Tesco helps the U.K. ‘Become More Christmas’ in heart-warming TV spot via BBH London

Tesco has launched its 2023 Christmas ad, which is packed full of festive joy as it helps the nation ‘Become More Christmas’, in a hilarious and heart-warming spot from BBH London.

Featuring a family that’s getting into the Christmas spirit ahead of the big day, some more enthusiastically than others, the Tesco Christmas ad is here to help get the nation into the festive spirit. The campaign taps into the insight that for many people, Christmas is about so much more than the big day.

While there will always be the ‘Big Christmas Shop’, the need for festive goods and festivities in general starts a lot earlier than the 25th December. In fact, the Tesco 2023 Christmas Report revealed that nearly a third of UK adults (31%) said they find the build up to Christmas more exciting than the big day itself.

The ad opens on an enthusiastic Dad and his reticent son driving to Tesco for their usual shop. Whilst wandering around the store, the Dad spots a Christmas sampling display and, after getting his first taste of Christmas (the Tesco Finest Triple Chocolate Star Shaped Panettone), immediately transforms into a Christmas tree as he gets into the festive spirit. In typical teenage fashion, his son looks embarrassed and walks away, clearly reluctant to join in the fun.

In another scene, Dad has gone through a truly tree-mendous transformation, complete with twinkling lights, and is excitedly putting the decorations up at home. When Mum returns home from Tesco and delights in sharing some Tesco Finest Golden Mince Pies, she is overcome with festive joy and ‘Becomes More Christmas’, transforming into a spectacular Snowmum.

Following a second visit to Tesco, other customers can be seen ‘Becoming More Christmas’ with baubles and glittering stars exploring the aisles. At the checkout, Dad is served by a Tesco colleague who has transformed into a reindeer. As soon as Dad’s Tesco Clubcard is accepted, a shining star decoration explodes from the top of his head, and his Christmas transformation is complete.

While everyone around him ‘Becomes More Christmas’, the teenage son continues to remain reluctant to get into the festive spirit. Until, Dad gives him the handcrafted Christmas tree topper that he made when he was a little boy – it’s just the nudge he needs to transform into a Christmas tree himself, topped with that very star.

Capturing the moments that bring on that Christmas feeling is at the heart of the campaign.  Regardless of life stage or location, the truth is that food, whether it’s that first mince pie, a cheeseboard or a festive meal deal, plays a pivotal role in people’s journeys to ‘feeling Christmassy.’

BBH’s Felipe Serradourada Guimaraes was the campaign’s deputy executive creative director, and Elliott White and Will Maxey were the lead creative team. The film was directed by Alaska (Marco Lafer and Gustavo Moraes) through Iconoclast. Media was handled by EssenceMediaCom.

Says Guimaraes: “Christmas is a strange time. You hang out with people you don’t usually. You eat food you never do at any other time of the year. But whether you love it from the minute Halloween ends, or the hour before Christmas dinner, the one thing we know is true, is that eventually everyone gets into it. It’s infectious. That’s what we brought to life, in all its joyfully wonderful, and ridiculous, Christmas glory. Enjoy (with a side of mince pie).”

Says Emma Botton, group customer director, Tescos: “We want our seasonal campaigns to reflect how our customers feel as we know there’s been more anticipation for the festivities this year. Our Christmas Report revealed that, as early as September, nearly a quarter of the nation (24%) was already looking forward to celebrating Christmas more than usual. This year, our #BecomeMoreChristmas ad captures the emotions and excitement we feel, as we draw closer to the big day.

“At Tesco, as Christmas approaches, we’re providing customers with all their festive favourites and some exciting twists, with quality and great value at the heart of it all. On behalf of Tesco, we wish you all a Merry Christmas.”

Set to the soundtrack of OMC’s ‘How Bizarre’, the ad aired on TV for the first time on ITV during ‘I’m at Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’.

Client: Tesco
Group Customer Director: Emma Botton
Group Marketing Communications Director: Murray Bisschop
Head of Seasonal Campaigns: Alicia Southgate
Head of Media & Campaign Planning: Tom Mardon
Campaign Manager: Simon Boiko
Seasonal Media Manager: Sophie O’Sullivan
Campaign Assistant: James Johnson

Creative Agency: Bartle Bogle Hegarty London
Global Chief Creative Officer: Alex Grieve
Deputy Executive Creative Director: Felipe Guimaraes
Creative Director: Felipe Guimaraes
Senior Copywriter: Elliott White
Senior Art Director: Wil Maxey
Group Strategy Director: Saskia Jones
Strategy Director: Hannah Slapper
Senior Strategist: Tom Papaloizou
Senior Producer: Lisa Nicholls
Senior Producer: Nicole Southey
Assistant Producer: Valentina Schwendinger
Art Producer: Julian Cave
Managing Partner: James Rice
Business Lead: Tori Meadows
Account Director:  Owen Keating, Celia Taylor
Account Manager: Georgina Thompson
Account Executive: Talia Morrow
BBH Dublin: Amy Crowe + Amy Harrington
Music Supervisor: Hywel Evans and Daniel Olaifa

Production Company: Iconoclast
Director: Alaska (Marco Lafer and Gustavo Moraes)
Executive Producer: Jean Mougin
Line Producer: Emma Butterworth
Production Manager: Natalie Isaac
Production Designer: Arthur De Borman
Costumes: Anarchy Ltd
Prosthetics Make Up: Freddie Stopler
DOP: Pierre De Kerchove
Edit House: Trim Editing
Editor: Paul Hardcastle
Assistant Editor: Josh Mannox
Post House: Black Kite Studios
VFX Supervisor: Alex Lovejoy
Colourist: Tom Mangham
3D lead: James Hansell
Compositing Lead: George Brunt
Executive Producer: Paul Branch
Senior Producer: Phil Whalley
Sound House: 750MPH
Sound Engineer: Sam Ashwell

Media agency: Essencemediacom
Senior Associate Director: Harry Pearce
Account Director:  Eliz Ustusoy