22nd November 2021

With Christmas just around the corner, our screens are awash with Christmas adverts as brands seek to connect with consumers ahead of the holiday season.

Continuing our own festive tradition, we’ve compiled a list of the best Christmas ads of this year. Does your favourite make it onto the list?

John Lewis – Unexpected Guest

No list of festive ads would be complete without a mention from John Lewis.

Arguably the pioneer of Christmas adverts, the high-end department store has always been the undisputed champion of feel-good festive marketing.

Their tried-and-tested formula of a cute creature, an unlikely friendship, a soothing acoustic cover of a chart hit, and a tear-jerking story has won the hearts (and wallets) of customers time and again. This year’s ad is no different, with an alien crashing to Earth and discovering the joy of Christmas through friendship.

But has the formula worn thin?

It might have worked in the past, but with Christmas adverts now an essential part of the festive season, they might need to up their game.

Aldi – A Christmas Carrot

Aldi’s marketing team has done it again.

After a year of advertising wins, the German supermarket brand launched their Christmas advert, and with over two million views to date, it’s a clear favourite.

Funny, festive and on-brand, the ad offers a spin on the Christmas favourite, A Christmas Carol. Featuring everything from Kevin the Carrot, festive puns, and even the infamous Cuthbert the Caterpillar, all set to one of the best Christmas songs ever written – what’s not to love?

Marks & Spencer – Percy’s First Christmas

Marks & Spencer have joined the fray again this Christmas, with a festive ad led by the M&S poster boy (boar?), Percy the Pig, accompanied by a Christmas angel tree topper come to life, voiced by Tom Holland and Dawn French, respectively.

The ad sees Percy’s first Christmas, perusing a variety of festive M&S dishes (thankfully no pigs in blankets, for his sake). Simple enough but undeniably charming, it’s a sweet advert that will appeal to adults and children alike this Christmas.

Waitrose – Best Bit of Christmas

Another high-end supermarket looking to engage customers this Christmas is Waitrose, with an ad featuring a variety of sumptuous festive dishes.

Featuring the actress Ashley Jensen and celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal (with whom Waitrose frequently collaborates), it is sweet, simple and downright mouth-watering.

With just over 14K views, it’s not particularly story-driven, but with shots of candied figs, tender turkey and delectable mince pies, it appeals to anyone who’s mostly looking forward to Christmas dinner this season.

And while we’re all thinking it, Jensen says it – the best bit of Christmas is the food.

Disney – The Stepdad

Any advert from animation powerhouse Disney is sure to be a winner, and this year, they don’t disappoint. The ad sees Nicole, the granddaughter from last year’s advert all grown up, as her family welcomes their new stepdad for their first Christmas together.

Gorgeous animation and a contemporary narrative make this a beautiful, engaging scene. But where would Disney be without the music? The clip is scored to the soulful stylings of Gregory Porter’s Love Runs Deeper, resulting in a moving, genuinely heart-warming ad that puts it at the top of our list.

Tesco – This Christmas, Nothing’s Stopping Us

After 2020’s lockdown Christmas, Tesco is intent on making this year’s holiday go ahead as normal.

Set to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now (what else?), the supermarket chain’s ad shows a variety of people as they navigate power cuts, last-minute present shopping and broken-down cars in order to make Christmas happen.

Even Santa himself makes an appearance, waving a COVID passport at Border Control to make it through in time for Christmas Eve.

Funny and uplifting, Tesco have earned their place on the nice list this year.

Celebrations – The Lonely Bounty

Bounty’s are the Marmite of chocolate – you either love them or hate them.

Acknowledging the general public’s antipathy to the coconut-filled confection, Celebrations UK released The Lonely Bounty.

Shot in the style of a Christmas charity ad, the clip features a lone, unwanted Bounty who eventually finds solace in the arms of another seasonal love-it-or-hate-it, a sprout, in a scene that nods to the festive cinematic favourite, Love Actually.

The ad tops it off by inviting viewers to return their unloved Bounty’s in January via a dedicated Bounty Return Scheme. Funny and fresh, it’s a firm favourite with the Silver team.