The British know when to start roasting chestnuts and stoke a festive fire, not by the sound of sleigh bells but by the annual jingle of the supermarket’s Christmas advert.
As Christmas begins across the UK, the nation has already received a generous helping of festive adverts from the likes of M&S, Morrisons, Asda and Aldi – and they’ll be joined by Waitrose with a mystery Christmas pudding campaign.
Today the supermarket has launched a star-studded whodunnit ad – Sweet Suspicion, A Waitrose Mystery – featuring a two-part campaign and a festive thriller.
Viewers will be treated to the first installment of a double-part mystery this year, with a star-studded cast including Fleabag’s Sian Clifford, Succession star Matthew Macfadyen and Afterlife comedian Joe Wilkinson.
Keen boxing watchers will also spot Sex Education star Rakhee Thakrar and ‘Slow Horses” Dustin Demri-Burns among those seated at the festive table.
The British know when to start roasting chestnuts and stoke a festive fire, not by the sound of sleigh bells but by the annual jingle of the supermarket’s Christmas advert.
Today the supermarket has launched a star-studded whodunnit ad – Sweet Suspicion, A Waitrose Mystery – featuring a two-part campaign and a festive thriller.
The 90-second film follows a family preparing the Christmas meal. While Steve, played by Demri-Burns, glazes the turkey and roasts the potatoes, May, played by Clifford, sneaks away from peeling parsnips to munch on a selection of cheeses before dinner.
Meanwhile, Samira, played by Thakrar, shakes up Christmas cocktails and the kids, played by Naya and Sonny, layer the gingerbread house.
But in the midst of preparations for the festive feast, the family soon discovers that there is a thief in their midst.
To their horror, the Waitrose Red Velvet Bauble dessert, generously provided by Uncle Phil, played by Wilkinson, has mysteriously disappeared from the fridge.
The amateur detective, played by Macfadyen, is on a mission to discover who the culprit is among the equally dubious dinner guests.
The spectators must guess who is the culprit of the pudding thief. Was it the downtrodden Grandma, once a Christmas pudding baker, now a cranberry sauce maker, May the Cheesecake, or Steve the Turkey Roaster?
Another possible suspect is the family cat Fig, played by the feline actor of the same name.
The mystery will be left for viewers to ponder over the next two weeks, when a subsequent 60-second clip will reveal the gluttonous pudding thief.
Viewers will be treated to the first installment of a double-part mystery this year, with a star-studded cast including Fleabag’s Sian Clifford, (right) Succession star Matthew Macfadyen and Afterlife comedian Joe Wilkinson .
The spectators must guess who is the culprit of the pudding thief. Was it the downtrodden Grandma, once a Christmas pudding baker, now a cranberry sauce maker, May the cheese caterer, or Steve the turkey roaster?
Keen boxing watchers will also spot Sex Education star Rakhee Thakrar of ‘Sex Education’ (pictured left) and Dustin Demri-Burns of ‘Slow Horses’, among those seated at the festive table.
While Steve, played by Demri-Burns, (pictured right) glazes the turkey and roasts the potatoes, May, played by Clifford, (left) sneaks away from peeling parsnips to munch on a selection of cheeses before dinner.
Pictured: Joe Wilkinson as Uncle Phil. Meanwhile, Samira, played by Thakrar, shakes the Christmas cocktails and the children, played by Naya and Sonny, cover the gingerbread house.
The advert is one element of the supermarket’s campaign to engage directly with customers, including additional social media alibis from suspicious festive diners and a physical evidence board at London’s Kings Cross station.
Directing the thriller ad is Bafta winner Lucy Forbes, who previously directed Adam Kay’s misery drama This Is Going to Hurt.
The supermarket chain is launching 550 new products for the holiday season, including more than 150 new items to mix up the mystery on the table.
Among them is The No.1 Red Velvet Dessert, the stolen pudding at the center of the story. This family-sized holiday treat will be available for families to fill their refrigerators starting December 19.
Meanwhile, sweets fans can get their hands on individual Red Velvet Bauble desserts that are available in-store and online.
Other delicious products from the chain’s Christmas range feature in the campaign.
Among them are their gooey Reuben Rarebit bake, crumbly cognac brown butter mince pies, and a gooey molasses-glazed turkey crown.
Directing the thriller ad was Bafta winner Lucy Forbes, who previously directed Adam Kay’s misery drama This Is Going to Hurt.
Keen boxing watchers will also spot Sex Education star Rakhee Thakrar of ‘Sex Education’ and Dustin Demri-Burns of ‘Slow Horses’, (pictured) among those seated at the festive table.
The advert is one element of the supermarket’s campaign to engage directly with customers, including additional social media alibis from suspicious festive diners and a physical evidence board at London’s Kings Cross station.
The supermarket chain launches 550 new products for the Christmas holidays, including more than 150 new products to mix mystery on the table
Chief customer officer Nathan Ansell said: “For the first time, we will be keeping Waitrose customers guessing with a festive crime drama with an all-star cast for this year’s Christmas advert.”
‘Our Christmas campaign is all about how Waitrose (Christmas) food is so good you can’t wait to get your hands on it, so we’ve showcased the best of our delicious range whilst adding a touch of festive fun and sparkle. . Was it Uncle Phil? Was it Fig the cat? You’ll have to wait and see!
Matthew Macfadyen, who plays the detective, said: “I wonder if my extensive repertoire of previous detective roles led me to this very moment – starring in this wonderful Waitrose whodunnit.
‘Working with such a fantastic cast on such a fun project for Christmas was a great pleasure. I think together we’ve created a story that will have audiences speculating about who the pudding thief really is!’
Sian Clifford, who plays the role of May, said: “Christmas is often a time that brings together a cast of all sorts of different characters – good food is usually the only thing we can all agree on! It was really tough having to eat delicious Waitrose food for four days, but someone has to do it and I was happy to try. Nothing says Christmas like treating yourself!’
Rakhee Thakrar, Samira, said: “I have always seen myself as the perfect hostess, as has Samira, however I am lucky not to have awkward guests at my Christmas celebrations, so we rarely have mystery or drama, but I loved it be a suspect… or the culprit, who knows?!’