M&S’ Christmas advert starring Hannah Waddingham & Sophie Ellis Bextor offers hilarious take on festive celebrations

M&S' first Christmas advert has arrived and it features well-known TV and movie stars.

Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham is among the star studded cast in the posh shop's clothes and home festive ad this year.

Other famous faces include Fresh Meat's Zawe Ashton, Murder on the Dancefloor singer Sophie Ellis Bextor, and Queer Eye star Tan France.

It also features a remix of the iconic "I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)" by Meat Loaf, sung by singer-songwriter Ray Blk.

The campaign, titled "Love Thismas, Not Thatmas", showcases what M&S calls the "honest truth" about Christmas.

The beloved brand has released its 80 second advert which was directed by Ally Pankiw, best known for Feel Good and Black Mirror.

The clip will premiere on TV in full at 9pm during Payback on ITV this evening.

Viewers are encouraged to embrace only the things they love about Christmas and skip those they don’t.

It's set across the four celebs' different homes, and sees the stars each facing various amusing dilemmas relating to the pressures we often face in the run up to Christmas.

They each need to make decision on which Christmas traditions they're going to go through with and the ones they're actually not interested in.

Sophie Ellis Bextor takes a blowtorch to a pile of Christmas cards after creating a festive gingerbread house.

Tan France can then be seen chucking a boardgame in a fish tank during a party, leaving him with a look of relief.

Zawe Ashton also launches an elf toy from the roof with a baseball bat after a game of charades with the family.

Hannah Waddingham is seen shredding Christmas hats after a DIY disaster making festive decorations.

She's showered by a cloud of gold confetti before Zawe's elf lands at her feet, she cheekily looks at the camera and the ad ends.

Of course it wouldn't be a M&S clothing and home ad without featuring festive and stylish decor and outfits throughout the clip.

Anna Braithwaite, M&S clothing and home marketing director, said: "I’m sure everyone watching our ad will be able to relate to our fabulous cast of talent who so hilariously bring-to-life those little moments and dilemmas we all have at Christmas time!

"Before we created Love Thismas (Not Thatmas), we spoke to hundreds of our customers and they all told us that, at Christmas, they feel this pressure of having to worry about and plan so many things."

"We know it can often feel like the list is never-ending so this year we decided to celebrate and empower our customers to just do the things they love."

Last year the clothes and home team's Christmas TV ad advert was set on Christmas Day on a quiet cul-de-sac and featured a series of thoughtful gifting moments.

The 60-second clip was set against the vocals of Harry Styles’ "Treat People with Kindness".

M&S' Christmas adverts are among the most anticipated of the year, with this year's food ad launching tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Argos' Christmas advert has been unveiled - and it captures a classic family moment everyone is bound to have found themselves in.

Plus, Asda's amusing Christmas tease features one of the world's most iconic jazz and soul singers.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.