CHRISTMAS is officially here! Or at least that’s what fans are claiming now the first bout of adverts have started to pop up on our screens.
The festive period has kicked off with a bang as Brits can start to count on two hands how many xmas adverts have now been released.
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The highly anticipated arrival of John Lewis’ Christmas advert came yesterday morning, but it was also rivalled by the release of M&S’ Percy Pig centred tale, and the beauty giants at Boots unveiled their own Christmas magic too.
Very was ahead of the game this year as it revealed its own Christmas advert 85 days before Christmas Day.
With each release a whole host of merchandise has been launched too, set to get fans even more excited and involved in the festivities.
Some have even sold out already even though the adverts were only released just days ago.
But another Christmas staple, the Coca-Cola advert, is currently nowhere to be seen, and it’s always a favourite of those counting down to the big day – we’ll have to wait a little longer for its arrival yet.
For now though, check out all the adverts that have made their way to our screens so far, and maybe grab a mince pie or too to enjoy while you watch your way through them all.
Very – released October 1
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Christmas came early for online retailer Very this year, as it launched its festive advert with 85 days still to go until December 25.
Very was the first major brand to get its Christmas campaign underway, with the emphasis this year on getting started early.
The ad has arrived a full month earlier than it did last year, when the Very Christmas advert was first aired on November 1.
It features carollers alongside confused trick or treaters who are given mince pies instead of sweets, as Very cheekily acknowledges its ad aired a lot earlier than usual.
The ad is accompanied by the song “Holly Jolly Christmas” and first aired on ITV at the beginning of October.
Gap – released October 27
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Fashion retailer Gap released its Christmas ad for this year back in October too.
It features Katy Perry singing Beatles song “Aall you need is love” while playing the guitar.
She is filmed preparing for the day ahead as she runs on a treadmill, puts a face mask on and grabs a coffee.
Then she’s seen in a studio playing a white guitar and surrounded by people jumping around and dressed in winter clothes while snow falls all around.
The song also appears in the festive smash hit move Love Actually, when performers jump out at a wedding ceremony to serenade the bride and groom.
We don’t know exactly when we’ll catch it on the telly yet though.
Disney – released November 3
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Disney’s Christmas ad is almost like being treated to a brand new animated short from the giant movie makers.
“The Stepdad”, as the advert is named, is a three-minute animated tale about family togetherness and the power of storytelling.
It’s meant to be a sequel to last year’s “Lola”, which celebrated festive traditions passed down generations, the short film features a grown-up Nicole, the granddaughter from ‘Lola’, and her two children Max and Ella, as new step-dad Mike moves into their family home.
The ad is also supporting Make-A-Wish, and fans will be able to purchase a Skating Minnie Mouse soft toy and Journal inspired by the ad, exclusively from shopDisney.
Double Grammy Award winner Gregory Porter performs an emotive rendition of original track “Love Runs Deeper” as the soundtrack to the ad too.
Sports Direct – released November 4
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In the Sports Direct Christmas ad, tennis champ Emma Raducanu and football ace Jack Grealish lead a line-up of 16 sports stars who battle it out in a monumental snowball fight.
Sports Direct reportedly splurged £6million on the commercial and its advertising campaign getting all the famous faces on board for the festive take.
Also on the team sheet are Premier League footballers Jordan Pickford, Mason Mount, Declan Rice, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and England Women’s pro Fran Kirby.
Then from athletics there are Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill, and heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
Plus England rugby union giants Maro Itoje, Anthony Watson, and England Women’s Harriet Millar-Mills, all make an appearance too.
John Lewis – released November 4
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This was the big one that many fans couldn’t wait for – the John Lewis 2021 Christmas ad.
In the ad, called The Unexpected Guest, a teenage boy called Nathan meets an alien named Skye who has crash landed on earth.
They decorate a tree, eat mince pies, throw snowballs, watch an Xmas movie and he even gives her a gift of a Christmas jumper.
But the advert has a bittersweet ending, as Skye has fixed her ship and must return home.
In a tear-jerking moment, Nathan gifts Skye his Christmas jumper – which you can also buy as part of merchandise launched along with the ad.
The soundtrack this year is performed by Lola Young, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from South London, is a version of “Together in Electric Dreams”.
Some John Lewis fans were even “in tears” over the “lovely” Christmas advert.
But a handful deemed the advert a knock off of 80s movie classic ET, as the plot lines were very similar.
Boots – released November 4
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The Boots Christmas advert stars Jenna Coleman, who viewers will recognise as Clare from Doctor Who and BBC series The Serpent.
In the story she discovers an unexpected gift from her Nan which turns into a seemingly bottomless bag, reminiscent of the one owned by Mary Poppins.
The magical bag represents the thousands of gifts in the Boots range, including beauty, fragrance and homeware products as well as small stocking fillers.
So fans will get plenty of inspiration from the advert of all the wonderful gifts they can grab this year from the store.
M&S – released November 4
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Marks & Spencer revealed its own Christmas advert on the same day as John Lewis, Boots and more, and this year Percy Pig is brought to life.
Spiderman star Tom Holland is the voice of Percy Pig as he comes to life and explore the treats on offer in an M&S food hall.
Dawn French also stars as a festive fairy who accidentally drops her wand on the Christmas present box Percy’s wrapped up in.
He takes a tour of the M&S store in Stratford, east London, where the advert was filmed, and is amazed at all the festive food on offer.
The first showing of the ad was at 8.40am on Good Morning Britain on November 4.
M&S is also set to drop a new video every week until the New Year – which means eight more Percy Pig adventures to look forward to yet.
Percy Pig fans can also get their hands on a special Christmas soft toy – which is available in store for £16 now.
Asda – released November 4
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Asda has revealed its Christmas advert for 2021, which features a family gliding through the festive season on their ice skates.
The “Asda On Ice” clip as it’s being called, sees an ordinary family enter an Asda store before being transported through a series of traditional Christmas events.
The clip was choreographed by Dancing on Ice winner Daniel Whiston in fact and features the soundtrack of ice skating classic Bolero.
The first sign that all is not as it seems is when Asda employees begin synchronised skating with trolleys through the store.
Then the shoppers’ shoes are magically replaced by golden ice skates and they’re led on a Christmas adventure.
They go to a school play, featuring a Christmas pudding costume, plus there’s an office Christmas party scene with dancing photocopiers.
Back at home, the family entertain guests and show off platters of Asda’s party food and Christmas dinner menu.
JD Sports – released November 5
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JD Sports has released its Christmas ad today too, joining the lineup of other Christmas ads out already.
It’s called “King of the Streets” and features an array of stars from the worlds of sport, music and TV, filmed on the streets of Greater Manchester – where JD Sports was founded 40 years ago.
It’s sound tracked by Toddla T and Shaybo too, which will be exciting for JD’s typical shopper demographic.
The advert sees a teen taking a stroll down a fictitious high street on a cold, quiet wintery night but every store has been reimagined with a touch of JD Christmas magic. as each name features the J and D rebrand.
In one scene for example, Maya Jama and Michael Dapaah can be seen running a dog grooming salon called Jama & Dapaah, as well as there being a local milkshake parlour called Jammy Dodgers.
There are plenty more puns to look out for throughout the advert’s length, as well as other famous faces like Aitch, KSI and Ms Banks to track down too.
Sun reporter Jessica Clark tests out the Starbucks Christmas Menu
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