‘It stopped me in my tracks’: Your marmite reactions to John Lewis’ 2025 Christmas ad 

It’s officially that time of year again, as John Lewis have dropped their Christmas advert for 2025, causing division among connoisseurs of the festive art form.

We’ve asked Metro readers what they think of this year’s ad, which sees the retail store dip its toes into some big themes, which some might say take after Adolescence, showing the fragile relationship between father and son strengthen over a thoughtful gift.

An anxious teenage boy is seen darting out of the room when his dad picks up his present to unwrap; a record of Alison Limerick’s 1990s classic Where Love Lives, which he promptly puts on and starts dancing.

While the dad is transported back to a club dancefloor of his youth, his teenage son can be seen standing awkwardly in the crowd, and then on the stairs back in real time.

The dad then snaps out of his trance to see his son before him, looking hesitant, wondering if his dad likes the gift.

Of course he does, and they hug – something it seems they might not do often enough. This all leads to the message of this year’s advert: ‘If you can’t find the words, find the gift.’

The response to the advert has been mixed. Some fans have shed tears and showered it with compliments, calling it the best one in years, while others didn’t initially understand what the hell was going on, and worried it would take a sombre turn.

Here is what Metro readers thought.

‘I loved the ad’

‘It’s brilliant!! Totally aimed at their demographic so their team did good! Brilliant track and if you don’t want to immediately get up and dance around the kitchen then are you even alive.’ – Koby Heal

‘I found it nice. Almost 40, and it’s crazy how the right song at the right time can transport you back to a moment for a few seconds.’ – Samantha Rose

‘Bought a tear to my eye, anyone with teenagers know ! Well done John Lewis.’ – Caroline Webb

‘It’s beautiful – even my hard non emotional husband cried his eyes out! Maybe it’s cus we have a teenage son.’ – Emm Ann Hunt

‘It completely stopped me in my tracks soon as I heard Alison Limerick, and it’s very emotive, strong, and thoughtful! Brilliant. We need more stuff like this.’ – Keiron Fox

‘Loved it, to me it was also the son saying, “Dad, I get you. I know you’re a person other than my dad”.’ – Claire Titmus

‘I cried my eyes out.’ – Leslie Harrington

‘That was lovely. Admittedly, I wasn’t quite sure when I first watched it but after watching it again and knowing what was coming, It had a greater impact. Well done John Lewis.’ – Rachael Davis

‘Not for me’

It didn’t do that much for me as I couldn’t connect to the music, didn’t even know the song….am old maybe thats why. My 2 favs were the one with the boxer dog in and the one with Edgar the dragon in. – Val Warhurst

Nothing will beat the year where the boy seems to be really impatient waiting for Christmas, and then the day arrives and the reason he has been so excited is because he wants to give a gift. And the boxer on the trampoline!! – Clare Munden

‘It’s okay, but nothing beats the trampoline one for me.’ – Stephanie Marsh

‘Didn’t really understand what it’s about and definitely not Christmassy’ – Alexus Stead

‘Didn’t get it..didn’t know the song….will need to watch on bigger screen. Their best one ever was the dog on the trampoline…it was brilliant. The repeat of the Amazon one with the 3 old ladies on sledges is the best so far for me this year.’ – Sandy Kinvig

‘Wasn’t emotional like everyone’s saying, definitely didn’t make me tearful.’ – Kimmy Lou

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