Marks & Spencer has turned to Daybreak French as soon as once more for its festive meals marketing campaign and this time the Christmas fairy is joined by Jennifer Saunders.
The comedy duo have been reunited as Saunders voices the fairy’s new sidekick, Duckie, a tatty however well-loved canine chew toy.
The primary of eight advertisements, set to run from immediately (2 November), opens with the French-inspired fairy perched on high of a Christmas tree. She pronounces that she’s trying to discover a buddy and brings Duckie to life.
The pair quickly uncover the number of food and drinks out there at M&S this Christmas, together with a Christmas pudding wreath, turkey sandwiches and a number of spirits.
The marketing campaign was created in-house and media planning and shopping for was dealt with by Mindshare.
Talking at an occasion launching the M&S Christmas advert, Robbie Black, head of promoting for M&S Meals, stated: “Unsurprisingly, our prospects are telling us that it has been a extremely robust yr. However they’re additionally telling us that meals goes to be on the coronary heart of all the things that they do that yr too.
“So they need one thing that is going to be magical, festive, makes them smile, however importantly, actually exhibits our wonderful meals off as properly.”
The primary advert will premiere on TV throughout ITV’s This Morning at 11.40am with a brand new instalment airing each week till New 12 months’s Eve.
The advert can also be working throughout M&S social channels, the place Fairy and Duckie will reply to followers’ feedback all through the day.
To help the advert marketing campaign, M&S has partnered Meta to create an augmented-reality recreation starring Fairy and Duckie, which is able to launch throughout Fb and Instagram this week.
“This Christmas we all know households desire a cosy however particular get collectively at residence,” Sharry Cramond, director of promoting and hospitality at M&S Meals, stated. “Our advert brings to life what we have now to supply – the proper menu to ship that heat, fuzzy, festive feeling.”
She added: “We all know worth is entrance of thoughts for households and our meals vary is about providing the absolute best high quality at the absolute best value – from necessities to showstoppers – alongside that all-important dose of M&S Christmas magic.
“We couldn’t resist reuniting two British icons in Daybreak French and Jennifer Saunders with the British icon that’s M&S. It’s a match made in heaven as they lend their voices to the glamorous Fairy and lovable Duckie and it’s improbable to have them on board. I predict Wylie the canine will go on to be an enormous star.”
The marketing campaign is known to have been created in-house. M&S Meals arrange an in-house company and moved previously retained store Gray London to a venture relationship final yr.
French made her first look because the M&S fairy final yr when she introduced Percy Pig, voiced by actor Tom Holland, to life. The spot, which was created by Gray London, earned a Marketing campaign Choose of the Week.
French stated: “I had the time of my life lending my voice to the Fairy that introduced Percy Pig to life final yr. I used to be so excited that M&S needed to deliver her again for extra adventures and uncover extra of that incredible meals… and, this time with a trusty new sidekick.”
Saunders added: “When the decision got here in asking me to be within the M&S Christmas advert, I didn’t have to consider it. And to deliver the group again collectively for it? It was a Christmas should.
“I imply M&S Meals simply is Christmas. And, I’m so thrilled to be the voice of the tatty and downtrodden, but very lovable, Duckie.”
M&S’ Household Issues Index report, which is predicated on interviews with greater than 5,000 UK adults, discovered that 67% have been decided to benefit from Christmas regardless of rising price of residing considerations.
Round two-thirds have been set to have fun at residence with household and pals, with 80% rating food and drinks of their high three priorities.
The Christmas marketing campaign follows M&S Meals’s “Remarksable” meal planner, which was fronted by Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge with the purpose to assist households cook dinner high quality meals at inexpensive costs.
As a part of the run-up to Christmas, M&S will introduce a value lock on greater than 100 merchandise till the tip of the yr.