John Lewis launches 2026 Christmas campaign starring Kristin Scott Thomas

John Lewis has released its 20th annual Christmas advertisement, titled “Gloria and Pickles,” starring Dame Kristin Scott Thomas. The campaign, created by Saatchi & Saatchi, follows a grandmother named Gloria who struggles to find meaningful gifts for her grandchildren, initially considering giving them cash instead.

In the film, a vintage pull-along toy dog named Pickles, voiced by Paul Whitehouse, comes to life and encourages Gloria to seek more personal gifts. This leads to a last-minute adventure through London, culminating in the creation of a “Gran Cave” for the children to enjoy. The campaign carries the tagline “Don’t give up on giving.”

The advertisement is soundtracked by a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” performed by Sam Fender. The recording features the Easington Colliery Band and a choir from Fender’s former school, John Spence Community High School. Profits from the single’s sales through John Lewis will be donated to Action for Children, while profits from Fender’s official store will support the Teenage Cancer Trust.