Last month we launched our celebration of TV adverts that have connected effectively with audiences – as part of our 6 month Festival of Connection; a celebration of authentic human connection in business.
Over the next 6 weeks, in the lead up to Christmas, we’ll continue the celebration campaign by highlighting the best Christmas adverts of the past 50 years!
There are lots of memorable Christmas campaigns that have delivered effective storytelling and audience connection during this period. Below are five of our favourites from this year to start the Christmas celebrations…
Barbour – Paddington, please look after this bear
A brilliant advert by Barbour this year, which tells the story of Paddington giving his well loved Barbour Jacket to his father as a Christmas present.
The jacket has been passed down through Paddington’s family; Paddington re-waxes it, whilst making quite a mess! Before presenting the jacket to his dad together with it’s original label which reads: “Please look after this bear. Thank you.” On the back, Paddington has written “Thank you for looking after me.”
A lovely short story that uses animation from Fortnum’s illustrations for the first time since the original Paddington book; ‘A Bear Called Paddington‘, published in 1958.
Boots – Bags of Joy
A magical advert celebrating togetherness, nostalgia and Jenna Coleman!
Directed by Academy Award winner Tom Hooper, the 3 minute advert titled Bags of Joy, unwraps the joy of connecting with loved ones at Christmas.
As Joy (played by Doctor Who star Jenna) gets ready for a night out, she reaches into a bag which has been gifted by her Nan with the note, ‘This is what Christmas feels like’, and she soon realises its never-ending magical properties as it begins to produce masses of gifts.
Joy’s bag continues to produce gifts for her loved ones, such as a camera to capture a special moment during a night out with friends and a cosy hat and scarf set.
Debenhams – a Christmas like never before
Debenhams reflects on the year just passed, with a rousing message encouraging us to make this Christmas ‘like never before’
Connection is at the heart of this advert’s messaging, with ‘magical memories’ and ‘being together’, ‘top of the list.’
‘A Christmas like never before, delivered to your door’ is their final message; as they lead on their online & delivery service for this festive period.
JD Sports – JD Street ‘the ultimate destination’
A young man is out shopping for a turkey for his mum on JD Street, whilst he is distracted by a number of famous faces from the sports and entertainment world, including KSI, Maya Jama, Little Simz, Aitch, Tobi Brown and Jadon Sancho.
As well as a famous cast, JD have opted for a cool, urban soundtrack entitled ‘Deserve the Finest’ by Toddla T, featuring rapper Shaybo.
Mondello Park
Our favourite advert of 2021 so far and a great example of human connection at the hear of effective storytelling. Mondello Park tells the story of a grandad and granddaughter with a shared interest in race cars, that has been developed over the years at Christmas, with gifts of model cars.
Until the daughter is old enough to drive…
A heart warming story that holds true to the essence of great Christmas TV advertising; connection with those close to us, together with an uplifting narrative.
Please follow us on Instagram and TikTok via @bondedagency where we’ll be posting examples of UK TV adverts that have connected effectively with audiences since the inception of UK TV advertising in 1955.