The wait is over. Does John Lewis’ third and final chapter in Saatchi & Saatchi’s Christmas trilogy meet John Lewis Christmas ad expectations? It must be tough creating a John Lewis Christmas commercial. Years of epic productions, heart-hugging emotions and the cutest characters has made anticipation grow to extraordinary heights.
Saatchi & Saatchi has chosen sisterhood as the theme for this year’s commercial – a smart idea that read the mood of the moment well. The ad, of course, is beautiful. The story emotive.
The Gifting Hour is the story of Sally, who, like many people, has left her festive shopping a bit late and is now rushing to find a gift for her sister at a John Lewis store. A stumble into a rack of dresses takes her to a magical world of her sister’s memories. The film ends with the line, “The secret to finding the perfect gift? Knowing where to look,” an obvious reference to John Lewis but also tying into the two previous commercials in the trilogy that celebrated people’s wise gifting choices.
The Verve’s song, Sonnet, by Richard Ashcroft underlines the power of the film’s message, the bond between sisters, and its mood.
To bring the commercial into everyday life, John Lewis is to run a UK-wdie search on TikTok for someone to do a cover of the ‘90s tune. Richard Ashcroft will join a panel of judges and the winner will record their version of Sonnet, to be featured in a special Christmas Day airing of the ad on TV. The full prize package includes a professional recording session, 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 next year.
The John Lewis 2024 Christmas trilogy:
Credits
Client: John Lewis
John Lewis Partnership Customer Director: Charlotte Lock
Brand Director: Rosie Hanley
Brand Marketing Lead: Katie England
Senior Marketing Manager: Carolyn Timberlake
Marketing Manager: Rebecca Day
Creative Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi
Chief Creative Officer: Franki Goodwin
Executive Creative Director: Eoin Mclaughlin
Creative Director: Ali Dickinson
Associate Creative Director: Mia Silverman
Chief Strategy Officer: Richard Huntington
Chief Operating Officer: Sarah Jenkins
Chief Production Officer: Jessica Ringshall
Head of Planning: Emily Lewis-Keane
Planning Director: Polly Goodman, Shaun Murphy
Business Lead: Rania Kouros
Account Director: Jack Steer
Executive Production Director: Sam Robinson
Executive Producer: Adam Walker
Production Assistant: Mickalah Aldridge
Head of Business Affairs: Charlotte Fisher
Business Affairs Manager: Dan Mcphilimey, Liz Staley
Media Buying: OMD Manning Gottlieb
Production: Riff Raff
Director: Francois Rousselet
Owner: Matthew Fone
Executive Producer: Jane Tredget
Producer: Jay Lovelock
Production Manager: Katie Keith
Director of Photography: Nicolas Karakatsanis
Production Designer: Alexandre Vivet
Costume Designer: PC Williams
Casting: Kharmel Cochrane
Post-Production: ETC
Colourist: Luke Morrison
Visual Effects Supervisor: Alex Snookes
Executive Producer: Antonia Vlasto
Producer: Oscar Wendt
Editing: Final Cut
Editor: Amanda James
Producer: Nikki Porter
Sound House: 750MPH
Sound Design: Sam Ashwell, Jake Ashwell & Mark Hellaby
Sound Mix: Sam Ashwell
Head of Production: Olivia Ray
Music: Wake The Town
Music Supervisor: Dom Bastyra
