Get out the tissues, it’s that time of year – the John Lewis Christmas advert is here.
Every year, the department store pulls out an ad that gets the UK talking, whether it be its emotional storyline or its banger of a music choice.
I mean, it’s been 12 years now and Lily Allen’s cover of ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ is still linked to Christmas because of it.
Other iconic examples over the years include Man on the Moon, The Long Wait and The Boy and The Piano.
Advert
And for 2025, John Lewis is spreading the message: “If you can’t find the words, find the gift.”
Released this morning (4 November), the ad revives a 35-year-old song as we see a father and his teenage son reconnecting at Christmas.
It opens up with a family doing the usual ‘pack the prezzies away’ as we see a young lad looking a little down and distant while his dad is scrambling under the tree.
And as he finally discovers the unopened gift from his son, the teen has already made his way off upstairs.
Opening it up, he discovers it’s a vinyl copy of an old classic house track from his clubbing days; Alison Limerick’s ‘Where Love Lives’.
As the beats start booming out, the dad soon flashes back to being in the club, dancing away when he has his visions of his son far away from him on the dance floor.
He calls out to the teen but he fades beneath the strobe lights, and as he flashes back again, he’s seeing his toddler son running towards him before then holding him as a newborn in his arms.
The music becomes a bit of a bridge between the dad and lad as the track changes into a softer version, reimagined by Labrinth.
Taking us back to the present day, the son walks in on his dad dancing in the living room and while he looks a little embarrassed, he’s soon pulled into a hug.
A sweet moment of a teenage child and parent coming together, they share a wordless ‘thank you’ with the weight of: “I know we aren’t as close as we used to be but I love you.”
It’s a bit of a different kind of emotional compared to other adverts, but there’s a real relatability in becoming distanced from people in your family and struggling to find the words to connect again.
The advert has clearly hit viewers in the feels since premiering, with the online consensus confirming the video is a certified tearjerker.
"The John Lewis Christmas 2025 ad really hits the spot," penned one person on X, as a second added: "Absolutely love the John Lewis Christmas ad. A simple and very poignant message. Fantastic."
"Another brilliant Christmas advert from John Lewis, sobbing whilst standing at the bus stop," wrote a third.
Rosie Hanley, Director of Brand for John Lewis, said: “This year’s John Lewis Christmas campaign is a celebration of connection, memory, and the unspoken emotions that make the season truly magical. At John Lewis, we understand the power of a thoughtful gift, and we hope the ad will inspire our customers to find the gift that articulates their feelings, allowing the present itself to speak volumes where words may sometimes fall short.”
Alison Limerick said: “I squealed when I heard that ‘Where Love Lives’ would be in the advert - literally squealed like an excited child. Music has always had the power to bring all kinds of peeps together, but I hope this year's John Lewis Christmas advert will give those who see it a new, emotional connection with the song - especially with what Labrinth has created. His gentle version is just so beautiful; it’s sure to fill the heart with love.”
Labrinth said: “To think a boy like me from East London Hackney, who grew up watching this iconic advert would one day reimagine a classic and compose a piece of music for John Lewis’s forward thinking direction is a big deal for me. This advert is embedded in British Christmas culture and I miss home, so I’m honoured to be a part of it.”
Jess Battison