McDonald's UK 2020 Christmas advert has got the nation in tears

McDonald’s might have only released the advert (opens in new tab) on YouTube and Twitter this week, but already their 2020 Christmas advert already has over 5 million views on Twitter and over 300,000 on YouTube.

It's been a big week for festive adverts as John Lewis have now released their Christmas 2020 advert (opens in new tab). And they're in good company - with the 2020 Disney Christmas advert having also left viewers in floods of tears. 

But many might be surprised to find that McDonald's Uk's Christmas advert is right up there with the best of them. It will premiere on television in the advert break of ITV’s flagship show I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! this Sunday 15 November. 

What is the McDonald’s UK 2020 Christmas advert about?

This year’s McDonald’s UK Christmas advert is truly heart-wrenching. It follows the story of a young boy facing an internal struggle and is an essential part of McDonald’s UK’s Christmas #ReindeerReady campaign. 

Wonderfully animated, this modern-day festive tale tells the tale of a mother trying to persuade her teenage son to embrace family rituals as Christmas approaches. With her son more interested in his various screens, this is a situation many parents will be all-too familiar with. 

Now he must decide if he's ready to embrace their family Christmas traditions as he once did. The nostalgic story of the bond between mother and son is sure to bring a tear to your eye. 

And if that wasn’t emotional enough, the 90 second video is made even more heart-wrenching by the inclusion of iconic tear-jerker Forever Young as the accompanying music. 

The song was originally released by Alphaville in 1984, however singer Becky Hill has brought it a new lease of life here. Her stripped back version highlights the emotional message and family focus. It is available for streaming and downloading now and 10p from every download will go to support food charity FareShare.

How have people reacted?

Having only just been released, the amount of views the McDonald’s UK Christmas advert has already achieved is staggering. Already people have taken to Twitter to reveal the video brought them to tears. 

One user posted, ‘My god how can I be crying at a McDonald’s advert’

Whilst another said that she didn’t usually get emotional over Christmas adverts, but this ‘really strikes a chord’. 

Others have praised the music with one writing: ‘what a beautiful advert, you hit the right spot, music, & message’

Some have found it too emotional

However the advert has also divided many viewers. Some have claimed that the advert is simply too emotional.

One Twitter user posted that the advert was too 'dark for Christmas'. 

Whilst another put forward the idea that McDonald's UK's advert could have chosen to support actors who have been struggling to work throughout the pandemic.

She wrote: 'in a year when so many actors are struggling it would have been nice for McDonald’s to support one or two as opposed to animated figures who don’t get repeat fees!'

What is the #ReindeerReady campaign about?

This year as part of the #ReindeerReady campaign, McDonald’s have pledged to donate funding to enable food charity FareShare to redistribute a further four million meals to families in need before Easter 2021. 

Together with the donation before October half term, this means that McDonald’s will help to fund the redistribution of over 5 million to families in need. 

Commercial Director of FareShare Alyson Walsh has said, “We’re extremely grateful that McDonalds is extending its generous support to our mission and specifically enabling us to get meals to those in need between now and Easter.”

She added that they know “first-hand how much communities are struggling at the moment and this partnership means that we can support grass roots organisations across the UK with much-needed food both now and in the months to come.”

Meanwhile Paul Pomroy, Chief Executive Officer, McDonald’s UK and Ireland has echoed this statement. He talked of their pride in their pledge, stating: “In a year like no other, I am proud that we can stand together with organisations like FareShare and the End Child Food Poverty Task Force to support those in greatest need.”

He went on to express his hope that their donation “goes some way to supporting those in the communities in which we operate this Christmas and into 2021.”

Speaking about the Christmas 2020 campaign, Vice President, Menu and Marketing, Michelle Graham-Clare said that this heartwarming advert: “aims to reignite the magic of Christmas across the UK and Ireland this winter.”

She concluded with the powerful statement that: “this year we are proud to be spreading some much-needed Christmas cheer with this multi-channel campaign”.