"French & Fairy"

6 November 2024

90s

Every little helps.

For the last three years, Dawn French has been the voice of Marks & Spencer's Christmas food ads. This year, she pulls double duty as both Fairy and herself—if the latter wants to get her place ready for Christmas, she'll need the former's help.

Yet when Fairy introduces herself, French screams and tries to swat the blighter. Can you blame her? This time of year is stressful enough without sentient ornaments that look and sound just like you. When the erstwhile Vicar of Dibley calms down, though, both she and the house get the full Fairy treatment.

Still, it takes a while for French to thaw as the Christmas party to end all Christmas parties gets underway ("Please invade my personal space and eat all my ham and cheese scones!") Coupled with her dance moves and Cheshire Cat grin, the ad captures that manic, hyperreal energy most of us need to survive the season.

UK

High Street Retailers