John Lewis Christmas advert 2021 is finally here—what is it about and who’s singing the song?

The John Lewis Christmas advert 2021 is finally here and the heart-warming storyline, iconic song and emotional ending will really kick off the festive season in style.

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the John Lewis Christmas advert and there’s nothing like a blossoming friendship, a thoughtful gift or a tear-jerking scene to make it a highlight of the year. John Lewis are known for always pulling out all the stops when it comes to their Christmas adverts which over the years have been just as unforgettable as any of the best feel good Christmas movies. Expectations for this year's advert are just as high as ever, so why not grab your best Christmas jumpers and prepare for this wonderful annual Christmas viewing tradition. 

Here we reveal all the magical moments you can enjoy in the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021...

What is the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021 about?

Created in partnership with adam&eveDDB, the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021 is entitled Unexpected Guest and follows 14-year-old boy Nathan who spots an intriguing flashing light in the sky on his way home from school and makes a major discovery in the woods near his family home. Not quite sure what he was expecting, Nathan comes across Skye, a space traveller whose ship has crashed in the quiet forest. Initially uncertain, Nathan decides to reach out to her, adding a star and lights to his Christmas jumper to mirror her outfit.  

A heart-warming friendship soon develops between them, as Nathan helps Skye discover the magic of her first ever Christmas through some of his favorite festive moments. Showing her the excitement that can be sparked by the best real Christmas trees, he sneaks some spare fairy lights to decorate a nearby tree, which Skye delighted powers up herself. But the yuletide treats don’t stop there and Skye soon tries her first mince pie—after being shown not to eat the silver foil, of course! 

The pair watch Christmas films and play in the snow, but they can’t put off the inevitable forever and the time soon comes when Skye has fixed her ship and prepares to return home. Racing through the trees to say goodbye to his friend, Nathan catches her just in the nick of time and shows her one final Christmas tradition.

In the bittersweet final moments, he presents Skye with the same Christmas jumper he was wearing when they first met and she gently kisses his cheek before boarding her ship and heading for the sky, leaving behind a twinkling star on the Christmas tree they decorated together. Seeing Christmas afresh through her eyes and falling in love with the bond between the two teenagers makes this parting scene all the more emotional and we wouldn’t blame you if you shed a tear or three. 

Opening up about the new advert, Claire Pointon, Director of Customer says, “There is nothing more magical than discovering the joy of Christmas for the first time and enjoying your favourite festive moments with loved ones. After the last 18 months, we wanted our advert to really celebrate this as we look forward to a brighter future.

"We know our customers are excited for this festive season more than ever, as they reconnect with family and friends. Through the story of Skye and Nathan we celebrate friendship and are reminded of the joy of experiencing Christmas for the first time.” 

And if that emotional storyline doesn’t already draw you right into the world of the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021, then the retailer has also provided another way for customers to experience it all over again. This year, the story of the advert will be brought to life in ten Christmas Emporiums, where people will be able to get up close to Skye’s ship.

They will also be able to create and share an interactive gift across social media and two Snapchat lenses will also be available today. Simply head to your Snapchat account to check them out—one is a selfie lens which allows you to become a space-traveller just like Skye and another is an outward facing one that means you can play with her spaceship in our world. 

Watch the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021

For anyone eager to feel all the feels and immerse themselves in the magical world of the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021, the new advert is now available watch and is the perfect choice to start off the festive season early. And if you can’t wait to see it land on TV, then never fear as this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert will be receiving a special premiere tonight at 8:15pm during The Pride of Britain Awards 2021 on ITV.

Who is singing on the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021?

Speculation about who would be singing on the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021 started many weeks ago, with everyone’s favourite legend, Adele, being the subject of many an advert song rumor. This had arisen as Adele’s new album is set to be released later on in November and her new single has already been met with huge delight from fans. 

However, this year the John Lewis Christmas advert has instead celebrated the talents of an up and coming British singer-songwriter, Lola Young. In the new advert, she’s brought a wonderfully emotional version of classic Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder song, Together in Electric Dreams, to life. 

Discussing being given the extraordinary opportunity to lend her voice to the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021, Lola declared, “I feel super honoured to be a part of this, growing up I always watched the John Lewis Christmas adverts, they’re iconic and so it kinda feels surreal getting asked to be in one. It also means a lot as an up and coming artist to be a part of something this special.”

She also shared what it was like for her to make such a much-loved song her own, explaining, “Together In Electric Dreams is a very beautiful song. I love that era of music and I think Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder are incredible. The lyric and soul within the song is something inspirational, fitting to the story within the ad. I feel so excited to be covering it and working with John Lewis.”

Lola Young’s past work, including spellbinding single, Woman, her debut track collection, Intro, and its follow-up release, Renaissance, has been met with huge acclaim. Meanwhile, Clara Amfo, Jo Wiley and Annie Mac are just a few of the people who’ve supported her on the radio on her musical journey so far.  

Which charities are John Lewis supporting this year?

Just as they did with their Give a Little Love John Lewis Christmas advert 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and across the past year, John Lewis are continuing to support two vital charities, Home-Start UK and FareShare. Home-Start UK’s network of trained volunteers help parents in local communities to get through challenging times, building on strengths and giving the support that each family needs.

Whilst FareShare is the UK’s largest food distribution charity that aims to relieve food poverty, as well as to help reduce food waste. John Lewis & Partners will be donating 10% of the profits of its stunning Christmas advert merchandise equally between these important charities.

Is there merchandise for this year’s John Lewis advert?

If you’re eager to recreate Nathan’s adorable Christmas jumper look from the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021, then the popular department store has you covered! This year a version of this soon-to-be-iconic Christmas jumper which Nathan selflessly gifts to Skye will be available to buy in John Lewis shops and also on johnlewis.com. 

John Lewis & Partners Christmas Advert 2021 Women's Jumper, Navy, £29 | John Lewis & Partners 

For those who just can't wait to style Nathan's John Lewis Christmas advert 2021 look, this soft navy jumper is the perfect way to celebrate the start of the festive season. 

Not only that, but if you fancy making the most of this Christmas look with your family this year then you’ll be thrilled to know that you can purchase the jumpers in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes. 

John Lewis & Partners Christmas Advert 2021 Men's Jumper, Navy, £29 | John Lewis & Partners

With its classic design and versatile navy color, this Christmas jumper is well worth pulling out for your upcoming festive events. 

Though whilst Nathan got creative and decorated his own jumper with a star and fairy lights as a human version of Skye’s otherworldly outfit, these John Lewis jumpers will not feature these. Instead, the retailer wishes the jumpers to have as much longevity as possible by making them easy to wash and that bit more timeless. 

John Lewis & Partners Christmas Advert 2021 Kids' Jumper, Navy, £14-18 | John Lewis & Partners

The navy Kid’s Christmas jumper's price varies on the size you buy and is available in sizes 3-14, meaning your entire family can enjoy recreating Nathan's look this year! 

The prices range from £14-£29 depending on the size you go for and John Lewis & Partners will be donating 10% of the profits of each jumper sold equally to FareShare and Home-Start UK. 

Where have you seen the young stars of the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021 before?

The incredible bond between Nathan and Skye is one that will no doubt have brought a tear to many people’s eyes and their amazing performances are made all the more significant given the minimal dialogue in the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021. But this isn’t the young actors’ first foray into cinema, as some eagle-eyed film fanatics might already know.  

Skye’s actor Raffi (14) secured her first movie role at just 5 years old when she was cast as Stephen Hawking’s daughter Lucy in The Theory of Everything alongside Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. 

From there Raffi’s career has gone from strength to strength and she also starred as Claire Densmore in Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and appeared in Trauma and His Dark Materials.

Meanwhile Jordan (14) who plays Nathan also began acting at the age of 5 and is perhaps best known for his role as Peter Pan in the live action film, Come Away, which also starred Angelina Jolie and David Oyelowo. He’s also played Terry in Call the Midwife and appeared as a guest star in comedy Breeders opposite Sherlock’s Martin Freeman. 

What was the first John Lewis Christmas advert to really capture the public's attention? 

The first John Lewis Christmas advert was released in 2007. The advert was called 'Shadows' and featured a number of people stacking items together to create a silhouette of a woman and her dog in the snow.

Since 2007 an advert has been released by the brand every year. However, the first advert that truly captured the public's attention was released in 2011 and was titled 'The Long Wait'. This was the first advert with a narrative and depicted a small boy impatiently waiting for Christmas.

At first, it seems that the boy is desperate to open his own gifts but as Christmas morning arrives, he runs past his stocking and into his parent's room to give them the gifts he wrapped himself and has been waiting to give them.

What is the most popular John Lewis Christmas advert of all time?

Although there have been a lot of great adverts, there is one that has been voted the most popular John Lewis advert of all time. 

The Independent voted 'The Long Wait' in 2011 as the best John Lewis advert of all time. Smooth radio voted 2014's 'Monty the Penguin' as the best, as did Digital Spy.

This advert featured a little boy whose pet penguin is looking for love. The advert is adorable and although it's a little bit twee, it's the perfect feel-good advert with the message, "Give someone the Christmas they've been dreaming of."