Description
This year’s John Lewis Christmas advert tells a story about rediscovering the joy in gifting, with the tagline “Don’t give up on giving”.
Award-winning actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas stars alongside ‘Pickles the dog’ voiced by TV royalty, Paul Whitehouse.
Renowned singer-songwriter Sam Fender provides the soundtrack with his brand-new single, a cover of The Rolling Stones’ classic, ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’.
John Lewis has today revealed its 2026 Christmas advert, “Gloria and Pickles”. The 20th edition of the retailer's much-loved Christmas ad issues a heartwarming call to the nation to make festive gifting personal, joyful and meaningful once again.
The campaign, created by Saatchi & Saatchi, launches with a three-minute advert which follows Gloria (played by Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas) and her faithful companion and childhood gift, Pickles the dog. Set against the festive tagline “Don’t give up on giving,” the story touches on a relatable modern truth: the fear of not finding the “perfect gift” can overshadow the simple pleasure of giving something thoughtful this festive season.
The soundtrack: Sam Fender
Chart-topping singer-songwriter Sam Fender has provided the soundtrack, with a brand new cover of the Rolling Stones classic ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’. Released today, the song is his first new music since ‘Rein Me In’s’ record-breaking successes globally.
The story: Gloria & Pickles
It’s Christmas Eve, and Gloria is putting the finishing touches on her beautiful home, ready to welcome her family for the big day. The doorbell rings, ushering in her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, Freddie & Maggie.
The kids are restless from the long journey, so Gloria retrieves her old toy collection from the attic to keep them entertained. She introduces her grandchildren to ‘Pickles the dog’, a vintage Little Snoopy Pull-Along Toy, but they’re quickly distracted by shouts for lunch, leaving Gloria feeling that she doesn’t know what they really want.
While alone, Gloria writes their Christmas cards and places cash inside each envelope. She wants to feel close to her grandchildren, but doesn’t feel confident in her ability to choose a gift they’ll genuinely love. Suddenly, the toy dog springs to life, voiced by acclaimed actor, writer and comedian, Paul Whitehouse, and berates her lack of effort: “You can do better than cash”.
Pickles drags Gloria out of the house, on a last-minute gifting mission. As they start to give up hope, a TukTuk arrives, taking the duo flying through the streets of London. The bright and vibrant TukTuk sparks a gifting epiphany, so she calls it to a halt outside John Lewis.
On Christmas morning, Gloria hands Freddie & Maggie their Christmas cards. Expecting cash, the children are surprised to find the envelopes empty - instead, their grandmother holds up a single key. Unlocking her home office door, they discover the ‘Gran Cave’ - a magical wonderland filled with sparkling lights, disco balls, and music inspired by her TukTuk adventure. Delighted, Freddie and Maggie throw their arms around their grandmother, as the thoughtful surprise bridges the generational gap through a moment of pure joy.
This professional campaign titled 'Don’t give up on giving' was published on November 05, 2026. It was created for the brand: John Lewis, by ad agency: Saatchi&Saatchi. This campaign contains 1 media asset. It was submitted 5 days ago.
