John Lewis has unveiled its 2026 Christmas advert, Gloria and Pickles, the 20th edition of the retailer’s much-loved festive campaign. The three-minute film stars Dame Kristin Scott Thomas as Gloria, a grandmother preparing her home for the family on Christmas Eve, alongside her faithful childhood toy dog Pickles, voiced by Paul Whitehouse.
The campaign, created by Saatchi & Saatchi and directed by BAFTA-winning director Lucy Forbes, carries the tagline “Don’t give up on giving” and issues a heartwarming call to make festive gifting personal, joyful and meaningful once again. It launched on John Lewis’ own channels on November 3, before its TV premiere during Coronation Street on ITV and The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4.
A Story About the Perfect Gift
In the film, Gloria’s grandchildren Freddie and Maggie mess up her immaculate study while searching for something to do. Gloria retrieves her old toy dog Pickles — a vintage pull-along Little Snoopy from the attic — and the pair set off on a last-minute gift mission through the streets of London by tuk-tuk to John Lewis. On Christmas morning, the children find their Christmas cards empty of the expected cash, but are instead handed a key that opens the door to her study, transformed into a “Gran Cave” with sparkling lights, disco balls and a turntable.
Sam Fender Soundtrack
Chart-topping singer-songwriter Sam Fender provides the soundtrack with a brand new cover of The Rolling Stones’ classic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” his first new music since “Rein Me In.” Physical copies of the single will be available on 7-inch vinyl and CD from the John Lewis website, backed with Fender’s 2020 cover of “Winter Song.”
Proceeds from the sale of the single will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity selected by the artist, and Action for Children, John Lewis’s charity partner. This is the first time the department store has cast recognisable actors in its Christmas advert, marking 20 years of festive storytelling.
Related: John Lewis Christmas Ad 2026: Gloria and Pickles Steal Hearts
Related: Sam Fender Covers Rolling Stones for John Lewis Christmas Ad
