// John Lewis launches Christmas ad a week earlier than usual
// The ad features another unusual character – sticking to its usual theme
John Lewis has introduced this year’s Christmas ad, featuring an alien stepping in where a dragon, penguin and monster under the bed have gone before.
The company has become a big annual TV moment that kicks off the Christmas shopping season.
This year, it has launched its ad a week earlier than usual after a rise in searches for Christmas products on the department store’s websites.
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This is to help shoppers try to dodge supply problems in the run-up to the festive period.
Its campaigns – from the Hare and the Bear in 2013 to Monty the Penguin in 2014 and 2019’s Excitable Edgar the dragon – generally call on characters that draw millions of viewers online.
After last year’s effort, which featured a montage of quirky animations about kindness and giving to charity, rather than giving presents, this year’s festive promo features more products.
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