Ah! The John Lewis Christmas ad. The pitch everybody wanted to win and no one wanted to do. Except we did want to do it, and we loved doing it and I would work with Megaforce and Andrea Bocelli and Teddy every day of my life if I could.

But seriously, as my first real test as CCO of Saatchi and Saatchi London this was a big one. Throw in my favourite supermarket and a corporate charity activation and the 3-headed pitch was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But we won and the joy of getting to build these brands with amazing partners, is I think, evident in the work.

I am in this film talking about it on set (it was very hot and I have too much makeup on)

Oh, and if you look very closely you can see me in this video too…

I am particularly proud of how the icon of this campaign was designed and re-designed to integrate across everything from slippers and plushies to high-fashion and air-fryers. A triumph of tendrils. The copy writing was on point, as were the pyjamas.

Here’s some lovely shots of a child at Kew Gardens, where Snapper was installed outside the carnivorous plant house and me by a Snapper destined for a John Lewis window

Nobody tells you that simply* by winning an advertising pitch you have the power to ruin Christmas. Amongst all the amazing 5* reviews for the ad and the music, this might be my favourite.

*it wasn’t simple at all.