It’s officially that time of year once again… the John Lewis Christmas advert has been released to the world this morning.
November is here, the festive season is right around the corner, the 2022 Manchester Christmas Markets officially start today, and now, after teasing it on social media for the past few days and after leaving people nationwide waiting with baited breath, department store retailer John Lewis has finally unveiled its 2022 Christmas advert.
And this year, the company has toned things down and taken it back to basics.
The release of the John Lewis Christmas advert comes hot off the heels of releases from competitors Tesco, Argos, Morrisons, and Aldi – as well as Asda, which many Brits have already claimed has “won Christmas” thanks to its use of classic footage from the iconic 2003 Christmas film Elf.
But with the rising cost of living crisis sadly continuing to make its impact felt nationwide, retailers are facing a tough battle for Christmas sales this year.
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So, John Lewis has decided to use its 2022 Christmas advert – which is titled ‘The Beginner’ – to shine a spotlight on what it has called an “often overlooked issue” – children in the UK foster care system.
The 90-second advert, which is set to a cover of Blink-182’s All The Small Things by US artist Mike Geier – which was actually recorded around five years ago, and hasn’t been commissioned by John Lewis especially for the advert as the retailer has done so in previous years – shows the man as he struggles painfully to master skateboarding in the build-up to Christmas.
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As the advert continues, we are left questioning the motive behind the man’s perseverance until the final scene.
The final scene then shows a social worker arriving at the man’s door with a young teenager named Ellie – who has arrived at her new foster home carrying her skateboard.
John Lewis said it understood that not all foster carers had the benefit of knowing who they would be looking after in advance, and that’s what the advert is aiming to highlight – with the retailer’s broader campaign also featuring “authentic voices of carers” and “young people with different experiences of a complex care system”.
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“We could have heavily gone for Christmas magic and fun but that didn’t feel the right thing to do this year with everything going on,” explained Holly Kicul – Senior Advertising Manager at John Lewis.
“It felt the right thing to use this platform we have to get this message out.”
She also added that the retailer wanted to have the usual laughter and sentiment that its Christmas adverts are known for, but “in a different way to what we do normally.”
The John Lewis 2022 Christmas advert has officially been released / Credit: John LewisIt shines a spotlight on an “often overlooked issue” – children in care / Credit: John Lewis
The release of the 2022 John Lewis Christmas advert also follows the launch of the John Lewis Partnership’s Building Happier Futures programme – which is aimed at providing young people in care with more career opportunities and chances to move into the workforce.
Massive student night returns to Trafford Centre next month with up to 50% off on big brands
Emily Sergeant
Students can get themselves up to 30% off on food, activities, and loads of big-name brands at the Trafford Centre next month.
With thousands of new and returning students starting to arrive for the new academic year at Greater Manchester‘s universities, one of the region’s biggest student nights will be making a long-awaited comeback for one night only next month – and there’ll be loads of exclusive offers and free entertainment to make the most of across the evening.
Taking over the Trafford Centre in early October, the popular one-off student night is happening in partnership with Student Beans, and gives cash-strapped students the chance to shop a variety of incredible discounts all under one roof.
Just some of the big brands offering big discounts include 25% off at Levi’s and Boux Avenue, 20% off at Gymshark, Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch, and 15% off at KIKO, Rituals, and Sephora.
It’s not just retail brands you’ll be able to save some pennies on either, as many of the Trafford Centre’s restaurants and cafes will also be offering discounts and freebies on the night too.
Alongside the offers, students can expect plenty of live entertainment and in-store experiences throughout the evening, including a DJ set and drinks at Calvin Klein, in-store fitness challenges and at Gymshark, an exclusive piercing event at Lovisa, and a Beauty Hub takeover at Sephora.
There’ll also be ‘spin-to-win’ opportunities at places like schuh, River Island, and YO! Sushi.
Massive student night returns to Trafford Centre next month with up to 50% off on big brands / Credit: Supplied
“Student Night is one of the highlights of our autumn calendar, and we’re excited to welcome students for an evening of brilliant offers and feel-good experiences,” explained Simon Layton, who is the Centre Director at the Trafford Centre.
“Whether they are updating their wardrobe, stocking up on beauty favourites, grabbing a bite to eat or enjoying the atmosphere with friends, there is plenty to discover across the centre.
“With simple transport links from Manchester city centre and across the region, Trafford Centre is the perfect place for a student night out.”
The Trafford Centre’s Student Night is happening on Thursday 1 October from 6-10pm, and students can now reserve themselves a spot by registering online HERE.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Manchester has been named one of the most ‘stressful’ places to drive in the UK
Emily Sergeant
The UK’s most challenging driving locations have been revealed, according to new data… and isn’t good news for Manchester.
No matter whether you’re a new driver or have years of experience behind the wheel, some roads can test even the most confident of motorists.
From congestion and poor road conditions, to limited parking and higher incident rates, it’s fair to say that some areas make driving more stressful.
But which parts of the UK are the hardest to drive in?
Well, in a bid to answer that question, MoneySuperMarket has analysed a whole host of data – such as road infrastructure, road safety, road conditions, vehicle crime concerns, and insurance-related trends – for 58 UK cities, boroughs, and local authorities to create a drivability score and discover the locations that drivers find most stressful.
Manchester has been named one of the most ‘stressful’ places to drive in the UK / Credit: Manchester City Council | pxfuel
Manchester, unfortunately, claimed third place on the list of top 10 most challenging locations for drivers – with an overall drivability score of 25 out of 100.
Other northern cities and towns like Leeds, Preston, Blackpool, Bradford, Wakefield, and Oldham have founded themselves in the top 10 too, meaning the North West is sadly the most-represented area.
Top 10 Most Challenging Locations For Drivers
Croydon
Derby
Manchester
Leeds
Preston
Birmingham
Blackpool
Bradford
Wakefield
Oldham
The findings also reflect some of the concerns drivers experience on the road, with more than a third of motorists (34%) saying they have avoided driving because they were travelling in an unfamiliar area, while almost a third (32%) have chosen not to drive due to heavy traffic or congestion.
Dealing with impatient or aggressive drivers was the most commonly cited source of stress, with almost two-thirds of motorists (65%) saying they find situations such as tailgating and beeping stressful.
“Driving is part of everyday life for millions of people, but our research shows just how much stress and uncertainty it can bring,” commented Alicia Hempsted, who is a Car Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket.
“Particularly in areas where there are more incidents recorded, car-related thefts are more common, or where there is heavier traffic or less familiar roads.”
Emily Sergeant -
10th November 2022 
