M&S and Asda bank on the star power of Hannah Waddingham and Michael Bublé while Argos uses a glitzy toy doll to show off its gifts as retailers release their festive ads

With Halloween officially over, the festive season is about to begin as retailers release their Christmas adverts.

Asda, M&S and Argos have all gone head-to-head today in the battle to win the nation’s hearts with their Christmas productions.

M&S has partnered with Hannah Waddingham, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Tan France and Zawe Ashton as the British brand tries to use star power to convince costumers that their festive range is above the rest of the competition.

Asda has similarly relied on a famous face in their Christmas advert, with the UK retailer teaming up with Michael Bublé.

In contrast, Argos has decided to produce a family-friendly ad, which sees a glitzy doll and a toy dinosaur show off the company’s gifting options during a dance performance.

M&S 

‘Twas the month before Christmas and Marks & Spencer has dropped a surprise with festive advertising which is sure to jingle some bells. 

In a television campaign that will run from today, M&S appears to be encouraging shoppers to do what they want this Christmas, instead of being hidebound by endless chores, the demands of others and the tyranny of festive perfection.

Using a starry line up of singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, actresses Zawe Ashton and Hannah Waddingham, and TV star Tan France, the M&S missive for 2023 is to put yourself and your own needs first.

Thus we have Sophie turning a kitchen blow torch she is using to toast the meringue roof on her giant gingerbread house, onto a pile of unwritten Christmas cards and gift tags instead. 

‘I’ll do anything for love, but I won’t do that,’ sings a Meatloaf-alike on the backing track, as a bonfire of goodwill erupts on Sophie’s kitchen table. 

Meanwhile Zawe Ashton, best known for her role in Channel 4 sitcom Fresh Meat, loses the will to live playing charades to a sofa full of people who don’t understand her mimes. 

In a plot jump that isn’t really explained, Zawe is suddenly on the roof of her home, going full Tarantino in her sequins, using a roll of wrapping paper like a baseball bat to whack a blameless elf across the city skyline.

At a party somewhere else, Tan France — the fashion guy from Netflix hit Queer Eye — is wearing a white bow tie for no good reason. 

He sighs at the style affront, but still puts some kid’s hideous loo roll angel on the top of his tree instead of the tasteful star decoration he prefers. 

But he draws the line at playing board games. Enough is enough, he thinks, before throwing a tantrum and said game into a tropical fish tank.

Cue Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso actress and Eurovision Song Contest co-host, and the real star of this show, a glamorous character who wants to sneak out of the house to do something – but has to stay at home and glue cotton wool balls onto a snowman instead. 

That is until the madness grips her, and she goes outside to throw all her party hats and festive baubles into a woodchipper instead. Then Zawe’s luckless airborne elf lands at her feet, and the wicked smile that spreads across Hannah’s face is quite delicious.

ASDA 

He’s synonymous with Christmas – and this year Michael Bublé appears on a festive advert for Asda.

Giving fans a sneak peek of its Christmas campaign, and a taste of what’s to come, Asda released a 60-second teaser that sees the singer make his merry debut as the retailer’s latest seasonal recruit.

The teaser, which premieres this morning on ITV at 9.40am during Good Morning Britain, sees Asda colleagues relaxing in a break room mid-shift until they’re disturbed by an unusual ‘gurgling’ sound as the clock ticks to midnight. 

Journeying through a stunning festive warehouse to find its source, they eventually reach a door marked ‘MB inside. Do not open ‘til 1.11.23’. 

As the door swings open, a lone figure is revealed, silhouetted in the spotlight: it’s Bublé, who turns to the camera and breaks into the classic ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas’. 

”Shall we?’, he asks with a smile, before the ad reads: ‘Pop the Bublé, it’s officially Christmas.’ Asda’s full 90-second advert is due to air on 4 November.  

David Hills, Asda’s Chief Customer Officer, said: ‘At Asda, we absolutely love Christmas and this year we’re once again on a mission to bring that warm, festive feeling to households across the UK. 

‘Today, we’re putting the speculation to rest and confirming that the legend that is Michael Bublé is partnering with us this Christmas to put on a showstopping performance. 

‘With Bublé’s undeniable ability to spread seasonal smiles and our commitment to quality, at great value, we’re a match made in heaven, proving Asda is a one-stop-shop for families seeking magic this Christmas.’

ARGOS 

TV toy favourites Connie and Trevor are the stars of Argos’s new Christmas campaign. 

Toy doll Connie, dressed in a glitzy pink jumpsuit, commands attention in the clip as she showcases the gifts on offer at the retailer during a dance performance.

Her trusty sidekick Trevor, a toy dinosaur, is supposed to be recording the stunning show – but instead he accidentally films the view of himself.  

The film ends as Connie cartwheels across the festive table asking, ‘please tell me you got that, Trev?’ but it is unveiled that Trevor has in fact been recording himself the entire time whilst Connie claps to herself proudly.

The tale, a modern day take on the classic ‘toys come to life’ narrative, builds on Argos’s brand platform – ‘There’s More To Argos’ – which launched earlier this year. 

It aims to showcase the vast array of most-wanted products on offer from the retailer, from toys, home and beauty, to cutting-edge tech.

Developed by The&Partnership, the film was directed by Traktor and animated by Untold, with the characters voiced by People Just Do Nothing’s Ruth Bratt and This Country’s Charlie Cooper. 

The disco classic Le Freak by Chic is played to accompany Connie’s big performance.

Laura Boothby, Head of Campaigns at Argos, said: ‘There was no better way to show off what you can find at Argos this Christmas than bringing back our loveable and family-friendly characters Connie and Trevor. 

‘In a festive-themed adventure, the dynamic duo spotlight just a few of the incredible products our customers can buy this Christmas, and bring them to life in a witty and playful way – igniting the Christmas joy our customers can find at Argos.’

Matt Moreland and Chris Clarke, Creative Directors at The&Partnership, said: ‘We wanted to pull out all the stops for the latest Argos instalment. It is Christmas after all. 

‘So we teamed Connie up with some stylish merch, a world class choreographer, and a remix of one of the best disco tracks of all time. Surely nothing could go wrong?’