The John Lewis Christmas advert is has become an integral part in the lead-up to the festive season, and the retailer has promised this year’s campaign will be “like no other”.
While plans for the festive period remain uncertain at this stage due to coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, the release of the John Lewis Christmas advert is sure to bring a smile to people’s facing and have us shedding a tea or two of joy.
And ahead of this year’s launch – the date of which is as yet unconfirmed – the department store chain has shared some details of the advert, which is set to be “like no other” and will coincide with a festive campaign aimed at raising £5 million for struggling families.
John Lewis will kick-start an appeal in November to raise the funds for two worthy charities.
The money raised from the campaign will go toward FareShare – a charity which aims to help solve food poverty, and Home-Start – which works with parents who need support.
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Speaking on the 2020 Christmas campaign, Pippa Wicks – Executive Director of John Lewis & Partners – said: “In a year like no other, the world has changed – so we will be delivering a Christmas campaign like no other,”
“During 2020, we’ve seen some inspiring and heartwarming acts of kindness throughout our country and our communities [and] now we want to build on this spirit to create a legacy that extends well beyond Christmas,
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“Together we can all make a big difference to the families who need our help most.”
We are delighted to announce that @jlandpartners and @waitrose have partnered with FareShare and @homestartuk aiming to raise £5m and matching donations up to the value of £2m, to help us support 100,000 vulnerable families across the UK. pic.twitter.com/ZeoVAnuqjr
John Lewis said the £5 million total will help to support an estimated 100,000 families in need, and customers will be encouraged to donate to the campaign, with the retailer promising to match all donations up to a maximum of £2 million.
Not only that, but purchases using the My JL and My Waitrose loyalty cards will also generate donations for the two charities over the festive period.
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Lindsay Boswell – Chief Executive at FareShare UK – said: “In what has been an incredibly tough year for so many, more people than ever are turning to local charities and community groups for support because they simply can’t afford the food they need to feed their families and themselves.”
“We are so delighted to partner with Waitrose and John Lewis to provide support for the thousands of people in need across the UK in the run-up to Christmas and over the winter months,”
The advert and campaign comes in the midst of the ongoing #endchildfoodpoverty campaign fronted by Wythenshawe-born Manchester United star Marcus Rashford – who works in partnership with FareShare UK – which has already enabled thousands of children to claim free school meal vouchers throughout school holidays in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Waitrose – part of John Lewis & Partners – is a member of Rashford’s ‘Food Poverty Taskforce’.
Taking to Twitter this morning to acknowledge the campaign this morning, Rashford said that the advert concept was “brilliant”.
The John Lewis 2020 Christmas advert is expected to air this month.
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Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets this Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks season.
Bonfire Night may be loved by us humans for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that come along with it… but sadly, the November holiday isn’t quite so fun for our four-legged friends.
Loud bangs, flashing lights, and unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives are just some of the reasons why fireworks are frightening to pets.
Not only that, but with multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays across this time of year, pets are rarely able to pinpoint when and where the booming explosions are coming from, therefore creating even more anxiety around this time of year.
Classic FM will play calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks / Credit: DESIGNECOLOGIST (via Unsplash)
Which is why, for the ninth year running now, Classic FM is once again teaming up with the RSPCA for two Pet Classics programmes packed with ‘the most soothing and comforting classical music’.
The music has been handpicked to help calm and settle any anxious pets.
A survey by the RSPCA revealed that almost two-thirds (63%) of animal owners reported their pet was distressed during fireworks season, and that playing relaxing music was the most common way (36%) to help calm or prepare their animal.
Presenters Dan Walker, Aled Jones, and Dawn O’Porter will each host a night of the specially created programme to help keep the nation’s pets calm through the whizzes and bangs.
Dan will present the first programme on Bonfire Night itself (Thursday 5 November), and then as celebrations continue throughout the weekend, Aled will be on hand to bring some peace to Friday 6 November, and Dawn picks up the baton on Saturday 7 November.
All three Pet Classics programmes will be broadcast from 5pm to 10pm, and you can listen on Classic FM or Global Player available across the UK.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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What is the UK’s national dish? New survey reveals Brits’ pick in landslide victory
Emily Sergeant
If you’ve ever thought to Google the question ‘what is Britain’s national dish?’, then you probably came away thinking it’s chicken tikka masala.
But is that actually the truth? A new survey has disproved the claim, massively.
There’s no denying that chicken tikka masala – an Indian curry that’s actually widely thought to have been created in Britain – is a popular dish that’s loved by many, but despite what many headlines have claimed over the years, a new YouGov survey has revealed it’s not what Brits consider to be the country’s ‘national dish’.
YouGov conducted two online surveys earlier this month, made up of 2,079 and 2,104 adults aged 18+ living in Great Britain.
And, in their own words, Brits chose fish and chips as the country’s national dish, making it the ‘resounding’ winner with 49% of the vote.
What is the UK’s national dish? A new survey has revealed Brits’ pick in a landslide victory / Credit: The Manc Group
With nearly half of the overall vote, this puts fish and chips far ahead of the roast dinner in second place, which only 24% of people picked – including the 6% who made sure to specify a beef roast.
In fact, only 3% of Brits actually name chicken tikka masala as the UK’s national dish, although 52% in the survey did confess that they eat some form of curry at least once a month, so it is still a popular pick regardless.
Fish and chips is by far the most common answer across all generations too, according to the survey (45-50%), with the biggest difference between age groups being that 18-24 year olds are less likely to have nominated roast dinner and more likely to have chosen chicken tikka masala instead.
What do Brits say is the UK’s national dish?
Fish and chips – 49%
Roast dinner – 24%
Chicken tikka masala – 3%
Curry (non-specific) – 2%
Full English breakfast – 2%
Bangers and mash – 1%
Cottage or shepherd’s pie – 1%
Other – 3%
Don’t know – 15%
The survey also showed that, of the three top contenders for the UK’s national dish, roast dinners are the most frequently eaten, as 52% of people said they eat them on a monthly basis – including 16% who do so every week.
Aside from the frequently mentioned dishes, some survey respondents also gave shoutouts to the full English breakfast (2%), bangers and mash (1%), and cottage or shepherd’s pie (1%).
Emily Sergeant -
3rd November 2020 
