Saatchi & Saatchi’s first John Lewis Christmas ad has appeared, a return to the classic John Lewis Christmas formula with some added twists – a rock opera and a dash of humour. It’s the story of a little boy called Alfie, who plants his own Christmas tree, only to have it grow into a carnivorous Venus flytrap called Snapper. The commercial, that is meant to represent the value of the unusual and unexpected over conventional perfection, is titled Snapper: The perfect tree, and is underscored by an unconventional Italian rock opera, Festa, sung by tenor, Andrea Bocelli. The song was written and produced by the Italian electropop duo, Le Feste Antonacci, for the commercial. The commercial was created by Saatchi & Saatchi London creative team, Alex Kosterman and Avani Maan.

The two-minute spot was directed by Megaforce and produced by RiffRaff.

Franki Goodwin, chief creative officer, Saatchi & Saatchi, commented, “Taking on the John Lewis Christmas ad – no pressure, right? It has been quite the six months. But, honestly, having built a fully integrated campaign, and worked with the icons that are Megaforce and Bocelli to make a film that retains what is quintessential about a John Lewis Christmas ad, but evolves it into something perhaps a bit unexpected, wilder and funnier. I really do appreciate that pressure is a privilege – and making this has been a huge one.”

Accompanying the commercial are at least six short clips that focus on individual products including a hair styler, a Nespresso coffee machine and a perfume. John Lewis will also be selling Snapper Christmas ad merch – a plush plant, plush bauble, kids’ pyjamas and real Venus flytrap plants. And Snapper will be appearing as part of the Christmas lights at Kew Gardens in London and as a 5-metre tall construction climbing the front of John Lewis’s store on Oxford Street in London.