
M&S Christmas 2024 – Ad Series, Foods and Key Dates Guide
Marks & Spencer launched its Christmas 2024 campaign on 4 November 2024 with a six-part television advertising series starring Dawn French as the Christmas Fairy. The blockbuster food range promotion introduces premium restaurant-quality products including slow-cooked turkey, raspberry and pistachio roulade, and the Our Best Ever Yule Log alongside a multi-channel marketing push.
The retailer debuted the first episode across social media platforms at 9:00am before broadcasting a 90-second version on ITV’s This Morning at 10:30am. Subsequent advertisements roll out weekly through mid-December, culminating in a New Year’s special featuring Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins and celebrity chef Tom Kerridge.
What is the M&S Christmas Advert 2024?
Food Highlights
Premium range includes Our Best Ever Slow-cooked Turkey, Collection Cornish Cruncher Cauliflower Cheese, and Frozen Raspberry & Pistachio Roulade.
Advert Scoop
Six-part series titled “This is not just any Christmas ad” features Dawn French voicing and appearing as the Christmas Fairy in magical scenarios.
Key Dates
Campaign launched 4 November with episodes airing 13 November, 20 November, and 17 December, plus Food to Order deadline 10 December.
Must-Buys
Santa’s Workshop Musical Light-Up Tin with all-butter cookies and Collection Nocciolato Panettone feature among gifting highlights.
Key Campaign Insights
- Six episodic advertisements release weekly across six weeks rather than a single film
- Dawn French provides voiceover and on-screen appearance as the Christmas Fairy
- Multiple length formats created: 90, 60, and 30-second versions for different channels
- Dual-platform premiere strategy: social media at 9:00am followed by television at 10:30am
- Special guest appearances include Katherine Jenkins with a choir and chef Tom Kerridge
- Final episode promotes New Year’s Gastro Pub range distinct from Christmas Day content
- Multi-channel activation includes in-store giveaways and social media competitions
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Campaign Title | “This is not just any Christmas ad” |
| Launch Date | 4 November 2024 |
| Lead Performer | Dawn French (voice and on-screen as Christmas Fairy) |
| Episode Count | 6 |
| First TV Airtime | 10:30am on This Morning (ITV) |
| Social Premiere | 9:00am across M&S platforms |
| Final Episode | 17 December 2024 (New Year’s Gastro Pub) |
| Special Guests | Katherine Jenkins, Tom Kerridge |
| Food to Order Deadline | 10 December 2024 |
| Collection Window | 22-24 December 2024 |
The first advertisement premiered simultaneously across digital and linear television, with the corporate press release confirming the 4 November debut. Video content is available through the M&S food website and YouTube channel.
What are the Best M&S Christmas Foods in 2024?
M&S Christmas Food Range 2024
The 2024 collection centers on restaurant-quality mains and sides designed to simplify festive entertaining. The Our Best Ever Slow-cooked Turkey promises a 100% foolproof preparation method, while the Collection Cornish Cruncher Cauliflower Cheese offers a premium side dish option. These products appear in the inaugural advertisement where Dawn French’s Fairy character transforms mundane settings into celebratory feasts.
Best M&S Christmas Puddings and Desserts
Frozen desserts dominate the premium offering this year. The Collection Raspberry & Pistachio Roulade and Our Best Ever Yule Log headline the sweet selection, accompanied by the Collection Nocciolato Panettone. These items feature in the fifth episode of the television campaign, scheduled for 17 December 2024.
M&S Christmas Party Food
Wow-worthy party options target impromptu gatherings and social occasions. The advertising campaign specifically highlights ham and cheese selections as solutions for unexpected visitors, with the Fairy character magically converting delivery trucks into festive parties. Episode three, airing 20 November 2024, dedicates its entire 30-second runtime to these entertaining essentials.
M&S Christmas Dinner Ideas
The Christmas Food to Order service allows customers to secure their festive menu in advance. Orders must be placed by 10 December 2024 for collection between 22 and 24 December 2024. This service covers the full Big Day essentials range including the highlighted turkey and accompaniment dishes.
Customers planning to use the Christmas Food to Order service must complete purchases by 10 December 2024. Collection slots are available exclusively between 22 and 24 December 2024 at participating stores.
What are M&S Christmas Opening Times?
Is M&S Open on Christmas Day?
Official documentation regarding specific Christmas Day opening hours for 2024 has not been released by Marks & Spencer at the time of publication. The retailer’s historical practice varies by location and category, with food halls sometimes operating limited hours while clothing stores typically close. Shoppers should verify local branch status through the M&S Opticians store finder or official channels closer to the date.
M&S Boxing Day Opening Times
Similarly, confirmed Boxing Day trading hours for 2024 remain unannounced in available press materials. Previous years have seen regional variations, with some stores remaining closed for the bank holiday while others operate reduced hours.
Neither Christmas Day nor Boxing Day opening times for 2024 appear in current official M&S announcements. Customers should monitor the corporate website or local store communications for definitive trading hour confirmations.
Does M&S Deliver Over Christmas?
M&S Christmas Delivery Times
Specific delivery schedules and cutoff dates for standard home delivery ahead of Christmas Eve have not been detailed in the 2024 campaign launch materials. The confirmed logistics information pertains solely to the Food to Order service, which operates on a click-and-collect basis rather than home delivery.
M&S Christmas Returns Policy
Documentation regarding seasonal returns policy extensions or gift receipt procedures for Christmas 2024 purchases was not included in the November press releases or advertising campaign details.
No specific returns policy modifications or Christmas gift receipt procedures have been announced in the 2024 campaign literature. Standard terms likely apply, though holiday extensions remain unconfirmed.
What are the Top M&S Christmas Gifts and Deals?
Best M&S Christmas Gifts
The Santa’s Workshop Musical Light-Up Tin represents the standout gifting item from the food range, featuring all-butter cookie stars and optical illusion elements. This product appears in the second advertising episode releasing 13 November 2024. Other gifting items referenced include the Collection Nocciolato Panettone suitable for host presents.
M&S Christmas Clothing Collection
Details regarding a specific 2024 Christmas clothing range or festive apparel collection have not been released as part of the November food campaign launch. The current advertising focuses exclusively on food and gifting items rather than fashion.
When Does M&S Christmas Range Launch?
The food range launched officially on 4 November 2024 coinciding with the first advertisement. This date marks the availability of highlighted products including the slow-cooked turkey, party food selections, and dessert items in stores and online. Customers can browse the full selection at the M&S Christmas landing page.
While preparing for festive expenses, shoppers may also wish to review Winter Fuel Payment Dates and Amounts to manage seasonal budgets effectively.
When Does the M&S Christmas Campaign Timeline Run?
- : Campaign launch with Ad One (90/60/30 second versions), social media premiere 9:00am, TV debut 10:30am on This Morning
- : Ad Two (Gifting) – 30 seconds
- : Ad Three (Party Food) – 30 seconds
- : Food to Order service deadline for Christmas collection
- : Ad Four (Big Day) – 30 seconds
- : Ad Five (Dessert) – 30 seconds
- : Ad Six (New Year’s Gastro Pub) featuring Katherine Jenkins and Tom Kerridge
- : Christmas Food to Order collection dates
What is Confirmed and What Remains Uncertain About M&S Christmas 2024?
| Established Information | Information Not Yet Confirmed |
|---|---|
| Six-part advert series with Dawn French | Standard delivery cutoffs for Christmas Eve |
| Specific food products: turkey, roulade, yule log | Returns policy extensions for gifts |
| Food to Order deadline (10 Dec) and collection window (22-24 Dec) | Christmas Day store opening hours |
| Ad episode air dates through 17 December | Boxing Day trading hours |
| Katherine Jenkins and Tom Kerridge cameos | Clothing range specifics |
| Santa’s Workshop Musical Light-Up Tin availability | General home delivery schedules |
Why Does M&S Christmas Matter?
Marks & Spencer’s Christmas campaign represents a significant cultural and commercial marker within the United Kingdom retail calendar. The retailer’s food division has established a reputation for premium, restaurant-quality festive products that compete with traditional supermarket offerings through positioning as “This is not just any food” – a tagline extending across decades of marketing heritage.
The 2024 investment in a six-part episodic narrative with established comedy talent signals continued confidence in television advertising despite shifting digital consumption patterns. By releasing content weekly rather than as a single viral film, M&S extends campaign visibility across the crucial pre-Christmas purchasing period from early November through mid-December.
What Do Official Sources Say?
The campaign is a blockbuster six-part series titled “This is not just any Christmas ad,” with Dawn French voicing the Fairy and appearing as herself in a magical twist, transforming scenarios like traffic jams into festive parties with M&S food spreads.
— M&S Corporate Press Release, 4 November 2024
Videos are available on M&S platforms and YouTube, showing Fairy inviting neighbors for parties stocked with M&S food.
What Should Shoppers Remember?
The 2024 Marks & Spencer Christmas campaign offers a six-week advertising narrative alongside premium food products available through standard retail and the Food to Order service. Key action dates include the 10 December order cutoff for collectable festive feasts and the 17 December finale featuring special musical performances. While the food range and advertising schedule are confirmed, customers seeking specific store hours or delivery information should consult M&S Opticians for the latest local updates or await further corporate announcements regarding seasonal logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does M&S Christmas range launch?
The 2024 range launched on 4 November 2024 alongside the first television advertisement.
Who stars in the M&S Christmas advert 2024?
Dawn French voices and appears as the Christmas Fairy, with guest appearances by Katherine Jenkins and Tom Kerridge.
What food is in the M&S Christmas 2024 range?
Highlights include Our Best Ever Slow-cooked Turkey, Collection Cornish Cruncher Cauliflower Cheese, Frozen Raspberry & Pistachio Roulade, and Our Best Ever Yule Log.
Is M&S open on Christmas Day?
Specific 2024 Christmas Day opening hours have not been announced in official campaign materials.
Does M&S deliver on Christmas Eve?
Standard delivery schedules for Christmas Eve 2024 have not been confirmed in available press releases.
What is the M&S Christmas Food to Order deadline?
Orders must be placed by 10 December 2024 for collection between 22 and 24 December.
What is the M&S Christmas returns policy?
No specific returns policy modifications have been announced for the 2024 season.
How many episodes are in the M&S Christmas ad series?
Six episodes release weekly from 4 November through 17 December 2024.