JOY IN JOHN LEWIS CAMPAIGN
The reliably heartwarming festive ads have set the bar so high, how can John Lewis top it again this year? Enter Buster the trampolining dog, set to steal the nation’s hearts in the new two-minute epic that hits our screens today.
But unlike the store’s previous tearjerkers, this one’s going to have us crying tears of laughter and is certain to make a star of boxer dog Biff, who is in the starring role.
Craig Inglis of John Lewis says: “2016 has certainly been quite a year, so we hope our advert will make people smile.”
The feelgood tale revolves around a little girl called Bridget, whose dad sets up a new trampoline in the garden complete with a big red bow as she sleeps on Christmas Eve.
Later that night, unseen by anyone but Buster, playful foxes Otto and Olivia appear in the garden. Set to a bewitching cover version of Randy Crawford’s One Day I’ll Fly Away, a magical CGI world takes over as they climb on the trampoline and start bouncing.
They are joined by Betsy the badger, Hallie the hedgehog and Sid the squirrel, but poor Buster can only watch through the window.
When dawn breaks, Bridget, played by a six-year-old Londoner named only as Summer, sees the trampoline and runs to it.
But Buster beats her to it and starts bouncing to his heart’s content with a look of pure joy on his face.
The ad, premiering in tonight’s 9.15pm ad break during ITV thriller Paranoid, ends with the slogan: “Gifts that everyone will love.”
Four-year-old Biff was picked out to star in the £1million ad from scores of hopefuls for his “expressive” face. Cuddly Buster toys for £15 and his woodland pals for £12 each are expected to sell out in days, with 10% of profits going to The Wildlife Trusts.
Buster fans can also buy pyjamas and a Buster the Boxer story book.
The ad, part of a £7million Christmas campaign, was directed by Dougal Wilson who was behind 2011 weepie The Wait, 2012’s snowman tale The Journey and Monty the penguin in 2014.
It is poised to send cult South London band Vaults to No1 with the cover track, in which singer Blythe Pepino is backed by a 70-voice choir and 66-piece orchestra.
Craig Inglis added: “It really embraces a sense of fun and magic.” How much John Lewis spent on this year’s Christmas TV ad