John Lewis Christmas advert: Venus flytrap takes starring role in much-awaited campaign
John Lewis has released its much-awaited Christmas advert – with a Venus flytrap in a starring role.
The advert – called Snapper, The Perfect Tree – follows a young boy as he lovingly nurtures a seed bought at a local market, thinking he is growing a Christmas tree.
But the outcome is more Little Shop Of Horrors than evergreen fir.
The fast-growing plant is soon snapping at the dog and gobbling decorations – until his antics go too far and he is dragged out into the cold.
A traditional tree goes up in Snapper’s place as he watches through the window from the frosty garden.
Of course Snapper couldn’t stay cast out forever – and to the rousing soundtrack performed by opera star Andrea Bocelli, the family moves the celebrations outside, ending with the strapline “Let your traditions grow”.
The reaction to the advert was mixed, with a chorus of people on X, formerly Twitter, saying a Venus flytrap wasn’t “very Christmassy”.
“Nothing says ‘Merry Christmas’ like an alien man eating plant,” one viewer said.
But others said the uplifting message hit the right note. “It’s a bit of festive cheer at a time when things are a bit low for people,” one X user said.
Pic: John Lewis
John Lewis customer director Charlotte Lock said: “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 festive traditions and that makes them even more special. The film celebrates themes of family and evolving traditions, and shows that a ‘perfect’ Christmas is finding joy together with loved ones, whatever your traditions.”
M&S was one of the first supermarkets to reveal its ad campaign, following a similar theme of ditching unwanted traditions.
However it was forced into an apology after an outtake from the video was criticised for showing burning paper hats resembling the Palestinian flag.
Asda brought in Michael Bublé – the man whose voice is synonymous with Christmas – for an ad directed by Taika Waititi.
Sainsbury’s stayed away from high concept and instead focused on its product as a young girl asks over the tannoy what Santa has for Christmas dinner.
And Lidl tied the ad into the launch of its Toy Bank, donating gifts to children, with a cute tale of a raccoon returning a lost toy.
John Lewis has not revealed its budget for its campaign, which is its first with agency Saatchi and Saatchi after a partnership with adam&eveDDB stretching back to 2009. That one created ads featuring Monty The Penguin, The Bear And The Hare and Excitable Edgar.
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Excitable Edgar stars in the 2019 John Lewis Christmas ad
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The ad’s soundtrack is an original song called Festa – which means celebration – composed for the campaign by Italian electro-pop duo Le Feste Antonacci.
Bocelli said: “I am delighted to take part in this wonderful and unique tradition of Christmas storytelling.”
The soundtrack will be released in longer form as a charity single, with a proportion of the proceeds going to the John Lewis Partnership’s Building Happier Futures charities, which help young people with experience of the care system and families in need.
UK
Masked burglars ‘raid’ Windsor Castle grounds ‘while William, Kate and children slept at home on estate’
Masked burglars have stolen farm vehicles from the Windsor Castle estate while members of the Royal Family are believed to have been asleep nearby.
Two men scaled a 6ft fence on the night of 13 October and used a stolen truck to break through a security gate, The Sun first reported.
The pair then fled with a pick-up and a quad bike that were stored in a barn.
The King and Queen were not in residence.
But the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Louis were believed to have been in their home, Adelaide Cottage, on the estate, according to The Sun.
The family moved there in 2022.
In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: “At around 11.45pm on Sunday 13 October, we received a report of burglary at a property on Crown Estate land near to the A308 in Windsor.
“Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike. They then made off towards the Old Windsor/Datchet area.
“No arrests have been made at this stage and an investigation is ongoing.”
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On Christmas Day 2021, a man climbed a fence at Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow and claimed he wanted to kill Queen Elizabeth II.
Jaswant Singh Chail was handed a nine-year custodial sentence for treason, possession of an offensive weapon and making threats to kill.
The UK is braced for “disruptive snow” as yellow weather warnings cover large parts of the country until Tuesday – with the Met Office saying there is the “potential” for the alerts to be “escalated”.
The forecaster has warned up to 20cm of snow may accumulate in the worst affected areas as the country experiences its “first taste of winter”.
The Met Office has also told people to expect ice, cold temperatures and wintry showers this week.
Check the forecast in your area
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for much of the north of the country – covering areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Wales and the north of England – from 7pm on Monday night to 10am on Tuesday morning.
Those in the impacted areas have been told power cuts are possible and mobile phone coverage might be affected.
The Met Office has said there is a “slight chance” some rural communities could be cut off and that bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled.
People are also warned to be careful not to slip or fall on icy surfaces.
The Met Office has said there will be bright spells across northern and eastern areas throughout today, but rain in the south and west will gradually spread northeastwards and turn to snow over northern hills.
Parts of the UK are experiencing their ‘first taste of winter’, says the Met Office. File pic: PA
Tom Morgan, Met Office meteorologist, said: “We could see some disruptive snow in the Pennine regions, in particular, the Peak District as well, especially Monday night, but we could well see some impacts lasting on until Tuesday morning’s rush hour.
“Even down to lower levels, we could well see some snow as well, so quite a bit of disruption possible by Tuesday morning, and then the week ahead is likely to stay cold nationwide, a windy day on Tuesday, and then winter showers through the week ahead.”
Mr Morgan said that despite a “mild” start to the month, the cold conditions are more typical of “mid-winter to late-winter”.
“What we can say is that it’s going to be very cold for the time of year, there will be widespread overnight frosts, and a few locations where there’s snow on the ground,” he continued.
The yellow weather warnings in place across the UK
Meanwhile, a yellow snow and ice weather warning that came into force at 4pm on Sunday will end at 11am this morning.
The warning covers the northern tip of Scotland and people there have been told there may be icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.
The Met Office has said there is “potential” for both yellow warnings to be “escalated”.
In southern England, a typical maximum temperature for this time of year is 11C (52F), but daytime highs for the week ahead are forecast to be around 5C (41F), while some parts of Scotland will reach “only just above freezing”, Mr Morgan said.
The meteorologist said the public can best prepare for the wintry weather by checking their cars are suitable for icy and potentially snowy conditions and to take extra supplies including food, blankets and a fully charged mobile phone with them on journeys.
He added there were “likely” to be changes to the weather warnings in the coming days, and that “winter flurries” could be seen in the south of England later in the week.
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Despite the cold conditions, the “whole of the UK” will enjoy more sunshine this week, the meteorologist added.
He said: “There’ll be some snow showers in the peripheries of the UK, particularly northern Scotland, and down the east and the west coast, but if you live inland and you live in the south, there’ll be lots of sparkly blue skies on the most days through Tuesday to Friday.”
It comes as a cold weather alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency, which was introduced at 9am on Sunday, will be in place until 9am on Thursday.
It covers a large area of England, north of Northhampton. The alert is triggered when there is a risk that healthcare services might face extra pressure and is designed to prepare those who are “particularly vulnerable” and “likely to struggle to cope”.
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