The lead-up to Christmas can be hectic. There’s the awkward office Christmas party. The never-ending children’s Christmas concert. Cancelled trains and planes…But there’s also McDonald’s and this year Leo Burnett UK is reminding the UK that it’s there for all for those all-important moments of relief.

The feel-good Christmas commercial, Fancy a McDonald’s Christmas?, builds on the brand’s Raise Your Arches campaign and is set to the rousing ‘80s hit, Jump, by Van Halen and directed by Killing Eve’s Shannon Murphy.

The commercial will make its debut during the ad break of The Voice on ITV and Terminator: Dark Fate on Channel 4 on November 11, and the same day on cinema. It will also run ahead of Love Actually 20th Anniversary screenings, one of the UK’s best loved Christmas films. 

*Note: Watch for the subtle dig at Burger King in the spot:

Fancy a McDonald’s Christmas? is supported by a social media campaign including a Snapchat filter that gives everyone the chance to try on outfits from the film by raising their arches. Alongside this, the brand will be running 30 days of app offers through the Festive Wins promotion, allowing customers to win food and merch including a partnership with Crocs that features the popular footwear decorated with McDonald’s iconography. McDonald’s will also introduce a family-friendly Festive Paddington Happy Meal partnership over the Christmas period.

Michelle Graham-Clare, senior vice president, chief marketing officer at McDonald’s UK & Ireland, stated, “Celebrating the iconicity of a knowing look, an unspoken communication to signify the all-consuming craving for a Big Mac is something we’ve proudly celebrated all year. I cannot wait to see the reaction to our Fancy a McDonald’s Christmas campaign. Underpinned by generous offers and competitions in our app to kick-start Christmas early, we hope to raise many smiles – and eyebrows – once again.

James Millers and Andrew Long, creative partners at Leo Burnett UK, added, “The beginning of 2023 saw us turn a simple raise of the of eyebrows into an invitation to Maccies. So, what better way to finish the year than bringing this iconic action back for Christmas? This feel-good campaign hopes to spread some joy, by celebrating all of those important moments of release during the festive period.”

Credits
Client: McDonald’s UK & IE
Advertising Agency:  Leo Burnett UK
CCO: Chaka Sobhani
Executive Creative Director: Mark Elwood
Creative Partners: Andrew Long & James Millers
Creative Director: Emma Brooke
Creatives: Angus Crombie & Drew Davies
Designer: Danny Flint
Social Creatives: Lisi Davis & Cicely Alderson
Project Director & Social Producer: Siobhan Mulcahy
Deputy CSO: Tom Sussman
Planning Director: Hamish Cameron
Senior Planner: Alexandra Arnold-Jones
Business Director: Steph Bates 
Account Director: Alice Pavey
Senior Account Manager: Nicola Kuan
Account Executive: Jan Nikawala
Chief Production Officer: Emily Marr
Agency Producer:  Graeme Light

Production Company: Smuggler
Director:  Shannon Murphy
Editor: Billy Mead
Producer: Lucy Gossage

Post-Production & VFX: Framestore
VFX Supervisor: Jules Janaud
2D Supervisor: Michael Baker
Flame Artists: Andrew Salter & Luigi Russo
Senior Producer: Alexia Paterson

Colour: Company 3
Colourist: Steffan Perry
Producer: Chris Anthony

Audio Post-Production Company: 750

Social Executive Producer: Stephanie Elliott (Smuggler)
Social Creative Studio: Summon Studios
Social Director & DOP: Oliver Kane
Social Creative Producer: Sam Hampson
Social Edit & Grade: Oliver Kane

Client: McDonald’s 
Chief Marketing Officer, SVP: Michelle Graham-Clare
Head of Consumer Communications & Partnerships: Louise Page
Director of Marketing: Steven Howells
Head of Marketing, Brand Affinity, Trust & Family: Hannah Pain
Senior Brand Manager: Emma O’neill
Brand Managers: Amber Myers & Emma Pellegrinelli
Campaign Assistant: Callum Seviour

Media: OMD Uk
Social: Oliver
PR: Red
CRM: Armadillo
In-Store: Linney

Director: Shannon Murphy 
Assistant Director: Laura Hafes
Production Company: Smuggler 
Managing Director: Fergus Brown 
Deputy Managing Director & Executive Producer: Lucy Kelly 
UK Head Of Production: Amelia Hanbury
Producer: Lucy Gossage 
Production Manager: Max Harrison