John Lewis Christmas advert 2026: Gloria and Pickles stars Kristin Scott Thomas
John Lewis has unveiled its 2026 Christmas advert, Gloria and Pickles, which it says is a heart warming call to the nation to make festive gifting personal, joyful and meaningful once again.
Created by Saatchi & Saatchi, the campaign launches with a three-minute film following Gloria, played by Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning actress Kristin Scott Thomas, and Pickles the dog, her a vintage Little Snoopy pull-along toy, a childhood gift.
Subscribe to TRBSet against the tagline “Don’t give up on giving”, the story focuses on how the fear of not finding the “perfect gift” can overshadow the pleasure of giving something thoughtful.
Advert storyline
The advert opens on Christmas Eve, as Gloria prepares her home for a family visit. Her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, Freddie and Maggie, arrive, and the children are kept busy with her old toys, including Pickles the dog.
The children are soon called away for lunch, leaving Gloria unsure what they really want for Christmas. Alone, she writes their cards and puts cash in each envelope, unconfident she can choose a gift they will love.
The toy dog then springs to life, voiced by actor, writer and comedian Paul Whitehouse, and tells her: “You can do better than cash.”
Pickles drags Gloria out on a last-minute gifting mission. As their hopes fade, a TukTuk takes the pair flying through the streets of London. Its bright, vibrant look sparks an idea, and she stops it outside John Lewis.
On Christmas morning, the children open their cards expecting cash but find the envelopes empty. Gloria instead holds up a single key, which unlocks her home office door.
Inside is the “Gran Cave”, a wonderland of sparkling lights, disco balls and music inspired by her TukTuk ride. Freddie and Maggie then throw their arms around their grandmother, as the surprise bridges the generational gap in a moment of joy.
Singer-songwriter Sam Fender has provided the soundtrack to the advert, which is a new cover of the Rolling Stones classic ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’.
The advert will premiere on John Lewis social channels, including YouTube and Instagram from 7.30am on 3 November, before running on TV during Coronation Street, ITV (8:30-9pm) and The Great British Bake Off, Channel 4 (8-9:15pm) on launch day.
Rosie Hanley, marketing and loyalty director at John Lewis, said: “The John Lewis Christmas advert is a beloved tradition, but for its 20th edition, we wanted it to feel extra special.
“Bringing in the sparkle of Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Sam Fender has helped bring this story to life beautifully.
“It’s a storyline that so many of our customers will relate to; I’ve definitely resorted to putting cash in an envelope for fear of getting it wrong.
“But our message this year is simple: ‘Don’t give up on giving.’ We hope this restores the nation’s gift-giving confidence and encourages customers to rediscover the joy of choosing something truly thoughtful for the people they love.”
