John Lewis: Man on the Moon

So, to quote Slade's Noddy Holder, "Iiiiittttttt's Chrrrrriiiiiiissssttttmmmaaaaasssss". Yes, Christmas in the UK has officially started now that this year's John Lewis commercial has arrived. And, once again, it doesn't disappoint.

Created, as ever, through adam&eveDDB London and beautifully shot by Somesuch's Kim Gehrig, the spot features a little girl who spots a rather sad-looking old man living in a shed on the moon.

The girl tries to catch his attention in a number of ways before, well, we won't spoil it for you, suffice it to say it's another emotional hit from a brand and an agency that have mastered such things and, as hard as you try, and as much as you prepare yourself, there's the usual lump-in-the-throat moment as you get to the end. Damn you, John Lewis!!

The music this year is a haunting version of Oasis' Half a World Away by Norwegian singer, Aurora, and for 2015 the brand has teamed with Age UK in an effort to raise awareness of the million older people who can go a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or member of family.

The ad launched via social media channel's this morning and will premiere on TV tonight in an ad break during Gogglebox.

Age UK also released a follow-up mini spot (below) to present the old man's perspective. The touching ad reveals what it is like to be the man on the moon and an old man in today's society.

We'll have interviews with Gehrig, adam&eveDDB and The Mill in the coming days, so stay tuned but as an extra Christmas treat, below, you can take a look at the advertising ghosts of John Lewis Christmas spots past.

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2010 

Christmas 2011 

Christmas 2012 

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2014