M&S Christmas Advert 2026 Released: James Norton plays Santa in Marks and Spencer's seasonal offering - also starring Lucy Punch
He may be in the running to be the new Bond, but James Norton’s latest role sees him play an even more iconic character.
We may have only just celebrated Bonfire Night, but it’s already starting to look alot like Christmas when it comes to television adverts.
Hot on the heels of John Lewis’ divisive offering starring Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, M&S will today (Friday, November 6) premiere their starry festive film that they hope will pull in present-hunting customers.
Entitled The Home of Christmas, the campaign sees Happy Valley actor (and potential new James Bond) James Norton play an undercover Santa, alongside Amandaland star Lucy Punch as Mrs Claus.
Santa swaps his red suit for a Christmas jumper, shaves off his beard, and heads out into the world to experience Christmas from a different perspective.
His Christmas adventure takes him through the moments that make the season special: getting dressed up, gathering around a table of brilliant food, choosing gifts people will genuinely love and transforming the home for Christmas.
Along the way, Santa discovers that Christmas magic doesn't just come from the North Pole. It's created in homes across the country, around tables, under trees and in the moments shared with the people we love.
James Norton said: “It’s not every day you get asked to play Santa, let alone a Santa who immediately shaves off his beard! M&S has been such a familiar part of Christmas for as long as I can remember, so getting to be part of its Christmas campaign feels really special. I loved that this story takes such an iconic character and lets us see him differently. He gets to experience Christmas like the rest of us, discovering that the real magic is in the food, traditions and moments we share with the people we love. It’s warm, funny and full of Christmas spirit, and I’m very happy to have been briefly trusted with the red suit.”
Lucy Punch added: “M&S and Christmas just go hand in hand, so it was an absolute joy to become part of that tradition this year. I loved that Mrs Claus is the one who gets this story moving. She gives him the nudge so he can get out there incognito and experience the magic of Christmas for himself. There’s something very sweet and fun about their dynamic, and something quite lovely about the idea behind it: this idea that the magic you’re looking for is actually happening all around you.”
Meanwhile, the soundtrack is provided by Katherine Jenkins’ with a cover of Belinda Carlisle’s 1987 hit Heaven Is a Place on Earth.
The advert will be shown for the first time today at 10.15am during ITV’s This Morning.
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