Cringey Xmas ads are bad for your elf
Unwrapping TV hits & misses
O’connor, without seeing him in his role as evil Tom Callaghan in Virgin Media drama Red Rock.
Dare we suggest that he suits the role of a drug-taking, corrupt politician who strangled a prostitute and blackmailed his best friend better than a bumbling dad in Christmas jumper fussing over festive lights?
The jury is out on Aldi, which
Paddy & Emma picks up where it left off last year, telling the latest chapter in the adventures of Kevin the Carrot.
This year the orange mascot is kidnapped by the “leafy blinders” – a gang of flat-capped Brussels sprouts – but escapes with the help of a tomato.
In the UK, an animated tear-jerker about a lonely man getting the best Christmas ever has pipped budget-blower John Lewis to the top spot.
The campaign from Very.co.uk, which follows the residents of Chester Street as they rally around elderly neighbour Sidney, was crowned most emotional.
Speaking of top spot, the Irish
Ian Wright crown for heart-warming festive fun has to go to Dunnes Stores for the second year running.
The retail chain elected to run the same ad as last year, but they were smart enough to realise that if it’s not broke then don’t fix it.
The ad sees two children lighting up the house as a TV weather forecaster warns “Santa is going to have to keep his eyes peeled tonight” due to snow.
Instead of sitting back once they’ve lit up their own home the kids rally a posse to light up the whole town. As they pass their friendly Dunnes Stores the manager gives them a wink and a wave as she turns on every light in the empty store.
We won’t dwell on the fact the retail chain was at one point famed for its penny-pinching where staff and overheads were concerned...