13 hours Ago By [email protected] (Dan Laurie)
Dermot O'Leary has disclosed that the new John Lewis Christmas advert moved him to tears. The 51 year old presenter returned to 'This Morning' on Thursday (November 14) alongside Cat Deeley, stepping in for the regular host Ben Shephard as he takes a break from the ITV daytime show to film the new series 'Summit' in New Zealand. During their review of the day's top stories with contributors Nick Ferrari and Ashley James, they touched upon the much-awaited festive commercial from the popular High Street retailer.
While discussing the advert, Dermot confessed "I cried" when he saw the two-minute video named 'The Gifting Hour', which portrays a woman's last-minute scramble to purchase a gift for her sister. For the first time in 17 years, one of John Lewis' 34 stores features in their Christmas advert. Reports indicate that the mini-film was shot in the Oxford Street store during an overnight filming session in October, reports the Mirror .
Earlier this year, that same department store underwent a multi-million-pound refurbishment, courtesy of a £6.5 million investment by the retailer. The ad, devised by Saatchi & Saatchi, tracks the character Sally as she rushes into John Lewis in search of that eleventh-hour present.
It starts off with classic Christmas movie vibes, but soon Sally finds herself in a magical realm, recollecting childhood memories in pursuit of the perfect gift. The heartwarming advert depicts a woman reminiscing about her sister at various stages of life - from childhood Christmases to teenage squabbles and later as an expectant mother. These flashbacks represent the thought process that occurs when searching for the perfect Christmas gift.
As she finds the ideal present, beautifully wrapped and ready, she returns to reality. The scene then shifts to a poignant moment between the sisters outside. The advert concludes with the tagline: "The secret to finding the perfect gift? Knowing where to look".
This year's soundtrack takes a different approach, featuring Sonnet by The Verve, a departure from John Lewis' tradition of using popular song covers. The 90s theme is prominent, with the retailer launching a TikTok search for a cover star, aided by The Verve's iconic lead singer, Richard Ashcroft. The chosen winner will have the opportunity to record and release their own track with BMG, and their version of the advert will air on Christmas Day.
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am.
