Who sings on John Lewis Christmas advert 2024 and what is the song?

John Lewis has unveiled its highly-anticipated Christmas advert - and it is set to be a tear-jerker. This year the retailer's festive ad, which has now become a festive tradition in the UK, follows a woman frantically buying a last-minute gift for her sister.

Called 'The Gifting Hour', it shows heroine Sally running into John Lewis' Oxford Street store and falling through a rack of dresses. She then appears in the attic of her childhood home and begins a nostalgic journey reminiscing about growing up with her sister.

Returning to reality the two-minute advert, created by Saatchi & Saatchi, ends with Sally walking away with her sister as the child from her memories is reflected back in the window.

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It ends with the strapline: “The secret to finding the perfect gift? Knowing where to look.”

However, like previous years it is often the song that gets people talking, and this year looks like it won't be any different. The soundtrack is provided by former Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft and his version of Sonnet, taken from his solo album Acoustic Hymns.

Sonnet, which was penned by Ashcroft, originally appeared on The Verve's critically acclaimed 1997 album Urban Hymns and was released as a single a year later. Despite receiving enormous radio airplay at the time, the song only reached 74 in the UK charts as the physical release was limited to just 5,000 copies.

This year's song is a big departure from previous John Lewis ads, as it features a song performed by the original artist and not a cover.

However, the retailer is holding a competition on TikTok to find someone artist to cover the song - with the winner's version appearing in a special Christmas Day airing of the ad.

That version will then be released as a single. The proceeds from the winning single will go to the John Lewis Partnership’s Building Happier Futures programme.

The song was chosen to feature in the advert by Saatchi & Saatchi as it 'leans heavily into 90s nostalgia'. Franki Goodwin, chief creative officer at Saatchi & Saatchi, said: “We’ve all been there – time’s running out and you’re still looking for the perfect gift for someone in your life who’s impossible to shop for.

“That’s why I believe viewers will truly connect with our heroine, as she dives into a rack of dresses, exploring her memories in search of that special gift.

“The Gifting Hour is a glorious visual and emotional feast which is both grown-up and childlike at the same time.

“Our chosen track, Richard Ashcroft’s Sonnet, is a memory for anyone who grew up in the 90s, and the fact we’ve not chosen a cover version really leans into the nostalgia.

“We are delighted, however, to invite the nation to cover the track for Christmas Day, in a wonderful twist on the magic John Lewis formula.”