Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Watch the Waitrose Christmas TV advert with Heston Blumenthal

The ad features a jazz classic

Hazel Sheffield
Wednesday 04 November 2015 06:01 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Waitrose has beaten its sister store John Lewis to releasing its Christmas advert with a one-minute clip that focusses on the food that "makes Christmas".

"What is it that makes Christmas, Christmas?" a voice asks, before close ups of mince pies bubbling in the oven, crumbling cheese and Heston Blumenthal putting the finishing touches to a chocolate cake.

The ad is soundtracked by the song 'Everybody east when they come to my house', a jazz classic released in 1948 by Cab Calloway and his Orchestra.

Waitrose used an agency for the first time this year. They chose Adam&Eve, the agency behind many of the most famous John Lewis adverts. Richard Brim, executive creative director of Adam&Eve, said: "Our advert for Waitrose celebrates all those little moments that make Christmas, Christmas, and nine out of ten times, it's all about the food."

The campaign includes the hashtag #makeschristmas. Waitrose is encouraging shoppers to share their photos of what makes Christmas using the hashtag. The supermarket has promised a Christmas dinner for 12 to the best one.

Waitrose is one of the first in a run of Christmas adverts scheduled to appear online and on TV this week in what has become a race to get ahead of the competition as retailers vye for shoppers' cash. Lidl and Asda are ahead of the pack. John Lewis, the most anticipated of the lot, is due to release theirs on November 6.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in