Asda is the latest retailer to throw its hat into the Christmas advert ring for 2023, and it’s fair to say it’s pulled out all the stops this year.
That’s because the supermarket has managed to get “the biggest fan of Christmas” to star.
With several other retailers – including M&S, Aldi, Morrisons, TK Maxx, and lots more – having now released their Christmas TV adverts, and countless others airing as the days go on, Asda took to social media last week on 1 November to share a teaser of the commercial it would be bringing to the table this year.
And shoppers just couldn’t believe their eyes when they discovered that it seemed to star ACTUAL Michael Bublé.
After 2022’s viral fan-favourite Buddy the Elf ad stole the show, Asda confirmed what fans were hoping would be true as unveiled its full Christmas ad over the weekend, and the Canadian singer-songwriter does, in fact, take centre stage in the festive production.
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The singer has assumed the role of the supermarket’s inaugural ‘Chief Quality Officer’ especially for it.
Tasked with ensuring the retailer “delivers the very-best quality for the nation this Christmas”, Bublé is seen measuring rows of individual chocolate and orange panettones, and treating himself to some brown butter and spiced dark rum mince pies, all from Asda’s expansive 2023 festive food and drink range.
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Asda has just released its Christmas TV advert for 2023 / Credit: Asda
Other scenes in the 90-second advert show Bublé making his way around the Asda festive warehouse sampling new nibbles and tipples, approving the range of different products, and even requesting a “clean up on aisle five”.
Basically, as what Asda has dubbed “an indisputable connoisseur of Christmas”, Bublé draws on his expertise throughout the ad to make sure every product on the supermarket’s shelves is top quality.
If the star of the show wasn’t impressive enough as it is this year, who was behind the camera is almost equally as impressive by supermarket Christmas advert standards, as Asda has revealed that the commercial was shot by Oscar-winning filmmaker and comedic actor, Taika Waititi.
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The supermarket’s 2023 advert stars the “indisputable connoisseur of Christmas” / Credit: Asda
“I love my relationship with the UK, and I’m the biggest fan of Christmas,” Michael Bublé said as the advert was officially released.
“So it was an honour to be asked to star in Asda’s Christmas advert this year.
“Adopting the role of Chief Quality Officer, I took my responsibility very seriously, ensuring all product met the highest possible standards.
“I believe Christmas is a time like no other, there’s a special feeling in the air, a little more magic to be found, and even more excuses to put on a show with great tasting food.”
David Hills, who is Asda’s Chief Customer Officer, added on the ad’s release: “At Asda, we firmly believe that having the good stuff shouldn’t break the bank – especially at Christmas.
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“We absolutely love the festive season, and we couldn’t think of anyone better to bring our Christmas campaign to life than Michael Bublé.
“With Bublé’s undeniable ability to spread seasonal smiles and our commitment to quality, at great value, we’re a match made in heaven, proving Asda is a one-stop-shop for families seeking magic this Christmas.”
Featured Image – Asda
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A local Manchester run club is holding two special running routes to see the total eclipse
Danny Jones
With the highly anticipated total eclipse fast approaching, people not just here in Greater Manchester but all over the UK, Europe and the rest of the world are gearing up to try and watch it – but this native running club are doing it a bit differently.
Eclipses occur once every 12-18 months, but this is set to be the biggest since 1999.
The moon is set to cover approximately 96-98% of the sun this coming Wednesday, 12 August, 2026, and rather than try to watch it from a window at home or drive to somewhere with supposedly ‘the best view’, local sports club Manchester Road Runners are turning it into their latest one-off event.
Sharing details online, the free-to-join local organisation, which boasts thousands of members on Facebook and various other platforms, will be timing things to make sure they catch the phenomenon.
Writing in the accompanying caption, the Road Runners say: “We’ve pulled some strings and have a very special event taking place on August 12th, a solar eclipse! Come run with us under a darkened sun next Wednesday from The Wharf at 18:30, with peak moon coverage expected at around 19:10.”
Better still, they’re also teaming up with their trail running spin-off club for an even more scenic twist on the evening excursion.
“If you prefer to experience your solar phenomena under the wide open skies”, they go on to write, “our friends over at Trail Division will be holding a hike/run off road, meet at Piccadilly Station at 18:00 to get shady in the great outdoors.”
Fortunately, they have issued an important disclaimer, going on to remind runners that “while beautiful and majestic, the sun should NEVER be directly looked at in the face unprotected”, signing off by adding, “Respect the sun, respect your peepers, stay ocularly safe out there.”
If you’ve never come across MRR before, they’re probably the biggest run club in the entire Greater Manchester region and their social-first jogs, intervals, track sessions and more revolve around meeting back up with your mates for a wholesome pint and a chat.
For many, it’s the biggest and the best in the city.
As for the eclipse run, it’s set to be a very magical variation on their usual Wednesday evening meets.
Quite rightly, they also point out in the post that you can actually buy certain glasses to view eclipses on these rare occasions, with search traffic often ramping up in and around these events.
Meanwhile, the Trail Division branch is yet to confirm the route for their run/hike, but it will most likely remain in the nearby North West vicinity; keep your eyes peeled on their social media pages (linked above) for more information and other upcoming trail events.
Speaking of trail runs, there’s a pretty beautiful albeit challenging one coming up next month…
Stunning vistas, walkers welcome, and multiple distances available.🏃♂️🥾
And the best part? It's less than 90 minutes away from Manchester. 🏞️
Oasis promoters drop biggest Knebworth hint yet after securing license around key date
Danny Jones
Not that we’re the type to get carried away, but we’ll confess that our curiosity, interest and general levels of anticipation have been piqued, as Oasis’ main promoters have recently renewed the license to host events at the infamous Knebworth.
My word, is this it? Like the reunion, is it ACTUALLY going to happen?…
We’re sure the raw, uncontrollable excitement will come should it be fully confirmed, but for now, all we know is that our colleagues in music media, SJM Concerts, have renewed the land in and around Knebworth Park and House for live entertainment once again.
Moreover, the company have also done so on a rather fitting date decades on from the original and legendary outdoor gigs.
As can be found on the planning application section of the North Hertfordshire Council website – the county in which the storied Britpop gigs took place – a fresh license to hold new events.
If/when the announcement happens, the already granted permission will allow for a capacity of up to 125,000 and a curfew of 3am.
We know the original Knebworth shows were beyond iconic, but let’s say this would be nailed on to be nothing short of absolutely box office.
Besides having also helped promote Oasis’ colossal Live ’25 reunion tour last summer, it’s also worth noting that they secured said license just over a week before the 30th anniversary of the pair of nights back in 1996: 10-11 August, to be specific.
The licence is said to have come into effect this past Saturday (1 Aug) and is believed to be indefinite.
What added even more fuel to the fire of these well-established rumours over the past year was when Baroness Sharon Taylor of Stevenage told the House of Lords the band would be playing FIVE whole nights at Knebworth in the future, before later clarifying that she was speaking in “hypothetical terms.”
All that being said, it’s fair to say we’ll be keeping a very keen eye on socials over the next few days, in particular, just in case.
The Manc has reached out to SJM for an official comment (surprise, surprise), but we are yet to receive a response regarding the matter.
Your silence speaks volumes, just saying.
This coming Monday, 10 August 2026, will mark the official 30th anniversary of Oasis at Knebworth 1996, and with the likes of ‘Wonderwall’ seeing a chart resurgence as the go-to England anthem at this year’s World Cup, we’re choosing to be optimistic. What about you?
Emily Sergeant -
6th November 2023 
