A later half term coupled with "distinctly autumnal weather" drove customers into John Lewis stores during the week ending November 3, and today marks the retailer's official debut of its latest Christmas TV advert.
The 90-second commercial features a snowman's intrepid quest for the perfect John Lewis Christmas present for his snow woman; the tagline is "give a little more love this Christmas."

It marks what promises to be a lucrative season for the retailer, which is already cashing in as a Christmas shopping destination store. Electrical and home technology drove the majority of sales last week, which at £84.9m for the week were up 17.9% on the same period last year. Home also "enjoyed a powerful week" as the retailers approached "the peak autumn home furnishing weeks." Beds, linens and lightings did particularly well with the retailer promoting a "cosy night in" theme.

The latest multi-channel store in Exeter was praised, and bosses are eagerly anticipating the Christmas season, saying: "the starting gun will be fired with our beautiful Christmas advert launching today."

The ad is thematic of John Lewis' previous Christmas TV offerings, directed by the same Dougal Wilson who brought us the little-boy-giving-his-parents-a-gift ad last year. As in previous years it features a female vocal cover of a famous song - this year it is Gabrielle Aplin's version of 'The Power of Love' by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

The advert will debut tonight (Friday, November 9) during a break in Channel 4's Derren Brown: Fear and Faith programme. Channel 4 has been airing teasers for the ad all week.