Watch: John Lewis Christmas advert featuring Sam Fender

John Lewis has unveiled its much-anticipated 2026 Christmas advert, and you can watch it here.

With an emotional festive story starring Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, a talking toy dog and a brand-new soundtrack by chart-topping singer-songwriter Sam Fender, it’s set to be a huge viral hit.

Titled ‘Gloria and Pickles’, the three-minute advert marks the 20th edition of the retailer’s much-loved Christmas campaign. This year’s film celebrates the joy of thoughtful gifting, encouraging shoppers to rediscover the magic of choosing something special for the people they love.

With the tagline “Don’t give up on giving”, the advert explores how the pressure to find the perfect present can sometimes take away from the simple pleasure of giving.

Fans can watch the 2026 John Lewis Christmas advert here.

Watch the 2026 John Lewis Christmas advert

The advert stars Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas as Gloria, alongside Pickles the dog, a childhood toy brought to life and voiced by comedian and actor Paul Whitehouse.

Set on Christmas Eve, the story follows Gloria as she prepares to welcome her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, Freddie and Maggie, for the festive celebrations.

When the children arrive, Gloria retrieves her old toy collection from the attic in an attempt to entertain them. Among the toys is Pickles, a vintage Little Snoopy Pull-Along Toy.

However, the grandchildren are quickly distracted, leaving Gloria wondering whether she really knows what they would like for Christmas.

Concerned about choosing the wrong presents, she decides to put cash inside their Christmas cards instead. But when Pickles suddenly springs to life, he has some strong words of advice for Gloria: “You can do better than cash”.

Voiced by Paul Whitehouse, Pickles takes Gloria on a last-minute gifting adventure through London, eventually inspiring her to think outside the box.

On Christmas morning, Freddie and Maggie open their cards expecting money, only to discover that their grandmother has something much more exciting planned.

A key leads them to Gloria’s home office, transformed into a magical ‘Gran Cave’, complete with sparkling lights, disco balls and music.

The thoughtful surprise brings the generations together, delivering the advert’s central message about the importance of personal and meaningful gifts.

Sam Fender provides the Christmas soundtrack

One of the biggest talking points of this year’s John Lewis advert is its soundtrack, provided by award-winning North East singer-songwriter Sam Fender.

The musician has recorded a brand-new cover of The Rolling Stones’ classic ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’, released alongside the Christmas campaign.

The track is particularly special, featuring a children’s choir made up of pupils from Fender’s former school, John Spence Community High School, as well as a brass section arranged with Easington Colliery Band.

Sam Fender said: “It was a privilege to rework such an iconic song by such a legendary band. In the spirit of Christmas, we re-recorded the children’s choir with the kids from my old school, John Spence Community High School, and we arranged a brass section with the Easington Colliery Band.”

The release marks Fender’s first new music since the record-breaking success of ‘Rein Me In’.

Listen to Sam’s new song from the advert in full.

Who is Sam Fender?

Sam Fender is a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter from North Shields, Tyne and Wear, who has become one of Britain’s biggest musical exports.

Known for his distinctive vocals, guitar-driven sound and emotionally charged songwriting, Fender first attracted widespread attention with tracks including ‘Play God’ and ‘Dead Boys’.

His debut album, ‘Hypersonic Missiles’, was released in 2019 and reached number one in the UK Albums Chart. He followed it with ‘Seventeen Going Under’ in 2021, another chart-topping record which earned widespread critical acclaim and cemented his reputation as one of the country’s leading rock artists.

His third studio album, ‘People Watching’, continued his success, while his music has earned him major industry recognition, including BRIT Awards.

Fender is particularly known for drawing inspiration from his North East roots, with his lyrics often exploring working-class life, relationships, social issues and personal experiences.

His involvement in the John Lewis campaign also brings a personal connection, with children from his former school contributing to the recording.

Physical copies of ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ will be available through the John Lewis website on 7-inch vinyl and CD. The single will also feature Fender’s 2020 cover of ‘Winter Song’, which is receiving its first physical release.

All John Lewis profits from the records sold will go to Action for Children, the retailer’s charity partner for its Building Happier Futures programme, supporting people who have grown up in care.

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger praised the recording, saying: “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.”

Kristin Scott Thomas on starring in the advert

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas leads the festive film as Gloria, bringing warmth and humour to the story of a grandmother trying to reconnect with her grandchildren through the perfect Christmas present.

The award-winning actress said: “I simply couldn’t resist the opportunity to lead a John Lewis Christmas advert – it’s such a cherished part of the festive season. Plus, Gloria’s journey captured my heart straight away. She represents so many parents and grandparents who want nothing more than to create lasting memories with the younger generation. Working alongside Pickles to create the ‘Gran Cave’ was an absolute joy, and I hope the ad brings a big smile to families across the UK this Christmas.”

The campaign was created by Saatchi & Saatchi and directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Lucy Forbes, known for her work on ‘This Is Going to Hurt’ and ‘Eric’.

When will the 2026 John Lewis Christmas advert be on TV?

The 2026 John Lewis Christmas advert will premiere across the retailer’s social media channels, including YouTube and Instagram, from 7.30am on Tuesday, November 3.

It will then make its television debut during tonight’s episodes of Coronation Street on ITV and The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4.

The advert is scheduled to air during Coronation Street between 8.30pm and 9pm, and The Great British Bake Off between 8pm and 9.15pm.

What is the message behind this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert?

John Lewis says its 20th Christmas campaign is designed to encourage people to rediscover the joy of giving, rather than becoming overwhelmed by the pressure of finding the perfect present.

Rosie Hanley, Marketing & Loyalty Director at John Lewis, said: “The John Lewis Christmas advert is a beloved tradition, but for its 20th edition, we wanted it to feel extra special. Bringing in the sparkle of Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Sam Fender has helped bring this story to life beautifully. It’s a storyline that so many of our customers will relate to; I’ve definitely resorted to putting cash in an envelope for fear of getting it wrong. But our message this year is simple: ‘Don’t give up on giving.’ We hope this restores the nation’s gift-giving confidence and encourages customers to rediscover the joy of choosing something truly thoughtful for the people they love.”

Franki Goodwin, Chief Creative Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi, added: “This year has been a joyful collaboration with a series of icons; a Dame, a record-breaking artist, and an enduring wooden toy. I would also add our director Lucy Forbes to that list, who was for us, the only person to bring this powerful intergenerational story to life. Finding the perfect balance between relatable family dynamics and proper magic gave us the opportunity to create this glorious celebration of giving. This one really does have something for everyone.”

With a familiar festive formula, an all-star cast and a soundtrack from one of Britain’s most popular musicians, John Lewis is hoping its 2026 Christmas advert will once again capture the hearts of viewers across the country.

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