Best Christmas Ads Of All Time: The Wurkhouse Favourites
Wurkhouse's Favourite Christmas Ads
It’s the most wonderful time of the year … and don’t we all love when those tear jerking, nostalgia filled festive ads start to appear on our TV. The Wurkhouse team have compiled some of their Christmas favourites of all time, classics and new; we challenge you not to cry!
Sainsburys
Sainsburys done a blinder for 2018 with their festive campaign. A simple but effective idea, a group of school children take to the stage to perform in their adorable Christmas show, ‘The Big Night’. To begin, a timid little girl takes to the mic and quietly begins her solo, that is until she spots her mum in the audience, giving her the confidence to belt out the remainder of the song. Her class mates then join her on stage, dressed up in everything from baubles to a plug! Directed by the director of ‘The Greatest Showman’ it’s no surprise how the ad truly captures the joy and imagination of the festive season, especially for the little ones!
Sky Cinema
In 2017, Sky cinema created a heart-warming tale of a family growing up, built around the ultimate musical classic, The Sound of Music. Focusing on the cycle of Christmas traditions, we follow a mother and daughter watching the film over 25 years, and the emotional connection the movie brings to their home. We definitely didn’t get a lump in our throats watching this...
Aldi
Kevin the carrot arrived back on our screens in 2017 and this time, he was on the hunt for love! Our favourite, cute talking veggie takes a trip to find Santa, and on his quest, discovers Katie, who he instantly falls for. Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing, as Kevin dodges utensils and Turkey and subsequently saves Katie from an incoming pea invasion. Ah Kevin, our Casanova carrot.
Marks & Spencer
We escaped into a festive bubble with A-lister bear, Paddington in 2017 as he unintentionally saves Christmas! Confusing a bearded, red coated burglar for Santa, our cuddly favourite helps return the stolen goods to their rightful owners. Paddington successfully transforms the thief and epitomises the true meaning of Christmas, (with a touch of heart-warming humour and emotion added in for good measure.)
Buster the boxer - John Lewis
Buster the boxer stormed onto our screens in 2016 and won a place in our hearts instantly. Whilst some missed the annual sob-worthy ads, we applauded the department store for taking a more lighthearted approach. It's a dog jumping on a trampoline! What's not to love?
Bear and the Hare – John Lewis
A second appearance for John Lewis, this one from 2013 telling the story of the bear and the hare really tugged on our heartstrings. Lily Allen covering Keane’s ‘Somewhere Only We Know’, was the perfect fit for the animated woodland tale. The ad reflects the excitement in every household, with the hare making sure his best friend, the bear, wakes up in time from hibernation to experience the magic of Christmas morning…aww.
Budweiser
We’re going way back to 1987 with this one. Budweiser have brewed up the Christmas spirit for generations now. This old school ad etched a soft spot in our memory with the Clydesdale horses trotting beautifully through the snow. And what about the narrator’s smooth voice? Budweiser were one of the first to capture the essence of the holiday season into this memorable Christmas ad.
Monty the Penguin – John Lewis
Nothing signals the start of the Christmas season like the launch of the John Lewis Christmas campaign. A whopping third appearance in for the retailer, it’s easy to tell John Lewis is a firm favourite in the Wurkhouse office. Monty the Penguin and his friend Sam were the stars of the 2014 Christmas campaign. The theme, ‘the magic of make believe at Christmas through a child’s eyes’ captivated our childhood imagination and melted our hearts.
Kellogg’s Corn Flakes
“Sssshhhh”, the blonde toddler from the Kellogg’s Corn Flakes ad has been a firm favourite for almost twenty years now! The adorable tot warmed our hearts when she first appeared on our screens in the 1990’s, greeting Santa with his own catchphrase “ho ho ho”. To keep her from waking the other children, she accepts one of his Kellogg’s Corn Flakes with a cute grin.
It’s the original soppy ad that pulled on our heartstrings before the Christmas ad war truly took flight. (yes, we’re looking at you John Lewis)
Quality Street
Long before the tins started to shrink, the 'Magic Moments' ad was a firm favourite at Christmas. The story of a small boy giving the chocolates to his local lollipop lady, who has seen him safely across the road throughout the seasons. Awwww.
Toys R Us
One for the kids of the 80s..."There's a magical place, we're on our way there, toys in the millions, all under one roof..." Thus begins the jingle that was the soundtrack to Christmas for a generation of children who grew up in the late 80s.
Coca Cola
Nothing says Christmas like the first time you hear the catchy “Holidays are coming” jingle and see the infamous, glistening red Coca Cola truck appear on your tv screen. The iconic brand struck gold with this ad back in 1995, becoming a household favourite across the nation ever since. Even better news, the truck now visits hundreds of locations throughout Ireland and the UK, bringing its magical Christmas sparkle right to your door step!
Yellow Pages
From the tinny notes of We Wish You A Merry Christmas to the wordless interaction under the mistletoe between a young boy and a taller girl, it was the "good old Yellow Pages" to the rescue in this memorable Nineties advert.
Guinness
It doesn’t get more Irish than this as we’re taken on a journey across a snowy Ireland on Christmas Eve. The iconic scenes cover all the festive feels; nostalgia, warmth, friendship, serenity and of course a White Christmas. "Even at the home of the Black Stuff, we're dreaming of a White One."
Word has it that this staple could be banned due to legislation changes in the Public Health Alcohol Bill. Please say it’s not so – it wouldn’t be Christmas without it!
There we have it, 14 of our most loved Christmas adverts, old and new. A great festive ad comprises humour, nostalgia and just enough emotion to pull on your heart strings, and if it’s truly special, it’ll re-appear on our screens for years to come.
