You Can’t Always Get What You Want – from the new John Lewis Christmas advert
Sam Fender has officially provided the soundtrack for the 20th edition of the John Lewis Christmas Advert, lending his voice to a cover of the Rolling Stones classic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”.
Sam Fender’s John Lewis Christmas Cover
Sam Fender’s cover of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” serves as his first new music release since the global success of ‘Rein Me In’.
To record the track, Fender teamed up with children from his former school, John Spence Community High School, to perform the choir vocals, accompanied by a brass section from the Easington Colliery Band.
“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.” — Sam Fender
The cover received praise from original writer Mick Jagger:
“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.” — Mick Jagger
“Gloria and Pickles”: The 2026 Advert Storyline
Directed by BAFTA winner Lucy Forbes (This Is Going to Hurt, Eric) and created by Saatchi & Saatchi, the three-minute campaign titled “Gloria and Pickles” centers around the festive tagline: “Don’t give up on giving”.
The Story Breakdown
- The Challenge: On Christmas Eve, Gloria (played by Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas) welcomes her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren, Freddie & Maggie. Feeling unsure of what gifts her grandchildren actually want, she resorts to putting cash inside their Christmas cards.
- The Companion: Her childhood vintage Little Snoopy Pull-Along Toy, Pickles the dog (voiced by actor and comedian Paul Whitehouse), comes to life and challenges her decision, telling her: “You can do better than cash”.
- The Epiphany: Pickles leads Gloria on a last-minute gifting trip through London. A colorful TukTuk sparks an idea, prompting her to head straight to John Lewis.
- The Reveal: On Christmas morning, rather than cash, the grandchildren find a single key in their envelopes. It unlocks the “Gran Cave”—a transformed home office featuring disco balls, lights, and music inspired by her adventure—bridging the generational gap through a shared moment of joy.
Watch the new John Lewis advert in full.
“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.” — Dame Kristin Scott Thomas
Physical Release & Charity Support
Physical editions of Sam Fender’s cover will be made available on 7” vinyl and CD via the John Lewis website.
- B-Side Track: The physical release includes Sam Fender’s 2020 cover of ‘Winter Song’, available on a physical format for the first time.
- Charity Partner: All John Lewis profits from physical sales will be donated to Action for Children in support of their Building Happier Futures programme, assisting individuals who have grown up in care.