M&S and John Lewis Christmas adverts are "neck and neck" as soundtracks battle it out in the charts

It’s not just the Christmas adverts competing for attention this year, as M&S and John Lewis find themselves locked in a festive chart battle, with their respective soundtracks separated by just one place on iTunes.

The battle of the Christmas adverts is well and truly underway, but it seems viewers are doing more than simply watching the retailers’ much-anticipated festive campaigns – they’re downloading the music, too.

And in a surprising twist, M&S and John Lewis are neck and neck in the music charts, with two very different covers fighting for listeners’ attention.

According to live iTunes chart data, Sam Fender’s version of You Can’t Always Get What You Want, featured in the John Lewis Christmas advert, and Katherine Jenkins’ reworking of Heaven Is a Place on Earth, which provides the soundtrack to M&S’s festive campaign, are separated by just one position.

At the time of writing, Sam Fender is sitting at number 13, with Katherine Jenkins following closely behind at number 14.

However, the race has been incredibly close since the tracks became available, with the two songs repeatedly swapping places throughout the day.

Earlier, Katherine had moved ahead of Sam, only for the Geordie singer to reclaim the higher position.

With both tracks attracting considerable attention, the question is whether the John Lewis favourite or the M&S soundtrack will ultimately emerge as this year’s Christmas advert chart winner.

Sam Fender provides the soundtrack to John Lewis Christmas advert

John Lewis kicked off its festive campaign on November 3 with its 2026 Christmas advert, titled Gloria and Pickles, marking the 20th instalment of the retailer’s much-loved Christmas advertising tradition.

This year’s commercial stars award-winning actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas as Gloria, a grandmother who is desperate to find a meaningful Christmas present for her grandchildren.

The story begins on Christmas Eve, as Gloria welcomes her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, Freddie and Maggie, into her home.

However, when she struggles to connect with the youngsters and worries about choosing presents they will actually enjoy, she decides that giving them money in their Christmas cards is the safest option.

That’s when an unexpected character steps in.

Pickles, a vintage wooden pull-along dog toy, suddenly comes to life and challenges Gloria to put more thought into her presents.

Voiced by comedian and actor Paul Whitehouse, Pickles tells her that she can do better than simply giving cash, before taking her on an unexpected gift-finding adventure through London.

The pair eventually arrive at John Lewis, where Gloria finds inspiration for a much more personal surprise.

On Christmas morning, Freddie and Maggie discover that their cards contain no money but a mysterious key instead. It unlocks Gloria’s home office, which she has transformed into a magical ‘Gran Cave’, complete with sparkling lights, disco balls and music.

The advert carries the message ‘Don’t give up on giving’, encouraging people to rediscover the joy of choosing thoughtful presents for the people they love.

And providing the emotional soundtrack is Sam Fender, who has recorded a new version of The Rolling Stones classic You Can’t Always Get What You Want.

The story behind Sam Fender’s Rolling Stones cover

Originally released by The Rolling Stones in 1969 on their album Let It Bleed, You Can’t Always Get What You Want is one of the band’s most recognisable songs.

The track was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and has remained a much-loved classic for generations.

Sam’s new interpretation gives the song a fresh, atmospheric feel, while retaining the emotion and familiarity of the original.

The singer also brought a personal touch to the recording by re-recording the children’s choir with pupils from his former school, John Spence Community High School in North Shields.

He also arranged a brass section featuring the Easington Colliery Band, adding another distinctive layer to the soundtrack.

Sam described it as a privilege to rework such an iconic song by such a legendary band.

The cover has even received the approval of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, who praised Sam’s version, saying he was pleased to hear him covering one of his songs and thought he had done a great job.

The single has also been released with Sam’s 2020 cover of Winter Song as its B-side, with proceeds from physical sales through John Lewis going to Action for Children, while sales through Sam’s own store benefit Teenage Cancer Trust.

Katherine Jenkins takes on Belinda Carlisle for M&S

Not to be outdone, M&S unveiled its own festive offering on Friday, November 6, with a star-studded Christmas campaign titled The Home of Christmas.

The advert brings together the retailer’s Food, Fashion, Home and Beauty departments in one campaign for the first time since 2017.

Leading the cast is actor James Norton, who takes on the role of an undercover Santa Claus, alongside Amandaland star Lucy Punch as Mrs Claus.

The story sees Santa leaving the North Pole to experience Christmas in the real world.

Encouraged by Mrs Claus, he swaps his traditional red suit for a Christmas jumper and shaves off his beard in an attempt to go unnoticed.

With his new disguise, Santa sets off to discover what makes Christmas special for ordinary families, experiencing everything from festive food and dressing up to gift-giving and decorating the home.

The campaign celebrates the idea that the real magic of Christmas can be found in the everyday moments spent with loved ones.

And providing the musical accompaniment is none other than Katherine Jenkins OBE, who also makes a special appearance in the advert.

The Welsh mezzo-soprano has recorded a brand-new version of Belinda Carlisle’s 1987 hit Heaven Is a Place on Earth.

The song was specially reworked for the campaign, with Katherine working alongside music producers Fraser T Smith and Tom Howe to give the much-loved pop classic a fresh festive feel.

Speaking about the recording, Katherine said she was delighted to be involved, explaining that Christmas has always been about coming home, family, traditions and making memories with the people closest to you.

She also highlighted how music plays such an important part in festive celebrations, adding that she loved how the song complemented the advert’s message.

The original song behind M&S’s Christmas soundtrack

For those who recognise the song but perhaps haven’t heard it for a while, Heaven Is a Place on Earth was originally recorded by American singer Belinda Carlisle.

The track was released in 1987 and became one of the biggest hits of her solo career, reaching number one in both the UK and US.

Written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, the original is an unmistakable 1980s pop anthem, known for its uplifting chorus and romantic lyrics.

Katherine’s version takes the familiar song in a different direction, bringing her distinctive classical crossover vocals to the track.

It is a rather different musical approach from Sam Fender’s more atmospheric Rolling Stones cover, which perhaps explains why the two soundtracks are attracting such different audiences.

Nevertheless, both have clearly struck a chord with music fans.

Who will win the Christmas advert soundtrack battle?

With just one position separating the two songs on iTunes, the competition between M&S and John Lewis is proving just as exciting as the adverts themselves.

At the latest check, Sam Fender’s You Can’t Always Get What You Want is at number 13, while Katherine Jenkins’ Heaven Is a Place on Earth sits at number 14.

But the positions have been changing throughout the day, suggesting that neither retailer has a clear advantage just yet.

Both songs have the benefit of being familiar classics, although their new interpretations offer something different from the originals.

John Lewis has opted for a much-loved Rolling Stones anthem, reimagined by one of Britain’s biggest contemporary singer-songwriters, while M&S has chosen an iconic 1980s pop hit, transformed by one of the UK’s best-known classical singers.

And with Christmas still weeks away, there is plenty of time for the chart positions to change again.

One thing is clear: the competition to deliver this year’s most memorable Christmas advert soundtrack is already proving a hit with shoppers and music fans alike.

But which version deserves the top spot – Sam Fender’s Rolling Stones cover or Katherine Jenkins’ take on Belinda Carlisle?

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