John Lewis Christmas advert 2016: Boss hints new clip WON'T be 'sad'
WITH the John Lewis Christmas advert due any moment, the corporation's head of marketing has hinted that viewers should expect a change of approach.
This year's John Lewis Christmas advert may not be as 'sad' as last year
The clip is normally debuted on the first Friday of November, but with rumours swirling that this year's effort won't be out until next Thursday (November 10), speculation is mounting on how last year's 'Man on the Moon' will be followed.
Speaking at the IPA's Genesis Conference yesterday, Rachel Swift said the mixed reaction to the 2015 commercial prompted a rethink to the so-called "sadvertising".
“We still had a really successful campaign with Man on the Moon, but there were murmurings that it was too sad," she conceded, according to Business Insider.
"So, we looked at the data we were getting back.”
John Lewis' 2015 effort was dubbed 'too sad'
John Lewis Christmas Advert 2015 - Man On The Moon
The penguin advert was a big hit in 2014
There were murmurings that [last year] was too sad
She did, however, stop short of giving any concrete clues as to what's in store.
“We don’t just do it for the sake of it,” she added.
On Twitter, speculation has been rife that the song accompanying the ad will be a David Bowie cover, following the icon's death at the start of the year.
"Got a feeling the John Lewis advert cover song will be a David Bowie number," one person predicted.
The 2016 effort will be out next week
"Prediction for this year's John Lewis Christmas advert: a breathless acoustic cover version of a David Bowie song. Probably 'Heroes'," said someone else.
Artists who have delivered the music in the past have included Gabrielle Aplin, Lily Allen and Ellie Goulding.
The John Lewis Christmas advert is expected to debut on November 10.