Tesco has launched its 2026 Christmas advert, featuring comedian Roisin Conaty and actor Anna Maxwell Martin in a story about friendship, festive mishaps and the importance of helping others.
Titled The Wrong Address, the three-minute film follows two former school friends, Polly (Conaty) and Lizzie (Maxwell Martin), who unexpectedly reconnect after a Christmas grocery delivery goes wrong.
Lizzie discovers she has mistakenly sent her festive food order to her former address, hundreds of miles from her current home. Tesco delivery driver Polly recognises the name and offers to help, arranging to meet Lizzie halfway so she can collect her shopping in time for Christmas.
However, when car trouble disrupts their plans, the pair embark on an unexpected road trip across the UK, giving them an opportunity to reminisce about their friendship and address an unresolved falling-out from their school days.
Soundtracked by The Police’s Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, the advert puts human connection and small acts of kindness at the centre of Tesco’s festive messaging.
The campaign builds on the supermarket’s ‘Need Anything from Tesco?’ platform, introduced earlier this year as an extension of its longstanding ‘Every Little Helps’ positioning.
Created by BBH London and directed by Steve Rogers, the advert makes its television debut on ITV on November 1 during Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, with a shorter 60-second version.
The wider Christmas campaign will also see the return of Tesco’s in-store Santa’s Grottos, while Conaty and Maxwell Martin will feature alongside broadcaster Greg James in the retailer’s Tesco Kitchen social media series later this month.
Tesco UK customer director Suzanne Quinn said the campaign aims to help customers enjoy their best Christmas through value, food and festive experiences.
The advert also reinforces the supermarket’s focus on home delivery, positioning its service as part of the wider role it plays in helping customers prepare for the festive season.
Tesco has revealed that general Christmas delivery slots will open on Thursday 5 November, as it has found shoppers are already getting organised for the big day.
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