By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Dame Kristin Scott Thomas stars in the 2026 John Lewis Christmas advertisement, which debuted on November 3, featuring a vintage pull-along toy dog named Pickles voiced by Paul Whitehouse.
Plot centers on thoughtful gifting
The ad follows grandmother Gloria, played by Scott Thomas, who is disheartened when her grandchildren disrupt her immaculate study on Christmas Eve. She retrieves her old toy dog Pickles from the attic to entertain them, but the toy springs to life and chides her for lacking effort, urging her to do better than cash in a card. Pickles drags Gloria on a tuk-tuk ride through London to a John Lewis store for a last-minute gift mission. On Christmas morning, the children find a key that opens Gloria's study, now transformed into a "Gran Cave" with lights, disco balls, and a turntable for dancing together.
Soundtrack by Sam Fender supports charities
The commercial is set to a Sam Fender cover of The Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want," recorded with a children's choir from Fender's former school and a brass section from the Easington Colliery Band. Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger praised Fender's rendition. Proceeds from the single, backed with Fender's 2020 cover of "Winter Song," will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust and Action for Children, John Lewis's charity partner for its Building Happier Futures programme.
Premiere schedule
The ad premiered on John Lewis social channels, including YouTube and Instagram, at 7:30 am on November 3, before airing on ITV and Channel 4 between 8 pm and 9:15 pm the same evening.
