perfect Christmas Tree’ kit.
After asking his gran if he can have it, Alfie opens the vintage box – which is emblazoned with the words ‘fast growing’ on it - to reveal a seed inside. After lovingly nurturing it, the fast growing plant soon becomes a life force of its own with a playful personality who wants to join in all the fun of Christmas.
But in true John Lewis style, there is a tear-jerking moment where the tree – who is named Snapper as it actually a Venus flytrap plant who wants to be a Christmas tree – grows too big for the living room and is cast out into the cold.
The 2023 John Lewis Christmas advert follows Snapper, the perfect tree (John Lewis)Snapper is later embraced back into family life, giving out presents with such exuberance that the family find a new joy in gathering around their unconventional ‘Christmas tree’. The campaign – the first by renowned ad agency Saatchi and Saatchi for John Lewis – aims to capture a new spirit of Christmas to show how the unusual and unexpected, over the conventionally ‘perfect’, can lead to a joyful time for everyone.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
Eagle-eyed fans will notice Alfie’s mum in the advert is played by actress Sara Alexander, who starred in the 2010 movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. She was the moody Italian waitress who has her headphones in throughout the infamous cafe fight scene. As she re-enters the restaurant and realises what has happened, she is told by Emma Watson’s character Hermione Granger to “Go, leave!”
Another familiar face in the new John Lewis advert is that of Sheila Ruskin, who plays Alfie’s gran. Over the years, 77-year-old Sheila has had many TV roles and made appearances in EastEnders, A Touch of Frost, The Bill, Bad Girls, Midsomer Murders, Holby City, Doctors and Dalziel and Pascoe.
While world renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli sings the original soundtrack, with a proportion of the proceeds from the charity single going to John Lewis’ charity partners helping care for young people and families in need. Andrea said he was “delighted” to take part in this “wonderful and unique tradition of Christmas storytelling”.
Charlotte Lock, Customer Director for John Lewis, said of the advert: “We are a nation that loves the traditions of Christmas, from classic traditions like pantos and putting up the tree to evolving new ones like crafting our own presents and Zoom get-togethers. Many of us have our own unique Christmas traditions and that makes them even more special. The film celebrates themes of family and shows that a ‘perfect’ Christmas is finding joy together with loved ones, whatever your traditions.”
John Lewis advert star Sara Alexander has popped up in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (YouTube)A number of shops have already released their Christmas ads for the year including Sainsbury's, which saw Rick Astley steal the show, and Marks and Spencer, which has received backlash over part of its campaign.
Marks & Spencer has apologised after an outtake from one of its Christmas campaigns prompted outrage. The since-deleted Instagram post featured paper Christmas hats burning in a fire grate which the retailers captioned with, 'This Christmas, do only what you love...like saying no to paper hats'. But the post drew heavy criticism from followers who noticed the burning hats which were the colours of the Palestinian flag.
In a statement released by the retailers on Wednesday night, an M&S spokesperson said: "Today we shared an outtake image from our Christmas Clothing and Home advert, which was recorded in August. It showed festive coloured red, green and silver party hats in a fire grate.
"While the intent was to playfully show that some people just don't enjoy wearing paper Christmas hats over the festive season, we have removed the post following feedback and we apologise for any unintentional hurt caused."
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