Celeste has become the first musician to write and perform an original song for the John Lewis Christmas advert.
Celeste
The hotly-anticipated TV ad, entitled 'Give a Little Love', has been released today (13.11.20), and as well as featuring the 26-year-old singer/songwriter performing her own tune, 'A Little Love' - which she penned over Zoom - the commercial focuses on the "kindness" of the public, which has been seen amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The song is to be released as a charity single in the hope of landing the coveted Christmas number one prize. Celeste wrote on Twitter: "A very special announcement. For this year’s @jlandpartners and @waitrose Christmas advert I had the chance to write an original song it’s called A Little Love (sic)"
At the heart of the ad - which will make its TV debut during 'The Voice' final on ITV tomorrow (14.11.20) - is a message encouraging people to indulge in random acts of kindness to one another.
John Lewis and Waitrose - who are also behind the commercial - are hoping to raise £5 million for 100,000 families through their Give a Little Love campaign.
Pippa Wicks, executive director of John Lewis, said: "We want this campaign to be uplifting and to inspire everyone to give some kindness in their own way this Christmas, especially to those who need it most.
"The pandemic has proved that it’s our small acts of love and kindness, particularly in challenging times, that captures what it is to be human."
Waitrose boss James Bailey added: "Each year festive adverts come and go - and some are remembered more vividly than others.
"But our advertising this year will leave a lasting legacy - and in that way, we hope it won’t just be for Christmas."
The two-minute advert features live-action and animation, and the start of the commercial sees a young lad trying to get his football down from a tree.
While he looks sad, he is soon cheered up when a young girl comes along and pushes up an umbrella, which turns heart-shaped and knocks the ball down.
One of the big stars of the ad is a hapless hedgehog who dreams of flying to become part of a gang of pigeons.
While he doesn't develop a set of wings, the pigeon group generously give him a baseball cap emblazoned with a sparkly red heart and they take him up in the air on a plane.
At the end of the advert, a message reads: "Together we can make a big difference."