John Lewis Christmas advert divides opinion as emotional fans clash with critics calling it tone-deaf and insulting

John Lewis's 20th Christmas advert, starring Dame Kristin Scott Thomas as grandmother Gloria and featuring a talking wooden toy dog named Pickles voiced by Paul Whitehouse, has sparked a fierce public backlash over its portrayal of "rude and entitled" grandchildren who fail to hug their gran. Kirstie Allsopp joined the pile-on, saying she was not a fan, while analysts at Kantar noted the ad "lacks the emotive punch of previous years."

The ad carries a cost-of-living message: all items in the 'Gran Cave' gift room are either recycled or cost under £100.

Sarah Vine savaged it as "woke, nonsensical and frankly insulting drivel," accusing the creative team of replacing talent with ChatGPT.

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