09 November 2023 , 00:01
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Meet Snapper the Venus fly trap – the adorable star of this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert.
The much-anticipated ad, out today, tells the story of how Snapper wins round a family. It starts with a boy, Alfie, buying a “grow your own Christmas tree” – which grows into Snapper instead.
The hungry plant grows too big for the house, only to be welcomed back after giving out presents on Christmas morning.
The Saatchi & Saatchi campaign features Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who performs a song called Festa, and stars eight-year-old Teddy Holton-Frances, from Bournemouth.
The John Lewis Christmas advert is finally here (John Lewis)The soundtrack will be released as a charity single – and John Lewis will be selling Snapper toys, pyjamas and even a grow-your-own flytrap.
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Charlotte Lock, from John Lewis, said: “The film celebrates themes of family and evolving traditions.”
This year’s battle of retailers’ Christmas commercials is a sea of celebrity cameos, but John Lewis has gone back to basics. It has all the hallmarks of a classic – cute characters, comedic moments and a scene that managed to bring a tear to even this cynical journalist’s eye.
The advert won't leave a dry eye among TV viewers (John Lewis)While you may not immediately associate a Venus fly trap with Christmas, somehow the Snapper character just works. And moving the soundtrack away from a saccharine ballad cover has added an extra burst of joy to the advert.
The result is a winner of an ad with a feel-good, festive buzz that will warm even the coldest of hearts.