The John Lewis Christmas Ad Is Here... And We Defy You Not To Cry

Cute woodland animals and a Lily Allen soundtrack? It's almost too much to bear...

When it comes to Christmas adverts, the team at John Lewis know exactly what buttons to press, don't they? One year they gave us a small child bearing presents, the next a snowman battling a storm to get his snow-woman a gift, and now this – woodland animals looking very cute, and very sad. It's too much.

Called The Bear And The Hare (even the name has us in bits), the John Lewis ad looks more like a classic Disney cartoon, or lost scenes from Watership Down than an advert for the telly. 

From the opening subtitle 'There once was an animal that had never seen Christmas', you know you're going to be reaching for a hanky within seconds. Having spent every Christmas alone because his best friend Bear was hibernating, Hare decides to give him a present to make sure he wakes up and they can enjoy the festivities together.

Lily Allen has broken a three-year musical hiatus to lend her vocals to the two-minute advert, and we're pleased she did. The singer has covered Keane's Somewhere Only We Know, and it's the perfect fit for the story. It's also going to be in our heads until New Year.

The high street fashion brand is also launching an e-book of the story, The Bear Who Had Never Seen Christmas, narrated by the seriously cool Lauren Laverne, plus you can visit the bear's caves in selected stores.

And if you're REALLY obsessed with the characters, John Lewis will be selling cute cuddle toy versions of each of the ad's stars. Oh, come on. We know you were thinking it...

Well done John Lewis, you've done it again.

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