Always hotly anticipated, this year’s John Lewis Christmas TV ad – premiered on ITV at 8.15pm tonight (November 4) during The Pride of Britain Awards – celebrates friendship and the magical moments of Christmas, experienced for the first time by an extra-terrestrial Skye. She has crash landed to earth in the woods behind the home of a teenage boy called Nathan, who is celebrating Christmas with family and friends.
During the two minute ad, Nathan introduces Skye to his family’s festive traditions, to include decorating the tree with fairy lights, celebrating the tradition of eating and hosting together, as well as to the joy of thoughtful gifting by giving her his Christmas jumper.
A version of Nathan’s Christmas jumper will be available in store and online, with John Lewis donating 10% of the profits for each jumper sold to Give a Little Love charities FareShare and Home-Start UK. All products featured in the ad are from John Lewis, with customers able to shop key scenes.
“There is nothing more magical than discovering the joy of Christmas for the first time and enjoying your favourite festive moments with loved ones,” says John Lewis’ director of customer services Claire Pointon. “After the last 18 months, we wanted our advert to really celebrate this as we look forward to a brighter future. We know our customers are excited for this festive season more than ever, as they reconnect with family and friends. Through the story of Skye and Nathan we celebrate friendship and are reminded of the joy of experiencing Christmas for the first time.”
The soundtrack, Together in Electric Dreams, is performed by singer-songwriter Lola Young.
As a first for John Lewis this year is that My John Lewis Members will be able to interact with the ad, with exclusive access to a virtual experience on the company’s app and website ‘Unexpected Guest: The Experience’.
Top: Skye and Nathan are the two central characters in the John Lewis Christmas TV ad which is all about friendship, festive traditions and gift giving.
