When is the John Lewis Christmas ad out and what’s this year’s song?

THE hotly anticipated John Lewis Christmas advert has become a key part of the run up to Christmas, getting people in the festive spirit across the UK.

Here's everything you need to know about the release date and this year's song.

When is the John Lewis Christmas advert 2018 release date?

We still don't know when exactly the John Lewis Christmas advert will be released.

However, it could be released any day now based on when previous years' adverts were launched.

Over the last two years, the retailer has released the advert on November 10, but it seems that they'll be unveiling it closer to Christmas this year.

The budget for it has been reported as £10million - that's £3million more than last year's.

What is this year's song?

This year's John Lewis Christmas advert reportedly stars the legendary Sir Elton John.

 claimed that the performer will be paid £5million for his one-off appearance, which will see him playing the piano at the climax of the advert, with his 1970 hit Your Song as the soundtrack.

However, it's thought that the song featured will be an acoustic version of Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time).

Rocket Man was originally released in 1972 and is one of Elton John's greatest hits.

What was John Lewis' Christmas advert last year?

Last year the advert told the story of a friendship between seven-year-old schoolboy Joe, who meets Moz the Monster, a noisy monster living under his bed.

The campaign's budget was £7million, and it was directed by French music video director Michel Gondry.

The featured song was a cover of The Beatles' Golden Slumbers by the rock band Elbow.

It premiered in the advertising break's in Friday night's Gogglebox on Channel 4.

This year, there are rumours of a space theme, and judging by the display of Santa in a spaceship in the John Lewis flagship store on Oxford Street, it certainly wouldn't be out of this world...