Kristin Scott Thomas Stars in 2026 John Lewis Christmas Advert

The Irish Examiner, The Guardian and the London Evening Standard report that Kristin Scott Thomas stars in the 2026 John Lewis Christmas advert. The advert features Scott Thomas playing a grandmother named Gloria who welcomes her family to her London home on Christmas Eve. She attempts to entertain her young grandchildren, Freddie and Maggie, with a vintage wooden pull-along toy dog named Pickles. [1][4][10]

According to the Irish Examiner and NME, the festive advert is soundtracked by a Sam Fender cover of the song You Can’t Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones. NME reports that singer Mick Jagger approved the cover and stated that Fender did a great job with the track. [1][7]

The Irish Examiner reports that the toy dog Pickles is voiced by actor Paul Whitehouse. The Guardian notes that the campaign marks 20 years of blockbuster Christmas adverts from retail company John Lewis. [1][4]

Scott Thomas recently appeared in the Apple TV series Slow Horses, as noted by the Irish Examiner and The Guardian. She trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London and was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2015 for her services to drama. [1][4][12][15]