Brits know when to begin roasting chestnuts and stoking a festive fire – not by the sound of sleigh bells but the annual jingle of the supermarket Christmas advert.
As Christmas kicks off across the UK, the nation has already been served a generous helping of festive adverts from the likes of M&S, Morrisons, Asda and Aldi – and joining them next is Waitrose with a pudding mystery Christmas campaign.
Today, the supermarket has released a star studded whodunnit advert – Sweet Suspicion, A Waitrose Mystery – featuring a two-part campaign and festive cliffhanger.
Viewers will be treated to the first instalment in a double part mystery this year, featuring a star studded cast including Fleabag‘s Sian Clifford, Succession star, Matthew Macfadyen, and Afterlife comedian, Joe Wilkinson.
Keen box watchers will also spot Sex Education star Rakhee Thakrar and Dustin Demri-Burns of ‘Slow Horses’, among those seated at the festive dinner table.
Britons know when to begin roasting chestnuts and stoking a festive fire – not by the sound of sleigh bells but the annual jingle of the supermarket Christmas advert
Today, the supermarket has released a star studded whodunnit advert – Sweet Suspicion, A Waitrose Mystery – featuring a two-part campaign and festive cliffhanger
The 90-second film follows one family preparing the Christmas meal. While Steve, played by Demri-Burns, glazes the turkey and roasts the spuds, May, played by Clifford, sneaks off from parsnip peeling to munch on a predinner cheese selection.
Meanwhile, Samira, played by Thakrar, shakes up the Christmas cocktails and the kids, played by Naya and Sonny, layer the gingerbread house.
But amid the preparations for the festive feast, the family soon discover there is a thief among them.
Much to their horror, the Waitrose Red Velvet Bauble Dessert, generously provided by Uncle Phil, played by Wilkinson, has mysteriously vanished from the fridge.
The amateur detective, played by Macfadyen, makes it his mission to find out whodunnit amongst the equally dubious dinner guests.
Viewers are made to guess the culprit of the pudding thief. Was it the downtrodden grandma – once the Christmas pudding baker, now the cranberry sauce maker – the cheese feaster May, or turkey roaster Steve?
Also a potential suspect is the family cat, Fig – played by a feline actor of the same name.
The mystery will be left for viewers to ponder of the next two weeks, when a subsequent 60-second clip will reveal the gluttonous pudding thief.
Viewers will be treated to the first instalment in a double part mystery this year, featuring a star studded cast including Fleabag ‘s Sian Clifford, (right) Succession star, Matthew Macfadyen , and Afterlife comedian, Joe Wilkinson
Viewers are made to guess the culprit of the pudding thief. Was it the downtrodden grandma – once the Christmas pudding baker, now the cranberry sauce maker – the cheese feaster May, or turkey roaster Steve
Keen box watchers will also spot Sex Education star Rakhee Thakrar of ‘Sex Education’ (pictured left) and Dustin Demri-Burns of ‘Slow Horses’, among those seated at the festive dinner table
While Steve, played by Demri-Burns, (pictured right) glazes the turkey and roasts the spuds, May, played by Clifford, (left) sneaks off from parsnip peeling to munch on a predinner cheese selection
Pictured: Joe Wilkinson as Uncle Phil. Meanwhile, Samira, played by Thakrar, shakes up the Christmas cocktails and the kids, played by Naya and Sonny, layer the gingerbread house
The advert is one element of the supermarket’s campaign to interact directly with customers, including extra social media alibis from the suspecting festive diners, and a physical evidence board at London Kings Cross Station.
Directing the cliffhanger advert is Bafta winner Lucy Forbes, who previously directed Adam Kay’s drama miseries This Is Going to Hurt.
The supermarket chain is releasing 550 new products for the festive season, including more than 150 new items to mix up the mystery at the dinner table.
Among them is The No.1 Red Velvet Dessert, the stolen pudding at the centre of the story. The family sized festive delight will be available for families to fill their fridges from 19 December.
Meanwhile, sweet treat fiends can get their hands on individual Red Velvet Bauble Desserts which are available instore and online.
Several other delectable products from the chain’s Christmas range feature in the campaign.
Among those is their gooey Reuben Rarebit cheese bake, crumbly Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac and a sticky Treacle Glazed Turkey Crown.
Directing the cliffhanger advert was, Bafta winner Lucy Forbes, who previously directed Adam Kay’s drama miseries This Is Going to Hurt
Keen box watchers will also spot Sex Education star Rakhee Thakrar of ‘Sex Education’ and Dustin Demri-Burns of ‘Slow Horses’, (pictured) among those seated at the festive dinner table
.The advert is one element of the supermarket’s campaign to interact directly with customers, including extra social media alibis from the suspecting festive diners, and a physical evidence board at London Kings Cross Station
The supermarket chain is releasing 550 new products for the festive season, including more than 150 new items to mix up the mystery at the dinner table
Customer Director Nathan Ansell said: ‘For the first time, we’re keeping Waitrose customers guessing with a ‘whodunnit’ festive crime drama featuring a stellar cast for this year’s Christmas ad.
‘Our Christmas Campaign is all about how Waitrose (Christmas) food is so good, you can’t wait to get your hands on it so we’ve showcased the very best of our delicious range while also adding a touch of festive fun and sparkle. Was it Uncle Phil? Was it Fig the cat? You’ll have to wait and see!
Matthew Macfadyen, who plays the Detective, said: ‘I wonder if my extensive repertoire of past Detective roles led to me to this very moment – starring in this wonderful Waitrose whodunnit.
‘Working with such a great cast on such a fun project for Christmas was such a joy. I think together, we have created a story that will have the public speculating over who the pud thief really is!’
Sian Clifford, who plays the part of May, said: ‘Christmas is often a time that brings together a cast of all kinds of different characters – usually good food is the one thing we can all agree on! It was a really tough gig having to eat the delicious Waitrose food for four days but someone’s gotta do it and I was happy to give it a go – nothing says Christmas like indulging!’
Rakhee Thakrar, Samira, said: ‘I’ve always seen myself as the perfect host, much like Samira, however I’m lucky to not have awkward guests at my Christmas celebrations so we rarely have any mystery or drama but I loved being a suspect… or the culprit, who knows?!’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .