James Norton appears topless in Marks and Spencer's 2026 Christmas advertisement, playing an undercover Santa who sheds his beard and red suit to enjoy the festive season unnoticed. The campaign, which also stars Lucy Punch as Mrs Claus and features Katherine Jenkins singing, premiered on ITV's This Morning on Friday, November 6.
A Santa Who Goes Incognito
The Happy Valley and Grantchester actor trades his crimson outfit for a festive jumper, removes his beard, and at one point appears topless, leaving Mrs Claus flustered. He leaves the North Pole to witness moments that make Christmas magical, including dressing smartly, gathering around a table of food, and choosing presents. Along the way, Norton discovers that Christmas enchantment comes not only from the North Pole but from households across the nation, and he is stunned by a festively decorated M&S store.
Fans React to the Festive Campaign
Audiences have shared their enthusiasm for the advert on Instagram, with one person writing: "I love it", while a second stated: "It's perfect". A third chimed in: "Now it’s CHRISTMAS!!", as another exclaimed: "Best Ever!" One fan joked: "Everything we needed and more! @jginorton will definitely be on my Xmas list!", while another commented: "This is the best ever!!!!!!!!!!!" Another fan simply wrote: "SMASHED IT".
Stars on the Christmas Story
Speaking about his role, Norton said: "It's not every day you get asked to play Santa, let alone a Santa who immediately shaves off his beard! MandS has been such a familiar part of Christmas for as long as I can remember, so getting to be part of its Christmas campaign feels really special." He added: "I loved that this story takes such an iconic character and lets us see him differently. He gets to experience Christmas like the rest of us, discovering that the real magic is in the food, traditions and moments we share with the people we love. It's warm, funny and full of Christmas spirit, and I'm very happy to have been briefly trusted with the red suit."
Lucy Punch, who plays Mrs Claus and urges Santa to ditch the beard and explore Christmas for himself, said: "M&S and Christmas just go hand in hand, so it was an absolute joy to become part of that tradition this year. I loved that Mrs Claus is the one who gets this story moving. She gives him the nudge so he can get out there incognito and experience the magic of Christmas for himself." She added: "There's something very sweet and fun about their dynamic, and something quite lovely about the idea behind it: this idea that the magic you're looking for is actually happening all around you."
Music and Launch Details
The commercial is accompanied by a reimagined version of Belinda Carlisle's Heaven Is a Place on Earth, sung by Katherine Jenkins, whose rendition will be officially available to listeners after the advert launches. Jenkins said: "For me, Christmas has always been about coming home. It's about family, traditions and creating memories with the people you love most, and music is such a big part of that. Certain songs instantly become part of the soundtrack to our celebrations, so I was thrilled to record a new version of Heaven Is a Place on Earth for this campaign. I love how beautifully it complements the story, reminding us that the real magic of Christmas isn't found in grand gestures, but in the moments we share together at home."
The advertisement marks the first occasion M&S has united its food, fashion, home and beauty divisions beneath a single campaign since 2017. It debuted on social media at 7am on Friday, November 6, before airing on ITV's This Morning later that day.
