John Lewis has kicked off the festive season with the release of its 20th Christmas campaign, titled Gloria and Pickles, featuring a star-studded cast and a cover of a Rolling Stones classic.
The three-minute advert, released overnight, is led by Dame Kristin Scott Thomas alongside a vintage wooden pull-along dog named Pickles, voiced by Paul Whitehouse. The soundtrack is a cover of You Can’t Always Get What You Want performed by Sam Fender.
Mick Jagger’s approval and the story
According to the John Lewis team, Sir Mick Jagger gave his seal of approval to the cover. The music legend said: “I’m a fan of Sam’s work, so I was pleased to hear he was covering one of my songs. I think he’s done a great job with it.”
The campaign carries the strapline: “Don’t give up on giving.” The story begins with Gloria preparing her home for the arrival of her daughter and two grandchildren. To keep the kids entertained, she brings out her old childhood toy, Pickles the wooden dog, but the grandkids quickly grow bored.
The magical shopping trip
Deflated, Pickles springs to life and drags Gloria out of the house on a frantic last-minute shopping mission. The pair hail a brightly coloured TukTuk that flies through the streets of London and drops them outside John Lewis.
Come Christmas morning, the grandkids rip open their envelopes expecting cash, but instead find a single shiny key. They unlock Gloria’s home office to discover she has transformed it into a dazzling “Gran Cave” – complete with sparkling disco balls, neon lights, and pumping music inspired by her TukTuk ride.
Cast and availability
Dame Kristin said of the role: “I simply couldn’t resist the opportunity to lead a John Lewis Christmas advert – it's such a cherished part of the festive season.”
Both the Pickles toy and Sam Fender’s track are available to buy in store.
