Morrisonshas entered the competition as retailers vie for the title of best festive advertisement this year.Christmas Day approaches.
In the holiday-themed film, a modern twist on Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Daddy Bear rushes frantically with a supermarket trolley and stares in awe at the deli counter.
After getting a last-minute message from Baby Bear saying: ‘Home for Xmas! Bringing someone xx,’ Mummy and Daddy Bear scramble to get ready for the big day.
Morrisons’ seasonal spin on the classic fairy tale shows Daddy Bear hurrying to the store for provisions, struggling to free his trolley from the queue and ending up on all fours to gaze at the tempting offerings at the deli counter.
At the same time, Mummy Bear works hard to bring holiday cheer by quickly decorating the tree—but her stress doesn’t stop her from sneaking a moment to scratch her back against the branches.
Although they were completely caught off guard by Baby Bear’s first message, nothing could have prepared them for the surprise arrival at their door—Baby Bear’s new girlfriend, Goldilocks.
Rather than chasing ‘Goldie’ away, the bear family warmly invites her to join them at the dinner table, where she comments that the meal is ‘a bit too hot for me,’ paying homage to the original 19th-century story.
“Everyone has their own vision of what makes Christmas feel just right, along with unique family traditions that give the season its special magic,” said Beverley Lumb, marketing and advertising director at Morrisons.
As the holiday season arrives in many forms, we take pride in offering genuine value, making sure every festive dish is made with thoughtfulness, attention, and quality for all who gather at your table.
It comes after John Lewis faced criticism over its Christmas advertisementafter being accused of depicting entitled grandchildren whose love depends solely on costly gifts.
The commercial centers on a grandmother, played by Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, who finds it hard to bond with her grandchildren.
The three-minute film, titled *Gloria and Pickles*, follows a well-off grandmother, portrayed by Dame Kristin, as she struggles to relate to her grandchildren, Freddie and Maggie, when they visit her London residence for Christmas.
When the children show no interest in her cherished childhood toy dog, Gloria, she prepares to hand them money instead.
However, the wooden dog, brought to life through the voice of comedian Paul Whitehouse, inspires her to try harder, leading to a sudden shopping frenzy.
She ultimately turns her home office into a ‘Gran Cave’, adorned with disco balls, lights, and music, finally winning a warm embrace from the children.
Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies expressed her disappointment, stating: ‘If my grandchildren or children acted like that, they’d get no Christmas gifts at all. Thankfully, they’ve never done anything like it.’
Kirstie Allsopp, host of Location, Location, Location, also voiced her disapproval of the kids’ conduct, remarking: ‘I’m not really on board; skipping a hug for Granny isn’t exactly a strong opening move.’
She later added: ‘I’m a massive admirer of John Lewis, but this ad doesn’t make my top five, even with the brilliant KST involved. I miss the dragon.’
Nevertheless, John Lewis has stood by its commercial, maintaining that it embodies the ‘genuine essence of Christmas’.
A company representative said: ‘Passing down gifts across generations can be challenging, and it’s easy to default to handing over cash as a safe option.’
‘We hope Gloria’s story encourages people to trust their gut and go for something meaningful this holiday season.’
Some supporters also stepped in to defend the campaign, highlighting that Gloria’s evident financial status was key to conveying the idea that Christmas is about ‘time and care, not money or possessions’.
However, the widely debated television spot faced criticism not only for how it portrayed the holiday season —Some criticized its imaginative depiction of rickshaw rides.
When reporters from the Daily Mail attempted to replicate the journey shown in the advertisement, they were charged a staggering £72 for a 1.3-mile trip lasting under 15 minutes.
This amount is lower than what one would pay to cover the same distance by private jet—and dramatically surpasses the fare limits set by Mayor Sadiq Khan’s new tariff system, introduced to restore public confidence following multiple cases of extreme overcharging.
The Mail’s findings emerge just weeks ahead of Transport for London (TfL) implementing long-awaited regulations aimed at curbing rickshaw fare fraud, after years of complaints about tourists and other passengers being exploited.
Under the updated guidelines, drivers will be allowed to charge up to £5 as a starting fee, plus £1 per minute, with an additional £3 fee for each extra passenger.
Thus, our £72 ride—lasting 14 minutes and carrying two people—would have been capped at £22 under the new rules.
These restrictions are set to take effect in three weeks, on November 27, meaning that current high charges do not yet violate the new fare regulations.
As part of the enforcement effort—originally planned for October 30 but delayed—drivers will also be required to obtain personal licenses and vehicle permits, along with undergoing more rigorous police background checks.
They are also required to satisfy English language standards, pass a road safety assessment, and possess at least a valid driving theory test certificate.
When asked to explain their exceptionally high pricing, most declined to comment, though one rider maintained: ‘This is a unique experience; it’s a high-end service. We don’t operate on fixed fares throughout the day like traditional taxis.’
Meanwhile, John Lewis’s primary competitor,Marks & Spencer, unveiled their campaignin an effort to lead the pack among this year’s Christmas advertising lineup.
The complete three-minute commercial, initially shown only to the Daily Mail, begins with Lucy Punch, known for her role in Amandaland, portraying Mrs Claus.
Her husband, Santa, is portrayed by James Norton, who is currently growing the signature thick white beard.
‘My dear, have you ever considered getting rid of the beard? They say it can make you look years younger,’ Mrs Claus remarks.
No! That’s my thing!” he argues forcefully.
Yet, keen to make his wife happy, he ends up letting it go, morphing into a sleek, James Bond-inspired superman.
Standing in a tiny bath towel, his hairy chest and defined muscles fully exposed, he asks Mrs Claus for her opinion. “Saint Nicholas!” she exclaims, springing out of bed in delight.
Unrecognizable now, Santa takes the opportunity to live Christmas like regular folks and heads to London, decked out in his new leather jacket and red scarf.
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