John Lewis hunts for the perfect Christmas
Though certainly not the first of this year's festive ads, the one which fires the starting gun on the Christmas season - as far as UK consumers are concerned, at least - has launched, and it follows one woman's journey through John Lewis, as well as the past, to find the perfect gift.
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Credits
powered by
- Agency Saatchi & Saatchi/London
- Production Company Riff Raff
- Director Francois Rousselet
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Credits
powered by
- Agency Saatchi & Saatchi/London
- Production Company Riff Raff
- Director Francois Rousselet
- Editing Final Cut/London
- Post Production Electric Theatre Collective
- Sound 750mph
- Music Wake The Town
- Chief Creative Officer Franki Goodwin
- Chief Strategy Officer Richard Huntington
- COO Sarah Jenkins
- Chief Production Officer (HP) Jessica Ringshall
- Executive Creative Director Eoin McLaughlin
- Creative Director Ali Dickinson
- Associate Creative Director Mia Silverman
- Executive Production Director Sam Robinson
- Producer Adam Walker
- Producer Jay Lovelock
- Production Manager Katie Keith
- Executive Producer Jane Tredget
- Production Designer Alexandre Vivet
- Producer Oscar Wendt
- DP Nicolas Karakatsanis
- Editor Amanda James
- Producer Nikki Porter
- Executive Producer Antonia Vlasto
- VFX Supervisor Alex Snookes
- Colorist Luke Morrison
- Sound Designer Sam Ashwell
- Sound Designer Mark Hellaby
- Sound Designer & Mix Jake Ashwell
- Head of Production Olivia Ray
- Music Supervisor Dominic Bastyra
Credits
powered by
- Agency Saatchi & Saatchi/London
- Production Company Riff Raff
- Director Francois Rousselet
- Editing Final Cut/London
- Post Production Electric Theatre Collective
- Sound 750mph
- Music Wake The Town
- Chief Creative Officer Franki Goodwin
- Chief Strategy Officer Richard Huntington
- COO Sarah Jenkins
- Chief Production Officer (HP) Jessica Ringshall
- Executive Creative Director Eoin McLaughlin
- Creative Director Ali Dickinson
- Associate Creative Director Mia Silverman
- Executive Production Director Sam Robinson
- Producer Adam Walker
- Producer Jay Lovelock
- Production Manager Katie Keith
- Executive Producer Jane Tredget
- Production Designer Alexandre Vivet
- Producer Oscar Wendt
- DP Nicolas Karakatsanis
- Editor Amanda James
- Producer Nikki Porter
- Executive Producer Antonia Vlasto
- VFX Supervisor Alex Snookes
- Colorist Luke Morrison
- Sound Designer Sam Ashwell
- Sound Designer Mark Hellaby
- Sound Designer & Mix Jake Ashwell
- Head of Production Olivia Ray
- Music Supervisor Dominic Bastyra
John Lewis's Christmas spot for 2024 is here and it takes viewers on an emotional and magical journey to find the perfect Christmas gift.
The two-minute TV advert, created by Saatchi & Saatchi London and directed by Francois Rousselet through Riff Raff, celebrates the search for the perfect gift as our central character, Sally, leaves it a little late to find the right present for her sister, so races into a John Lewis store at closing time.
Falling through a rack of dresses, she enters a fantastical world where we witness her stumbling out of the wardrobe in the attic of her childhood home and, from there, we are taken on a whimsical journey through her memories as she searches, against the clock, for the ultimate present. Along the way she interacts with past versions of her sister, tempted at times to stay and enjoy the moment, but ultimately focussed on finding that elusive gift.
After last year's up-tempo musical number, this year the Ivor Novello Award-winning Richard Ashcroft provides the musical backdrop with the poignant song Sonnet, originally released by Ashcroft's band The Verve in 1998.
“We’ve all been there - time’s running out, and you’re still looking for the perfect gift for someone in your life who’s impossible to shop for," said Franki Goodwin, Chief Creative Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi ."That’s why I believe viewers will truly connect with our heroine as she dives into a rack of dresses, exploring her memories in search of that special gift. The Gifting Hour is a glorious visual and emotional feast which is both grown-up and childlike at the same time. Our chosen track, Richard Ashcroft’s Sonnet, is a memory for anyone who grew up in the 90s – and the fact we’ve not chosen a cover version really leans into the nostalgia. We are delighted, however, to invite the nation to cover the track for Christmas day, in a wonderful twist on the magic John Lewis formula.”
John Lewis is renowned for its Christmas adverts featuring cover songs but, this year, the retailer is offering aspiring musicians a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the next John Lewis cover star. Partnering with BMG and Ashcroft himself, the store will launch a nationwide talent search on November 15 on TikTok via a branded effect on the John Lewis page, using the hashtag #MySonnet.
The lucky winner will record their own version of Sonnet, to be featured in a special Christmas Day airing of the advert on TV, with the track officially released by BMG. Chosen by Ashcroft and a panel of independent judges, the winner receives a remarkable prize package: a professional recording session with a top producer, their cover single released by BMG (with proceeds donated to the Building Happier Futures charity), a £3,000 John Lewis shopping spree, and tickets to a Richard Ashcroft headline show in 2025.
“To everyone involved in the project I raise a sherry and say salute," said Ashcroft. "Sonnet plays again, time for some mince pies. Merry Christmas, peace and love to all mankind."
