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Sainsbury’s Christmas advert stars pop icon – but question for Santa has shoppers in shock
Check how Sainsbury's ads have changed over the years
SAINSBURY'S has revealed its Christmas advert for 2023 and it stars a 80s pop icon.
The festive clip poises a very important question for Santa that leaves shoppers shocked.
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The ad stars Never Gonna Give You Up singer Rick Astley and real life Sainsbury’s colleagues for the first time, as they decide what Santa really eats for Christmas.
Sainsbury’s 60-second clip will premiere this evening for the first time at 8pm during Coronation Street on ITV.
The ad opens on a busy supermarket store with shoppers browsing the aisles for the big day.
A sweet-looking young girl hops up to the tannoy to make an announcement.
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Speaking into the microphone she begins: "Hey Sainsbury’s, I have a question, it's about Santa..."
It cuts to shocked shoppers and staff looking concerned over what she is about to ask.
The clip even shows Santa himself gasp in horror.
A look of relief floods their faces when she continues: "What does he have for his Christmas dinner?"
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The question sparks a flurry of responses from Sainsbury’s colleagues while they’re seen working in stores and delivering shopping to customers’ doors.
Each one offers suggestions of festive dishes, meal items and treats.
As the colleagues share their recommendations, each item magically appear on Santa’s Christmas dinner table.
These include the chain's Charcuter-tree sharing platter, followed by a succulent looking turkey crown and a No Beef Wellington.
Santa is seen revelling in the feast appearing before him.
Back in the store, Rick Astley has his own idea about what Santa might like, innocently asking “how about some cheese?”.
Two Sainsbury’s colleagues whip around to are not afraid to tell him: "C’mon Rick, cheese before pudding, you know the rules."
Santa is then offered freshly baked mince pies, but seems disheartened at the suggestion.
Another worker steps in with the yummy-looking Home for Christmas Chocolate Mousse, which Santa seems to prefer the look of.
The advert signs off with a birds-eye view of the entire Christmas feast.
Emma Bisley, head of campaigns, at Sainsbury’s, said: “The festive season is a magical time of year and our role is to help our customers have an extra special Christmas, especially when it comes to the food.
"We wanted to create an advert that champions our colleagues all over the country, as well as highlighting the innovation of this year’s Taste the Different range."
This year's Christmas ad contrasts hugely with last year's.
In 2022 featured This Morning's Alison Hammond as a fussy countess picking food from the food range this year.
It was a light-hearted tale set in a fantasy medieval world where a festive feast is being planned.
The year before, the ad's goal was to remind families to savour every moment of being together again on the big day and highlighted a restriction free Christmas after the pandemic.
In 2020, the nostalgic home-style footage, saw a daughter and dad discussing how much they want to see each other for Christmas.
Before Covid Sainsbury's advert told the story of how Santa started out as a chimney sweep.
Its 2018 advert featured a super cute eight-year-old in her school's festive play.
Sainsbury's isn't the only supermarket getting in on the action with iconic singers taking centre stage in their ads.
Asda's amusing Christmas advert tease features one of the world's most iconic jazz and soul singers Michael Buble.
Meanwhile, M&S has revealed its Christmas food advert for this year, featuring a star-studded cast of Hollywood actors.
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Lidl has revealed its Christmas advert and unlike competitors, the supermarket has chosen to focus on a good cause.
Elsewhere, Waitrose's Christmas advert features festive moments we can all relate to – and it stars beloved chat show host
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