The festive season is kicking off, and with it, the race for the most memorable Christmas advert. This year, Waitrose has jumped to the front of the pack with its freshly released campaign, titled "Sweet Suspicion: A Waitrose Mystery." This delightful ad draws inspiration from classic mystery tales, featuring beloved British actors who add charm and intrigue to this year’s holiday shopping.
Waitrose's latest ad is anything but traditional. It showcases a classic 'whodunnit?' storyline, perfect for enticing viewers as they prepare for the holidays. The star-studded cast includes Matthew Macfadyen from Succession, comedian Joe Wilkinson, and actress Sian Clifford known for her role in Fleabag. Also joining are Rakhee Thakrar from Sex Education, Dustin Demri-Burns of Slow Horses, and Eryl Maynard, who features as Miss Marple. The gathering of such talent promises both humor and suspense, creating anticipation among fans of these actors and holiday advertising alike.
The advert runs for 90 seconds, plunging viewers right onto Christmas Day, where the family of food lovers is getting ready to indulge. To their shock, the much-anticipated Waitrose No.1 Red Velvet Bauble Dessert has mysteriously vanished. This is where Macfadyen enters the frame, portraying the detective on the mission to find out who could have possibly taken the prized dessert. The witty twists keep audiences guessing, ensuring some festive fun along the way.
After the initial release, Waitrose plans to keep the air of mystery alive by following up with a 60-second film later this month, which will reveal the dessert thief, wrapping the two-part script effectively. Nathan Ansell, the Customer Director at Waitrose, expressed the excitement behind this innovative approach: "For the first time, we’re keeping Waitrose customers guessing with a 'whodunnit festive crime drama featuring a stellar cast for this year’s Christmas ad. Our Christmas campaign is all about how Waitrose food is so good, you can’t wait to get your hands on it… You’ll have to wait and see!"
Macfadyen shared his thoughts on the project, stating, "I wonder if my extensive repertoire of past detective roles led to me to this very moment. Working with such a great cast on such a fun project for Christmas was such a joy. Together, we have created a story with enough mystery to engage the public about who the pud thief really is!" His enthusiasm adds to the ad's charm, hinting at playful suspense and camaraderie among the cast members.
The highly engaging direction is handled by BAFTA-winner Lucy Forbes, recognized for her notable works including This is Going to Hurt. Forbes’s guidance appears to have bridged the gap between classic Christmas spirit and modern advertising flair, marking it as one of the standout campaigns of the season. “When you have actors typically not seen in ads stealing moments – and pudding – you know you've got something special,” stated Franki Goodwin, Chief Creative Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi, the agency behind the project.
Adding to the interactive dimension, Waitrose is collaborating with ITV and The Times & Sunday Times to create physical evidence boards at London King's Cross Station, inviting the public to engage with the mystery physically. This is part of their effort to extend the narrative beyond screens and transform shopping interactions during this festive period.
It's no surprise the festive season is often rife with competition among retailers, but Waitrose’s strategic move this year appears to resonate well with fans. The ad practically channels the whimsical nature of Agatha Christie, draping itself under British cultural nostalgia and engaging storytelling.
Alongside entertaining twists, viewers also get to glimpse scrumptious food options from Waitrose's festive range, including tantalizing dishes like melting Reuben Rarebit and Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac. Indeed, the combination of humor, clever storytelling, and mouth-watering delicacies makes this advertisement particularly appealing.
Among the quips shared by the cast, Clifford joked about the experience of sampling the food throughout the shoot, remarking, "It was a really tough gig having to eat the delicious Waitrose food for four days but someone's gotta do it... nothing says Christmas like indulging!" Such lighthearted remarks contribute to the ad’s charming appeal.
The excitement doesn’t stop at Waitrose; as the ad season progresses, fans eagerly await the John Lewis Christmas ad that's renowned for its emotional storytelling and heartwarming themes. With John Lewis and Waitrose being two sides of the same coin but separate entities when it concerns their Christmas marketing, both will cater to the audience’s festive spirit, albeit with distinct flavors. Despite the buzz around John Lewis, many are enchanted by Waitrose's fresh take on the holiday advertising game.
With such high-stakes competition, showcasing the warm fuzziness of the season blended with humor and suspense bodes well for capturing the true spirit of Christmas advertising. Whether you're Team Waitrose or eagerly anticipating what John Lewis has to offer, one thing is for sure: the public will keep clamoring for new holiday moments and memories.
So as the week progressively approaches the big reveal of who the pudding thief is, one can’t help but relish the thought of participating as the audience plays along, piecing together clues and suspecting various cast members. The sense of community, nostalgia, and good food is at the heart of what makes Christmas – and now, thanks to this year’s ads, maybe even the viewing experience more joyful.
