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| The Christmas 2016 advertising battle begins | The Christmas 2016 advertising battle begins |
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| The battle of the Christmas adverts has begun, with retailers hoping shoppers will jingle all the way to the tills. But how will they capture our hearts and open our wallets this year and which will become our favourite? | The battle of the Christmas adverts has begun, with retailers hoping shoppers will jingle all the way to the tills. But how will they capture our hearts and open our wallets this year and which will become our favourite? |
| In the run up to Christmas, UK retailers are expected to spend £5.6bn on advertising, according to Advertising Association and WarcData. | In the run up to Christmas, UK retailers are expected to spend £5.6bn on advertising, according to Advertising Association and WarcData. |
| John Lewis, which launched its advert on Thursday, said it had spent a "broadly similar" amount to the £7m it spent on last year's somewhat melancholy "Man on the Moon" advert. | John Lewis, which launched its advert on Thursday, said it had spent a "broadly similar" amount to the £7m it spent on last year's somewhat melancholy "Man on the Moon" advert. |
| This year, the retail giant said it thought the public needed something more upbeat. | This year, the retail giant said it thought the public needed something more upbeat. |
| Animal magic | Animal magic |
| John Lewis's customer director Craig Inglis said: "2016 has certainly been quite a year, so we hope our advert will make people smile. It really embraces a sense of fun and magic, reminding everyone what it feels to give the perfect gift at Christmas". | John Lewis's customer director Craig Inglis said: "2016 has certainly been quite a year, so we hope our advert will make people smile. It really embraces a sense of fun and magic, reminding everyone what it feels to give the perfect gift at Christmas". |
| The two-minute advert tells the story of Bridget, a little girl who loves to jump, and her dog, Buster the boxer. | The two-minute advert tells the story of Bridget, a little girl who loves to jump, and her dog, Buster the boxer. |
| After her parents hide a trampoline for her in their garden on Christmas Eve, a magical night time world comes to life with a cast of CGI wildlife animals - including Hallie the hedgehog, Sid the squirrel, Betsey the badger and foxes Olivia and Otto. | After her parents hide a trampoline for her in their garden on Christmas Eve, a magical night time world comes to life with a cast of CGI wildlife animals - including Hallie the hedgehog, Sid the squirrel, Betsey the badger and foxes Olivia and Otto. |
| Gathering thousands of views on YouTube, the advert was met with mixed reactions. Linda Holden commented: "Anyone lucky enough to have had a Boxer in their lives will just love this", while the more wary PersianPkmn said: "I would not want to be on a trampoline with a hedgehog just saying :/". | |
| On Twitter, Barry O'Reilly's photo of his "Welsh version" of the advert - showing a cow on a trampoline - certainly did make people smile. | |
| But not everyone is happy, with some asking why Bridget's parents - and not Father Christmas - are seen putting up the trampoline. | But not everyone is happy, with some asking why Bridget's parents - and not Father Christmas - are seen putting up the trampoline. |
| A spokesman for John Lewis said that Bridget's parents wanted to give her something special, that they knew she'd like, adding: "We're sure Santa visited Bridget earlier in the night." | A spokesman for John Lewis said that Bridget's parents wanted to give her something special, that they knew she'd like, adding: "We're sure Santa visited Bridget earlier in the night." |
| Meanwhile, bookmakers Coral are already tipping the ad's theme song, a cover version of Randy Crawford's One Day I'll Fly Away performed by British band Vaults, for the Christmas number one. Lead singer Blythe Pepino said it was a "truly incredible experience" recording the song with a 70 piece choir and 66 piece orchestra. | |
| The advert is not to be confused with a video which went viral last week featuring an A-Level student's homage to the John Lewis Christmas advert. | The advert is not to be confused with a video which went viral last week featuring an A-Level student's homage to the John Lewis Christmas advert. |
| Smooth talkers | Smooth talkers |
| For a third year, Debenhams is sticking with its Found It campaign - relying on the voices of a slew of celebrities, including Ewan McGregor, Billie Piper and Jennifer Saunders, to help people find the perfect present for their loved ones. | For a third year, Debenhams is sticking with its Found It campaign - relying on the voices of a slew of celebrities, including Ewan McGregor, Billie Piper and Jennifer Saunders, to help people find the perfect present for their loved ones. |
| McGregor, the voice of an overnight bag, waxes lyrical about his "strong, masculine physique", while Piper poses as a bra who has "got it all". | McGregor, the voice of an overnight bag, waxes lyrical about his "strong, masculine physique", while Piper poses as a bra who has "got it all". |
| Feel good | Feel good |
| Real people take the centre stage for Boots. The chemist filmed the makeover of 45 women, who it picked to pamper because they usually work over Christmas. | Real people take the centre stage for Boots. The chemist filmed the makeover of 45 women, who it picked to pamper because they usually work over Christmas. |
| About half a million women sacrifice their Christmas Day to support their communities, whether as paramedics, firefighters or nurses, according to the TUC union. | About half a million women sacrifice their Christmas Day to support their communities, whether as paramedics, firefighters or nurses, according to the TUC union. |
| Boots says "as a big thank you", it wanted to give some of them an early Christmas present. | Boots says "as a big thank you", it wanted to give some of them an early Christmas present. |
| Christmas chuckles | Christmas chuckles |
| Asda's line of attack is on all fronts - with not one advert, but a series of short adverts showcasing its food, wine and clothing line. | Asda's line of attack is on all fronts - with not one advert, but a series of short adverts showcasing its food, wine and clothing line. |
| Showing a series of Christmas dilemmas with gentle humour, the supermarket chain says it can offer "Christmas made better". | Showing a series of Christmas dilemmas with gentle humour, the supermarket chain says it can offer "Christmas made better". |
| Racing heartbeats | Racing heartbeats |
| In a bid to set heartbeats racing, rather than to tug at heartstrings, Argos's upbeat advert features furry, colourful, ice skating yetis who race to deliver presents. | In a bid to set heartbeats racing, rather than to tug at heartstrings, Argos's upbeat advert features furry, colourful, ice skating yetis who race to deliver presents. |
| Showcasing its fast track, same day delivery, Argos is catering for those who "just can't wait" for Christmas. | Showcasing its fast track, same day delivery, Argos is catering for those who "just can't wait" for Christmas. |
| What has been your favourite Christmas advert over the years? You can share your best one by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | What has been your favourite Christmas advert over the years? You can share your best one by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |