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I tested 12 festive sandwiches including Aldi & Starbucks – the winner was a hearty handheld Christmas dinner under £4

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I tested 12 festive sandwiches including Aldi & Starbucks – the winner was a hearty handheld Christmas dinner under £4

IT is beginning to look a lot like Christmas – as festive sandwiches hit the shelves.

But which of the savoury bites are worth splashing your dough on?

Lynsey Hope put festive sandwiches to the test, including one being sold by Amazon

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Lynsey Hope put festive sandwiches to the test, including one being sold by Amazon

Packed with turkey, stuffing, bacon and more, seasonal sarnies have become an annual tradition.

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Lynsey Hope samples a selection from supermarkets and cafes to find out which ones are Christmas crackers.

Aldi Eat and Go Turkey Feast

  • £1.99
  • 521 calories, 16.8g fat, 7.5g sugar, 2.25g salt
  • 4/5
Aldi has made some tweaks and made their recipe even better this year

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Aldi has made some tweaks and made their recipe even better this yearCredit: Oliver Dixon

ALDI has revised the recipe to this classic sandwich for 2024 – and it’s definitely better than before.

There’s more filling, with generous helpings of turkey and smoked bacon.

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It’s not as moist as others, but the pork and sage and onion stuffing give it a nice flavour. There could have been more chutney, though.

Greggs Christmas Lunch Baguette

  • £3.80
  • 544 calories, 16g fat, 9.1g sugar, 2.3g salt
  • 5/5
Greggs Christmas Lunch Baguette is the full works and gets top marks

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Greggs Christmas Lunch Baguette is the full works and gets top marksCredit: Oliver Dixon

A GREAT option from Greggs, who describe it as a Christmas dinner “that can be held in one hand”.

The best bit is you get the taste without the faff of cooking.

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It’s brimming with tender chicken, sage and onion stuffing, sweetcure bacon, Cheddar cheese and cranberry and red onion relish.

A very filling option for big appetites. Lovely, if you can resist the sausage rolls.

Explore the time warp Victorian Christmas Market

M&S Turkey Feast

  • £4.25
  • 531 calories, 17.6g fat, 8.5g sugar, 2.56g salt
  • 3/5
M&S Turkey Feast is always a best seller every Christmas

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M&S Turkey Feast is always a best seller every ChristmasCredit: Oliver Dixon

A POPULAR choice every year, the M&S turkey feast returns for 2024 – and I’m pleased it has.

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The bacon has a good smoky flavour, the turkey is juicy and there is a rich onion flavour to the stuffing.

I loved the combination of mayonnaise and cranberry sauce. But this did make it a bit messy to eat.

It was quite a salty flavour, too. However, the bread was nice and soft.

Turkey Lunch Sandwich, Morrisons

  • £2.85
  • 409 calories, 9.5g fat, 9.3g sugar, 1.76g salt
  • 3/5
Morrisons turkey lunch sandwich scores well on price and the meat itself is good

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Morrisons turkey lunch sandwich scores well on price and the meat itself is goodCredit: Oliver Dixon

I LOVED the malted bread of this one and the turkey had a nice flavour.

The meat certainly wasn’t too dry. The sandwich is topped up with sweetcure bacon, sage and onion stuffing and cranberry sauce.

A lot of the filling was pushed to the front and the back was empty, so while a good price, it’s not as good value as it looks. Not as calorific as others, but high sugar content.

Asda Festive Feast

  • £3
  • 567 calories, 23g fat, 7.7g sugar, 2.6g salt
  • 3/5
Asda's festive feast lives up to it's name but is best as a treat rather than a light snack

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Asda’s festive feast lives up to it’s name but is best as a treat rather than a light snackCredit: Oliver Dixon

STUFFED full of turkey breast, sausages and smoked bacon, this is a meat-heavy sandwich.

There are clear layers of each filling, with its dominant meat flavour balanced by the tangy cranberry sauce for a solid all-rounder festive sandwich.

The bread is soft, which tasted nice, but fell apart a bit as I tried to eat it.

It is pretty calorific too, so more of a festive treat than an everyday lunch.

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Costa Turkey Feast Sandwich

  • £4.15
  • 484 calories, 19g fat, 7.9g sugar, 1.9g salt
  • 2/5
Costa's turkey feast is a little lacking as one of the pricier options

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Costa’s turkey feast is a little lacking as one of the pricier optionsCredit: Oliver Dixon

MIDDLE of the road here.

Nothing to shout home about but also no huge complaints.

The bread was nice, there is plenty of turkey but the sandwich itself was small and the bread a little on the thin side.

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It is made with shredded turkey rather than slices, which made it feel a little bitty to eat.

Lots of bacon but there was not enough stuffing or much chutney.

Tesco Turkey and Trimmings Sandwich

  • £3.40
  • 453 calories, 9.9g fat, 7.1g sugar, 1.98g salt
  • 1/5
Tesco's festive sandwich lacks sauce with the meat simply too dry

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Tesco’s festive sandwich lacks sauce with the meat simply too dryCredit:

QUITE turkey-heavy, with only a slither of bacon and a few slices of sausages.

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The bread was a little dry and I wasn’t overly fussed by the turkey – it was dry and lacking in flavour.

The whole thing needed some chutney or sauce to elevate it.

There weren’t really many “trimmings”, as the packet suggests.

Price-wise, it’s not too bad value but Asda’s is cheaper, bigger and tastier.

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Pret’s Christmas Lunch Sandwich

  • £4.99
  • 557 calories, 20.7g fat, 15g sugar, 2.25g salt
  • 5/5
Pret is onto a winner with the turkey accompanied by delicious pork stuffing

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Pret is onto a winner with the turkey accompanied by delicious pork stuffingCredit: Oliver Dixon

A standout option.

The slices of turkey were thick and moist while the cranberry sauce was lifted with port and orange flavouring.

The herby pork stuffing was delicious, and the added spinach gave this sandwich a fresh feel.

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It was finished with a dab of mayonnaise and crispy onions on the best malted bread I tried.

An absolute Xmas cracker.

Starbucks ’Tis The Season Sandwich

  • £4.45
  • 416 calories, 9.3g fat, 7.2g sugar, 1.6g salt
  • 1/5
Starbucks' well presented sandwich did not taste very festive

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Starbucks’ well presented sandwich did not taste very festiveCredit: Oliver Dixon

THIS looked really perfect and neat and I couldn’t wait to tuck in, but it was a bit of a letdown.

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I couldn’t taste the sage and onion stuffing at all and even when I pulled it apart, I struggled to find any.

While the sliced chicken was plentiful, with a nice flavour, the smoked bacon was too fatty.

The spinach leaves were a nice addition for a fresh feel.

But it didn’t taste very festive.

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Sainsbury’s Festive Chicken Wrap

  • £3
  • 462 calories, 14.8g fat, 6.3g sugar, 1.22g salt
  • 2/5
Sainsbury's have a more healthier option - but it also does not feel too festive

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Sainsbury’s have a more healthier option – but it also does not feel too festiveCredit: Oliver Dixon

HEALTHIER than most others that were on offer.

But this Sainsbury’s option was a little bland.

The wrap itself was soft and floury and the whole thing was well filled.

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But it was similar to a chicken and bacon wrap you could buy any other time of the year.

The stuffing flavour was subtle but there was nothing too festive about it.

By Amazon Turkey Feast

  • £3.90
  • 534 calories, 20.7g fat, 11.4g sugar, 2g salt
  • 3/5
Amazon have entered the fray and their sandwich measures up well

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Amazon have entered the fray and their sandwich measures up wellCredit: Oliver Dixon

EVEN Amazon is getting in on the Christmas sarnie option ­– and in fairness, this isn’t too bad.

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The bread was a little dry but the sandwich was well filled and a good size.

The turkey had a nice succulent texture and a lovely flavour.

You get a drink and snack for the price as part of the meal deal, too.

Waitrose Turkey, Stuffing and Bacon

  • £4.50
  • 428 calories, 9.4g fat, 7.4g sugar, 1.80g salt
  • 4/5
Waitrose's option tastes good but may not fill you for long

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Waitrose’s option tastes good but may not fill you for longCredit: Oliver Dixon

A SIMPLE choice that isn’t too salty or sugary.

It was well filled with turkey and bacon though not as filling overall as some of the others.

I think you’d be hungry again not long after eating.

The ingredients were quality though, with moist, well-cooked turkey, smoky bacon and just the right amount of stuffing.

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The cranberry and red currant chutney had a lovely, stand-out flavour.

But a little pricey for what you get.

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John Lewis Christmas adverts through the years from 2007 to 2023 – The Sun

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John Lewis Christmas adverts through the years from 2007 to 2023 – The Sun

CHRISTMAS is fast approaching and festive ads are appearing on televisions, but John Lewis is always the most anticipated.

More than half a dozen Christmas adverts have already been from retailers including M&S, Sainbsury’s, Asda and Tesco.

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But John Lewis had chosen to keep its audience on tenterhooks, teasing the release of its 2024 ad campaign.

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For the first time ever, the retailer is launching a trio of festive ads with two already having been unveiled.

John Lewis unveiled part one in its series of three ads in September, with the clip themed around the retailer’s “Never Knowingly Undersold” pledge.

The ad, directed by Saatchi and Saatchi, first aired on Channel 4 and shows viewers a single John Lewis shop window through the decades, from the roaring 1920s to modern day.

The second clip, which aired earlier this month, is based around the “Give Knowingly” theme.

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The ad chronicles the ups and downs of one shopper’s pink jumper bought for her by her mum.

The final teaser is a short 10-second clip featuring a sofa on an ice rink in a dark room with winter clothing-clad skaters circling it.

After around seven seconds, a date emerges from the background saying “14.11.24” before fading away.

This reveals the date that the ad will finally hit our screens.

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To make you feel nostalgic ahead of the 2024 John Lewis release, we have rounded up every single John Lewis Christmas advert that’s aired since 2007.

2007 – Shadows

 This was the first John Lewis Christmas advert

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This was the first John Lewis Christmas advert
John Lewis 2007 Christmas ad shows random items creating a moving shadow

In John Lewis’ first Christmas advert, people piled gifts together to create shadows that looked like a woman walking her dog through the snow and having a drink at a party.

It featured the tagline “Whoever you’re looking for this Christmas”.

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The memorable ad was before the era that John Lewis adverts created a huge buzz as social media was barely even a thing at this point.

The music used was Prokofiev’s morning serenade from Romeo and Juliet.

2008 – From Me To You

 John Lewis's From Me To You advert was quite basic

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John Lewis’s From Me To You advert was quite basic
John Lewis 2008 Christmas ad aims to prove there’s a perfect gift for everyone

This was probably the most basic John Lewis advert with the retailer trying to work out which direction its adverts would take.

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Set to a cover of The Beatles‘ From Me To You, it showed how you can find the perfect present for different characters in your life.

It ended with the message: “If you know the person, you’ll find the present.”

2009 – Sweet Child O’ Mine

 2009's advert was about children receiving adult presents

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2009’s advert was about children receiving adult presents
John Lewis 2009 Christmas ad shows children opening presents meant for adults

This was the first year that John Lewis used an acoustic cover of a popular song from the charts.

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Taken By Trees covered Guns N Roses‘s Sweet Child Of Mine as the song for the advert – and it peaked at No23.

It’s a sweet advert which shows children opening adult presents such as an e-reader and large slippers, and says at the end: “Remember how Christmas used to feel? Give someone that feeling.”

2010 – A Tribute To Givers

 This advert shows how people go to great lengths to keep presents a surprise such as sneaking a rocking horse upstairs while children watch TV

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This advert shows how people go to great lengths to keep presents a surprise such as sneaking a rocking horse upstairs while children watch TV
Christmas ads: John Lewis 2010

Ellie Goulding recorded a cover version of Elton John‘s Your Song for this advert – the same tune that appeared in the 2018 film.

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The advert is about the lengths that people go to to surprise their friends and relatives on Christmas Day.

It ends with the words “For those who care about showing they care”.

2011 – The Long Wait

 The Long Wait was one of the first big John Lewis Christmas adverts and had the nation in tears

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The Long Wait was one of the first big John Lewis Christmas adverts and had the nation in tears
Little boy has a surprising long wait in the 2011 John Lewis Christmas ad

This was the first year John Lewis used its advert to tell a whole story, and it made the nation weep.

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It told the story of a little boy impatiently waiting for Christmas and all because he wants to give a heartfelt gift to his two sleepy parents on Christmas morning.

It was set to Slow Moving Millie’s cover of Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths. The tagline was “For gifts you can’t wait to give”.

This was the film that cemented the department store’s reputation as the best Christmas advertiser so we think that has to put it at the top of the list.

2012 – The Journey

 The Journey tells the story of two snowmen in love

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The Journey tells the story of two snowmen in love
Hankies at the ready for the tearjerking 2012 John Lewis Christmas ad

John Lewis’s tale of a snowman who travels over mountains and through horrible weather to bring his snow-girlfriend a scarf to keep her warm was very touching.

It was set to a Gabrielle Aplin cover of The Power of Love by Frankie Goes To Hollywood and had many people shedding tears at the time.

It was the first John Lewis ad track that reached No1 in the singles chart after Ellie Goulding’s Your Song peaked at No2 in 2010.

It finished with the line “Get a little more love this Christmas”.

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2013 – The Bear And The Hare

 The Bear And The Hare was a charming animated tale for the John Lewis Christmas ad

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The Bear And The Hare was a charming animated tale for the John Lewis Christmas ad
Lily Allen sings ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ by Keane for 2013 John Lewis Christmas ad

This charming animated tale tells the story of a bear who has never seen Christmas so his animal friends buy him an alarm clock so he can wake up from hibernation just for the day.

Lily Allen sang a cover of Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know – and it became her third No1 UK single. It’s closing line is “Give someone a Christmas they’ll never forget”.

People went wild for the story at the time and a lot of people on Twitter, now called X, call it the best John Lewis ad the department store has ever made.

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2014 – Monty The Penguin

 Monty the Penguin is one of the John Lewis adverts that people love the best

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Monty the Penguin is one of the John Lewis adverts that people love the best
Monty the Penguin is the star of the 2014 John Lewis Christmas advert

This was the heartwrenching advert about a little boy and his friend Monty The Penguin who wants to find love at Christmas.

He’s revealed to be the boy’s stuffed toy – and under the Christmas tree is a girl penguin toy for Monty to fall in love with.

It featured the tagline “Give someone the Christmas they’ve been dreaming of” and was accompanied by Tom Odell singing John Lennon‘s Real Love.

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If people don’t say The Bear And The Hare is their favourite, they often choose 2014’s advert as the John Lewis ad they like the best.

2015 – Man on the Moon

 The Man On The Moon was the heartfelt tale of a lonely old man who is sent presents from a little girl on Earth

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The Man On The Moon was the heartfelt tale of a lonely old man who is sent presents from a little girl on Earth
‘Man on the Moon’ for the 2015 John Lewis Christmas advert, with Aurora singing ‘Half the World Away’ by Oasis

This advert with the line “Show someone they’re loved this Christmas” really tugged on people’s heartstrings.

It told the story of a little girl who spots a lonely old man living on the moon through her telescope.

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She finds a way to float presents over to him on balloons so he can enjoy Christmas Day too as Aurora’s cover of Oasis‘ Half The World Away plays in the background.

It’s one of John Lewis’s most sentimental and emotional Christmas adverts and definitely had people crying across the nation.

2016 – Buster the Boxer

 Buster The Boxer was 2016's John Lewis advert which was about a trampolining dog

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Buster The Boxer was 2016’s John Lewis advert which was about a trampolining dog
Buster the bouncing Boxer is star of John Lewis Christmas advert 2016

John Lewis decided to mix it up with Buster The Boxer in 2016 by having a funny advert rather than a gut-wrenching sentimental one.

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It told the tale of a dog who was desperate to bounce on his family’s trampoline.

He had to watch foxes, a badger and a hedgehog have fun while his family were asleep.

Then as the little girl runs towards her gift on Christmas Day, Buster gets to it first and starts bouncing. The funny ad ended with “Gifts that everyone will love” and Vaults provided the backing track with a cover of Randy Crawford’s One Day I’ll Fly Away.

Fans loved it, but some people were left a bit disappointed as they didn’t feel like it packed as much of an emotional punch as in previous years.

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2017 -Moz the Monster

 Moz The Monster was the star of the 2017 John Lewis advert

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Moz The Monster was the star of the 2017 John Lewis advert
John Lewis 2017 Christmas advert follows a seven-year-old boy scared of a monster snoozing under his bed — but eventually bond and become friends over a fart

The 2017 advert was about a cuddly blue monster called Moz who befriended a little boy called Joe.

They stayed up together all night every night until Moz realises Joe needs to sleep at night so leaves him a present of a night light under the Christmas tree.

People weren’t as fond of Moz as they were of Buster or Monty, but they still found the advert cute.

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It featured the tagline “For gifts that brighten their world” and The Beatles‘ song Golden Slumbers performed by Elbow, which reached No29 in the charts.

2018 – The Boy And The Piano

 Sir Elton John is seen at the start of the John Lewis advert playing on the piano

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Sir Elton John is seen at the start of the John Lewis advert playing on the pianoCredit: John Lewis
John Lewis Christmas advert 2018 – Watch new ad with Elton John singing Your Song in full

In the 2018 John Lewis ad Elton John starred in its most showbiz-inspired advert yet.

Viewers were taken through key moments in his life, including stadium tours, travelling on a private jet, playing at his local pub and performing at a school.

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But it had a mixed reaction on social media, with not everyone loving the festive ad.

It spanned the veteran singer’s life and showed how a gift of a piano from his grandmother helped make him the international superstar he is today.

And for once it didn’t feature a cover-version of a song, but Elton himself singing his hit Your Song.

The tagline was “Some gifts are more than just a gift”.

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2019 – Excitable Edgar

 The 2019 John Lewis ad - the first joint-effort with its sister retailer Waitrose - follows young girl Ava and her friendship with cute young dragon

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The 2019 John Lewis ad – the first joint-effort with its sister retailer Waitrose – follows young girl Ava and her friendship with cute young dragonCredit: refer to caption.
John Lewis releases its eagerly anticipated Christmas advert starring Excitable Edgar

The 2019 advert is a heart-warming tale of a dragon called Excitable Edgar set in a far-away mythical land.

The ad – the first joint-effort with John Lewis’ sister retailer Waitrose – follows young girl Ava and her friendship with a cute young dragon as his accidental fire-breathing nearly ruins Christmas.

Edgar loves Christmas but every time he gets excited he uncontrollably breathes fire into the medieval-style village causing comical catastrophes.

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The two and a half minute John Lewis Christmas advert follows the pair as they join in with seasonal activities.

It’s backing track is a cover by Bastille’s Dan Smith of 80s classic Can’t Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon.

The ad, known as Excitable Edgar, ends with the strapline “Show them how much you care”.

2020 – Give A Little Love

 For John Lewis' 2020 advert, different acts of kindness were featured through nine scenes

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For John Lewis’ 2020 advert, different acts of kindness were featured through nine scenes
John Lewis Christmas advert 2020 – Give A Little Love ad sees impact of random acts of kindness in lockdown

In a nod to the Covid pandemic which ground the country to a standstill, John Lewis’ 2020 Christmas advert was inspired by random acts of kindness during lockdown.

It features different acts of kindness through nine different live action and animation scenes.

Heart-warming shots include a little girl helping a boy get his football down from the tree using a heart umbrella, a group of pigeons taking a sad hedgehog on a ride in a plane, and a young couple delivering a bag of shopping to two pensioners.

The ad was put together mostly via Zoom because of the Covid lockdowns, and features an original song by British soul singer Celeste.

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Eight artists helped create the different scenes, including Chris Hopewell, who has created music videos for Radiohead and Franz Ferdinand, and French animator Sylvian Chomet.

2021 – The Unexpected Guest

 The 2021 John Lewis advert featured an alien

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The 2021 John Lewis advert featured an alienCredit: PA
Watch the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021 a heart-warming story where a teen teaches an alien about festive traditions

 

In its 2021 Christmas ad called The Unexpected Guest, a teenage boy called Nathan meets an alien named Skye who has crash landed on earth.

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Through friendship Nathan shows Skye a series of festive family traditions.

They decorate a tree, eat mince pies, throw snowballs, and watch a Christmas movie.

But the advert has a bittersweet ending, as Skye has fixed her ship and must return home.

In a tear-jerking moment, Nathan gifts Skye his Christmas jumper – the same one he was wearing the day they met.

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The soundtrack is performed by Lola Young, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from South London, with a version of “Together in Electric Dreams”.

2022 – The Beginner

 John Lewis Christmas ad 2022

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John Lewis Christmas ad 2022Credit: John Lewis and Partners
John Lewis Christmas advert 2022 – Emotional ad about foster dad is guaranteed to have you in tears

The John Lewis 2022 advert was released on November 10. 

The retailer wanted to use its ad, named The Beginner, to help raise awareness of some of the most vulnerable children in the country. 

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It follows a middle-aged man as he struggles to master the skill of skateboarding. 

He has a few mishaps and tumbles off the skateboard a number of times. 

His wife looks bemused at his efforts and concerned when he struggles to put the star on the top of the Christmas tree due to his aching muscles – but he perseveres with the slightly odd hobby.  

You’re left wondering why he’s so determined to learn to skate until the final scene, where there’s a knock at their front door. 

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We see a social worker standing with Ellie, a young teenager, who is waiting anxiously to enter her new foster home, with a skateboard in her hand.

The importance of the skateboard suddenly becomes clear as the man says he likes to skate too. 

You realise that he has been looking for a way to find common ground with Ellie. 

It ends by saying: “Over 108,000 children in the UK are in the care system.

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“We’re making a long-term commitment to support the futures of young people from care.” 

It is the heartfelt story of one man’s determination to connect with a child, showing the power that kindness can make to someone else’s life. 

The accompanying soundtrack is a cover of Blink 182’s All The Small Things sung by little-known US artist Mike Geier.

Last year’s John Lewis ad was about a little boy’s quest for the perfect Christmas tree, befriending a playful character along the way.

 

The advert starts as eight-year-old Alfie picks up a seed to grow a “Christmas tree” at a flea market with his grandma.

 

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As he nurtures the little seed at home, it quickly grows into an energetic and mischievous Venus flytrap named Snapper.

 

The fast-growing wannabe Christmas tree becomes a life force with its playful personality and gets in on all the festivities, but it eventually comes to an abrupt halt.

 

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When Snapper grows so big that he tears Christmas decorations at the house, he’s cast outside in the cold by the family.

 

The tearjerking moment leaves Alfie heartbroken, who’s set on not freezing him out.

 

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The advert ends as Snapper is embraced back into family life when Alfie and the family join him in the garden to give Christmas gifts.

 

The playful plant gobbles up all the wrapped Christmas gifts only to keep the wrapping paper and give back the prezzies to the family.

 

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The music is provided by famous opera artist Andrea Bocelli who performs a song called “Festa”, which means celebration.

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Post Office confirms 115 branches at risk of closing in major shake-up – see the full list

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Post Office confirms 115 branches at risk of closing in major shake-up – see the full list

MORE than 100 Post Office branches and some 1,000 jobs are at risk under a sweeping overhaul.

The Post Office revealed it is looking to offload 115 directly owned branches within its 11,500 network, which could see them transferred to retail partners or postmasters or potentially closed.

Despite the closures, the number of postmasters will remain the same

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Despite the closures, the number of postmasters will remain the same

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Around 1,000 workers are employed across the branches, while the Post Office also confirmed that hundreds of further roles are under threat at its headquarters as it looks to streamline back-office operations.

The announcement was made by Post Office chairman Nigel Railton during a meeting at 9am.

The move is part of the Post Office’s strategy to transition to a fully franchised model.

Franchising is a business model where a company (the franchisor) grants permission to an individual or group (the franchisee) to operate a business using its brand, products, and processes in exchange for a fee.

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Approximately 99% of Post Office branches are now operated by franchisees, with only 1% of sites being directly managed.

The Post Office has stated that it does not plan to reduce its approximately 8,500 branches, which independent postmasters and local businesses operate.

Additionally, there are 2,000 Post Offices managed by retailers, such as WHSmith and the Co-op, which will remain unaffected.

FULL LIST OF POST OFFICE BRANCHES AT RISK

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THE full list of branches at risk of closure include:

Royal Mail plans to cut 2nd-class deliveries to save £300m a year

Martin Quinn from Campaign for Cash said: “This is another nail in the coffin for communities who rely on the Post Office network for access to cash services.

“The government must immediately demand that this closure programme be stopped and treat the Post Office network as national infrastructure.”

The Post Office has also called for handing ownership of the network to thousands of subpostmasters nationwide.

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Mr Railton said: “The Post Office has a 360-year history of public service, and today, we want to secure that service for the future.”

He added the overhaul also “begins a new phase of partnership during which we will strengthen the postmaster voice in the day-to-day running and operations of the business, so they are represented from the frontline to the boardroom”.

The number of Post Offices in operation across the UK has significantly declined since the 1960s, when there were approximately 25,000 branches.

This decline is partly due to more people receiving benefits and pensions directly into their bank accounts, reducing their need for the Post Office’s services.

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Post Offices were once the sole providers of postage stamps, but now stamps can be purchased from supermarkets and petrol stations.

Over the past decade, the number of branches has stabilised at around 11,500.

Despite these changes, the 364-year-old institution remains wholly owned by the state and continues to be Britain’s largest retail network.

A spokesman for the Post Office said: “The plan intends to create a new operating model for the business that means ensuring the Post Office has the right organisational design.”

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But the Communication Workers Union (CWU) union called on the Post Office to halt the plans and for the Government to intervene.

CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: “For the company to announce the closure of hundreds of Post Offices hot on the heels of the Horizon scandal is as tone deaf as it is immoral.

“CWU members are victims of the Horizon scandal – and for them to now fear for their jobs ahead of Christmas is yet another cruel attack.”

TROUBLED TIMES

It comes after it was revealed that government ministers are exploring plans to transfer ownership to employees, similar to the model used by the John Lewis Partnership.

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It is based on the idea that its workers are each part-owners of the company and receive a share of annual profits.

Whitehall insiders admitted that the Post Office is in a lot of trouble and is only financially viable because of an annual subsidy it receives from the government.

Calls for a review of the company’s ownership model have grown amid rising public anger at the wrongful conviction of hundreds of sub-postmasters.

Highlighted by the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, it has been labelled Britain’s biggest miscarriage of justice after they were accused of stealing cash from their branches.

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Many had their lives destroyed, were imprisoned, and some even passed away or committed suicide before finally being exonerated.

Former sub-postmaster Sir Alan Bates, who tirelessly campaigned for justice, is still waiting to agree on a compensation settlement and has called on the government to consider suing former directors of the company.

Why are retailers closing stores?

RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.

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High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.

The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming.

The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested.

Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.

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It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.

The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.

Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.

“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.

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“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”

Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.

The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.

However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses.

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The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year.

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Nationwide, Santander and HSBC HIKE mortgage rates despite Bank of England cut – see the full list

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October Budget could see A THIRD of Brit businesses activate 'exit plans' thanks to major tax change

MORTGAGE borrowers are being hammered with higher costs as major lenders hike rates and pull top deals despite a recent cut to the Bank of England base rate.

In a blow to buyers, HSBC, Barclays, Santander and Nationwide are among the big lenders that have upped prices this week.

Some of the biggest mortgage lenders have raised rates this week

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Some of the biggest mortgage lenders have raised rates this week

Over the past month around 200 deals have disappeared from the market, in the biggest month-on-month reduction since July 2023, according to analysis from data site moneyfactscompare.co.uk.

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In a blizzard of price increases this week, Nationwide has pushed up rates putting an end to its sub 4% products.

HSBC has now hiked rates twice within as many weeks.

At the same time, Santander has also raised for new and existing customers by up to 0.31%.

It comes after the Bank of England last week cut the base rate from 5% to 4.75%.

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A reduction in central interest rates usually marks a fall in borrowing costs.

Yet, in an unexpected and unwelcome twist, mortgage borrowers are now seeing costs rise.

The average two-year fixed mortgage rate today is 5.44%, pushed up from 5.39% shortly before the Bank of England base rate reduction, according to data from moneyfactscompare.co.uk.

At the same time, the average five-year fix now sits at 5.17%, up from 5.09%.

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Experts said the lenders are pulling back from the market to avoid being overwhelmed by demand in the wake of the cut.

What is the Bank of England base rate and how does it affect me?

Nicholas Mendes, technical director at broker John Charcol, said: “While many lenders have opted to maintain their existing rates to preserve business volumes and service standards, those offering competitive pricing have been forced to adjust likely due to applications levels.

“These influxes often stretch service levels, prompting rapid rate changes to manage demand effectively.”

Market rates typically used by lenders to price mortgages have also been increasing.

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John Fraser-Tucker, head of mortgages at online broker Mojo Mortgages, said: “While the Bank of England’s decision to lower the Bank Rate last week might lead some to expect across-the-board reductions in mortgage rates, it’s important to understand that the mortgage market doesn’t always move in perfect sync with the Bank of England’s base rate decision.

“Fixed-rate mortgages, in particular, are influenced by a complex array of factors beyond just the Bank Rate. These can include the lender’s own funding costs, their view on future economic conditions, competitive positioning in the market, and even their internal goals for new business.”

Here is the full list of major lenders that have hiked rates this week…

BARCLAYS

From tomorrow (November 14) Barclays is increasing rates across purchase, remortgage and reward ranges.

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Among other increases, the change will see a two-year 5.15% fee-free fix at 90% loan to value, jump to 5.49%

HSBC

In the second increase to rates in two weeks, HSBC has today raised the cost on selected two, three, five and 10-year deals.

The rise hits first-time buyer, home mover and existing customers switching deals.

COVENTRY BUILDING SOCIETY

The lender is tomorrow (November 14) raising tracker mortgage rates for buy-to-let borrowers, as well as closing applications to new borrowers.

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NATIONWIDE

This week’s increases from the lender means that most of its sub-4% rates will also go above 4%.

For example, its five-year fixed rate deal with a £999 fee has jumped from 3.94% to 4.14%.

SANTANDER

Santander has upped rates by 0.29% on residential fixed rates for purchase, remortgage, and green products.

The move is u-turn after reducing some rates earlier this month.

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TSB

TSB is upping rates up to 0.3% on selected two- and five-year deals. This includes first-time buyer and homemover deals, as well as remortgage products.

Rates now start from 4.32% for new customers.

It comes after the lender also increased selected rates by 0.10% two weeks ago.

VIRGIN MONEY

The lender has raised selected two and five-year rates by up to 0.15% this week.

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Products now start from 4.29%.

RATE CUT

One smaller lender that has bucked the trend and reduced rates is MPowered Mortgages.

All of its two and three-year fixed rate mortgages have fallen by as much 0.28% for new purchase and remortgage customers.

For new purchase customers, the lender’s two-year fixed rates now start at 4.21% for 60% LTV with a £999 fee and three-year fixed rates start at 4.19% at 60% LTV with a £999 fee.

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Should borrowers fix now or wait?

The volatile market could be a worry for anyone looking to move home or fix their mortgage in the coming months.

Most mortgage offers have a shelf life of up to six months, meaning that if you apply for a deal now the lender will honour the rate even if you don’t need it until early next year.

This is a good way to lock in rates and avoid added costs if prices keep rising.

If rates happen to fall in the mean time, you can then apply for another deal further down the line.

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Nicholas Mendes said: “For clients nearing the end of their fixed-rate terms, it’s essential not to delay in the hope that rates will revert to levels seen weeks ago.

“Securing a deal now provides certainty in an uncertain market. There is always the option to review and adjust if circumstances change but acting promptly minimises exposure to further rate increases.”

How to get the best deal on your mortgage

IF you’re looking for a traditional type of mortgage, getting the best rates depends entirely on what’s available at any given time.

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There are several ways to land the best deal.

Usually the larger the deposit you have the lower the rate you can get.

If you’re remortgaging and your loan-to-value ratio (LTV) has changed, you’ll get access to better rates than before.

Your LTV will go down if your outstanding mortgage is lower and/or your home’s value is higher.

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A change to your credit score or a better salary could also help you access better rates.

And if you’re nearing the end of a fixed deal soon it’s worth looking for new deals now.

You can lock in current deals sometimes up to six months before your current deal ends.

Leaving a fixed deal early will usually come with an early exit fee, so you want to avoid this extra cost.

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But depending on the cost and how much you could save by switching versus sticking, it could be worth paying to leave the deal – but compare the costs first.

To find the best deal use a mortgage comparison tool to see what’s available.

You can also go to a mortgage broker who can compare a much larger range of deals for you.

Some will charge an extra fee but there are plenty who give advice for free and get paid only on commission from the lender.

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You’ll also need to factor in fees for the mortgage, though some have no fees at all.

You can add the fee – sometimes more than £1,000 – to the cost of the mortgage, but be aware that means you’ll pay interest on it and so will cost more in the long term.

You can use a mortgage calculator to see how much you could borrow.

Remember you’ll have to pass the lender’s strict eligibility criteria too, which will include affordability checks and looking at your credit file.

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You may also need to provide documents such as utility bills, proof of benefits, your last three month’s payslips, passports and bank statements.

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Millions with disabilities feel excluded from products due to accessibility issues

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Millions with disabilities feel excluded from products due to accessibility issues

MILLIONS of consumers with a mental or physical disability feel excluded from products due to accessibility issues from food packaging to clothing design and store layouts.

A poll of 1,000 adults with invisible and visible disabilities revealed over two-thirds (68%) have felt ignored by retailers and manufacturers.

A poll has found those with disabilities have felt ignored by retailers

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A poll has found those with disabilities have felt ignored by retailersCredit: Alamy
Over two-thirds of adults feel excluded from products due to accessibility issues

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Over two-thirds of adults feel excluded from products due to accessibility issuesCredit: Samsung

And 55% believe mainstream brands simply aren’t interested in making products that cater to their individual needs.

With some of the top issues being food packaging, which is hard to open, clothes which have poor sizing or awkward fastenings and stores with high shelves and poor lighting.

As a result, 76% are loyal to companies who offer a good range of accessible option.

While 80% claim brands could be missing out on millions of pounds worth of sales by not considering disabled consumers.

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The spending power of disabled people and their households, known as the purple pound, is estimated to be worth a staggering £274 billion a year.

It also emerged that while 32% don’t expect to see a change from those in the fashion or transport sectors anytime soon – technology has made pace.

With the top tech innovations for people with a disability named as virtual assistants, smart home devices and wearable devices for health monitoring.

Katharina Mayer, head of LifeStyle Lab Europe at Samsung, which commissioned the research, said: “This research has highlighted the huge opportunity for brands to better understand the accessibility needs of consumers to provide greater access for people with disabilities in the UK.

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“Companies are rarely able to test their ideas with diverse people with different needs, but this is a must”.

It also emerged 72% of those surveyed have had to abandon a purchase due to a product’s lack of accessibility.

But 56% would be willing to pay more for a product or service that fully met their accessibility needs.

When it comes to online shopping, 80% struggle with websites that are not optimised for accessibility.

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While 30% battle through a poorly designed checkout process, and 22% bemoan a lack of text descriptions for images.

Samsung’s spokesperson added: “It’s time to re-write this narrative.

“When designers consider varied needs from the beginning, they don’t just serve people with disabilities – they create solutions that benefit everyone and that is the approach we take to inclusive design at Samsung.”

Full list of benefits you can claim if you’re disabled

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  • Statutory Sick Pay
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Disability Premiums
  • Access to work grant
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Universal Credit
  • New-style Employment and Support Allowance 
  • Council tax Support
  • Attendance Allowance 
  • Disabled Facilities Grant
  • Exemption from vehicle tax
  • Disabled persons railcard

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

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John Lewis Christmas advert 2024 LIVE: Watch teaser clip of ad just hours before launch

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John Lewis Christmas advert 2024 LIVE: Watch teaser clip of ad just hours before launch

What was the 2020 John Lewis Christmas advert?

At the peak of the pandemic John Lewis encouraged Brits to do something nice for each other in its Christmas advert.

In total there were nine acts of kindness featured, helping to form a chain of joy and happiness.

The two minute advert featured different forms of moving art – from animation and claymation to CGI and cinematography.

Eight artists helped make the different scenes, including Chris Hopewell, who created music videos for Radiohead.

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John Lewis said it wanted to support the creative industry, which was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic.

The advert told customers to do something nice for each other
The advert told customers to do something nice for each otherCredit: John Lewis

What happens in the Lidl Christmas advert?

THE Lidl Christmas advert tells a heartwarming tale of a little girl who, after helping an elderly woman, makes a wish to share her Lidl woolly hat with a boy she noticed earlier, who looked cold.

This touching gesture embodies Lidl’s message of sharing the magic this Christmas.

It also highlights the return of Lidl Toy Banks, with the aim of collecting and distributing more than 100,000 toys donated by customers to needy children.

Lidl delivers a touching message of sharing the magic this Christmas
Lidl delivers a touching message of sharing the magic this ChristmasCredit: Lidl

Freemans Christmas advert

The Freemans Christmas advert features a catchy tune that will have you singing away after the adverts have finished.

Sophie Ellis Bextor’s catchy song, Freedom Of The Night, is the highlight – with the singer herself making an appearance as part of the Style Squad.

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Sophie rocks up on doorsteps delivering Christmas presents for the exclusively online brand.

It’s a simple ad which will appeal to grown-ups.

Sophie Ellis Bextor stars in the Freemans Christmas ad
Sophie Ellis Bextor stars in the Freemans Christmas adCredit: Freemans

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Millions more drivers could be owed compensation in car finance mis-selling scandal as FCA issues major update

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Millions more drivers could be owed compensation in car finance mis-selling scandal as FCA issues major update

MILLIONS more drivers could be owed compensation in a car finance mis-selling scandal after a landmark legal case.

Lenders are set to be given more time to look at complaints after a court decision opened the floodgates to more claims.

An update on the car finance mis-selling scandal has been issued

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An update on the car finance mis-selling scandal has been issuedCredit: Getty

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation at the start of the year into whether motorists were unknowingly overcharged when they took out a loan to buy a car.

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This focused on Discretionary Commission Arrangements (DCAs) which gave dealerships an incentive to push customers towards pricier financing deals.

Those who bought a car, motorbike or van on finance before January 28, 2021 (when DCA was banned) could be owed thousands of pounds.

Now the regulator has set out plans today to extend the deadline by which lenders have to respond to complaints.

It follows a Court of Appeal ruling last month that a broker could not lawfully receive a commission from the lender without obtaining the customer’s fully informed consent to the payment.

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The decision applies to more types of commission and not just DCA, meaning more drivers could be owed cash.

The FCA said firms are likely to receive a “high volume” of complaints following the judgment and that an extension is needed to deal with claims.

Close Brothers and Firstrand, the subject of the case, intend to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision.

The watchdog also said it will write to the Supreme Court asking it to decide quickly whether it will permit lenders to appeal.

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In a statement published this morning, the FCA said: “Any complaint extension would allow them time to consider how these might be efficiently and effectively handled.

Martin Lewis On Car Finance Scandal

“This would help prevent disorderly, inconsistent and inefficient outcomes for consumers making complaints, motor finance firms and the market.”

Proposals are expected to be published in two weeks, which would mean the complaint extension is in place by mid-December.

Following the news today Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has weighed in on what it means for drivers.

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Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “It signals that the FCA is paving the ground to in future broaden the scope of its car finance investigation, so not only at the 40% of past claims that had DCAs (where dealers could increase their commission by increasing interest) but all commissions including fixed commissions.”

What is the FCA investigating and who is eligible for compensation?

By Jacob Jaffa, Motors Reporter

What is being investigated?

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The FCA announced in January that it would investigate allegations of “widespread misconduct” related to discretionary commission agreements (DCAs) on car loans.

When you buy a car on finance, you are effectively loaned the value of the car while you pay it off.

These loans have interest payments charged on top of them and are often organised on behalf of lenders by brokers – usually the finance arm of a dealership.

These brokers earn money in the form of commission – a percentage of the interest payments on the loan.

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DCAs allowed brokers to, to a certain extent, increase the interest rate on a loan, which in turn increased the amount of commission they received.

The practice was banned by the FCA in 2021.

Who is eligible for compensation?

The FCA estimates that around 40% of car deals may have been affected before 2021.

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There are two criteria you must meet to have a chance at receiving compensation.

First, you must be complaining in relation to a finance deal on a motor vehicle (including cars, vans, motorbikes and motorhomes) that was agreed before January 28 2021.

Second, you must have bought the vehicle through a mechanism like Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Hire Purchase (HP), which make up the majority of finance deals and mean you own the vehicle at the end of the agreement.

Drivers who leased a car through something like a Personal Contract Hire, where you give the car back at the end of the lease, are not eligible.

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Martin also said that it essentially means that “almost everyone” who has had car finance deals may have a complaint and be due money back.

He explained: “This potentially more than doubles the number of people involved, and would really start to look more like PPI scale of payouts (and a substantial threat to the car finance industry).”

The Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) scandal saw 16.5million people handed payouts totalling £38.3billion after banks and other financial institutions mis-sold PPI policies to millions of customers between 1990 and 2010.

The FCA has been unable to confirm how many people will now be possibly owed cash.

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Alex Neill, co-founder of consumer rights group Consumer Voice said: “The financial regulator has signalled it will allow motor finance providers more time to consider how to deal with complaints about all secret commissions, not just those that are discretionary.

“This is big news for consumers as it could mean significantly more money is owed to more people.”

“Anyone who has already been told by their finance provider they didn’t have a discretionary commission on their loan should now be asking if any commission at all was applied. If it was, they may be owed compensation.”

Delayed investigation outcome

The FCA had planned to publish the outcome of its investigation in September.

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However the publishing date has been pushed back to May next year and the date firms have to respond to customer complaints to December 4, 2025.

It’s worth nothing, the FCA’s decision to extend the deadline to December 4 next year is just when firms have to respond to any complaints.

Customers can still complain to their providers before this point, and in some cases, there are time limits for doing so.

You can find more information about any time limits on the FCA website.

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What is the Car Finance Discretionary Commission Scandal?

The Car Finance Discretionary Commission Scandal affects those who bought a car, motorbike or van on finance before January 28, 2021.

After this date, the city watchdog the FCA banned lenders from using “discretionary commission arrangements” (DCAs).

DCAs allowed brokers to increase interest rates on car finance loans, which in turn saw their commission bumped up.

It has been classed as an unfair practice because drivers weren’t told about the DCAs and therefore thought any deals were a fixed price that they couldn’t negotiate on.

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Anyone who took out a vehicle on finance before January 28, 2021, could have been unfairly paying more than they should have.

The FCA has now launched an investigation to see how many people have been impacted.

MSE’s website has a useful checklist on who might be in line for money back.

It also has a list of firms that are unlikely to have handed out dodgy deals and therefore don’t owe customers money.

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Among the major lenders which could be set to pay out compensation are Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Ireland, Investec and Santander.

These banks are said to have set aside millions of pounds to help cover the costs of the payouts since the court case in October.

The Royal Bank of Canada has estimated that the industry’s bill for motor finance compensation could stretch to £13billion.

How to claim

Consumer website MoneySavingExpert.com has a page on its website with an email template you can use to complain to your firm.

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Or, you can complain directly to them without using the template.

It’s important to note that anyone who took out car finance should make a claim.

Plus those who claimed previously but had it turned down before should try again.

In the complaint, you should ask whether you were overcharged due to your broker getting paid a commission and ask the company to correct this if that is what happened.

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If you’re not satisfied with the company’s response, you can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for free.

You have until July 29, 2026, or up to 15 months from the date of their final response letter, whichever is longest.

Be wary of using a claims management firm to help you claw back any overpaid car finance as you’ll have to pay it a portion of any successful claim.

The FCA has previously said the total cost of redressing motorists impacted by the car finance scandal could cost firms between £6billion and £16billion.

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It means affected customers could get potentially £1,000s back in overpayments.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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