"Thought We Were Just for Toys?"

1 November 2025

60s

More to Argos at Christmas.

In early September, Argos put out an ad which DAVID identified as potentially the best Christmas ad of the year, even though, strictly speaking, it wasn't a Christmas ad. Now, they have effectively re-made that commercial with some sparkly casting — Simon Bird, since you ask. The new ad is pretty good, but not as good as the one that came out in September. This isn't Simon Bird's fault, or director David Kerr's either, it's just that the original rendition of this idea, which was directed by Tim McNaughton, is better.

Both commercials contain the same solid idea... a reminder that Argos doesn't just sell toys. Although this is something we all know, around this time of year, we can be inclined to forget and only use the retailer to supply gifts to our children. Simon Bird is guilty of thinking this, and is sharply reminded in comic fashion that they sell so much more (just as his predecessor was in the previous ad).

Both ads owe a lot to the fantastic voice performances of Ruth Bratt and Charlie Cooper as Connie and Trevor, as they use comic menace to spread the word about the breadth of Argos's offer.

UK

High Street Retailers