Tesco goes for something altogether different in its Christmas ad campaign

Supermarket Tesco has decided to show what for many is the real – though funny – side of many families’ Christmas in its festive adverts

Family feuds and falling out form part of Tesco’s Christmas ad campaign with a difference this year.

The supermarket giant has opted to ditch the often picture perfect image retailers serve up at this time of year, and show what the big day is really like for many people.

A series of 11 short ads include board game rows, slanging matches between siblings over who is their parents’ favourite child, and awkward chats with the neighbours you don’t really know.

Others have a youngster heading back home up to Merseyside only to be teased about their southern twang, and the silence when a relative says something awkward round the packed Christmas lunch table, just as the turkey arrives.

Tesco’s “That’s What Makes It Christmas” campaign is packaged in a series of standalone films, varying from 10 to 30 seconds long, and created by agency BBH London. The music to each mini film is “Holly Jolly Christmas” and the voice-over is comedian John Bishop.

The adverts – unlike most festive commercials from retailers – don’t focus on blatantly enticing shoppers into parting with their cash. However, Tesco will follow up with other adverts highlighting its product ranges.

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They are also deliberately short to work well on social media channels and websites.

Waitrose Christmas advert sees A-list British actress and comedian make unexpected love match

Waitrose may be one of the last retailers to unveil its Christmas adverts but it has produced a cracker, with Actress Keira Knightley and comedian Joe Wilkinson making an unlikely match

Actress Keira Knightley and comedian Joe Wilkinson star as the unlikely pairing in a romantic Christmas advert for Waitrose.

The festive offering, directed by Bafta-award winning director Molly Manners, follows Knightley and Wilkinson as their relationship blossoms over a shared love of food.

It begins with Wilkinson’s character, forlorn ‘Phil’, sitting in a pub with mates who are urging him to move on in love. He says of his lost love that “the only person I could move on with was Keira Knightley”, to which his friend replies “good luck with that mate.”

As luck would have it, a downcast Phil pops into a branch of Waitrose and standing at the cheese counter when he asks – at the same moment – for the identical ‘Sussex Charmer’ variety as Knightley. Phil plucks up his courage and asks her out, to which Knightley agrees. From there love slowly blooms. But it all appears to go wrong when Phil finds a present to what he assumes is a love rival. Using his culinary skills, Phil vows to win her heart by recreating Keira’s Nan’s turkey pie recipe.

Knightley, whose big screen hits include Bend It Like Beckham through to Pirates of the Caribbean alongside Johnny Depp, said: “I love food, and so when I received this script where I get to fall head over heels in love over a shared love of cheese, I couldn’t turn it down. I adored working on this silly, fun and delicious film with Joe, and I hope those watching it fall in love too.”

Wilkinson, fresh from starring in hit BBC show The Celebrity Traitors, said: “As you can imagine, it was tough having to eat the delicious Waitrose food and falling in love with Keira, but I just got on with it, like the trooper I am.”

Wilkinson reprises his role as Phil from the grocer’s 2024 ‘whodunnit’ festive advert. The soundtrack features the song She’s A Star by British band James.

Waitrose chief customer officer Nathan Ansell said: “Our four-minute Christmas film – an industry first – pays homage to the seasonal romantic comedy tradition, celebrates the exciting and elevated Waitrose festive food offering, and adds a little more of that warm, fuzzy feeling to the holiday season.”

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Kim Kardashian deletes photos with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from mum Kris’ party

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian threw a huge star-studded party for her mother Kris Jenner’s birthday, and posted pics of the all star guests to her Instagram, later deleting those including the Sussexes

Pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday party have disappeared from Kim Kardashian’s Instagram. The second Kardashian daughter uploaded a series of snaps from the bash to her social media, including some with some A-list celebrities.

In now photos that now appear to have been deleted, Meghan was seen posing with Kim, while Harry could be seen chatting to someone off camera. The prince wore a classic suit, while Meghan was dressed head to toe in a black dress with a turtle neck. Photographers at the party also captured pics of Meghan posing with Serena Williams.

Kim’s photo with Meghan was initially posted as part of her carousel of pictures uploaded to Instagram, where the reality TV star could be seen with a number of famous faces, including Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey, old pal Paris Hilton and the cast of her new series All’s Fair.

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But that photo appears to now been deleted, confusing many fans. Taking to the website Reddit, some wondered what was going on. One wrote: “Why delete their pic, we saw them at the party?”

Another speculated that the Sussexes may have asked for their photos to be taken down. They said: “A bit cringe to accept the invite but not want your pics associated with attending (esp when there are pap shots of you going in or out).”

Another literature-minded commenter likened the party to those thrown by Jay Gatsby in the 1925 novel The Great Gatsby. “All these folks, including harry and Meghan are Tom and Daisy Buchanans,” they penned. “If you’ve read gatsby you know what I’m referring to.”

Several billionaires were seen at the party, including Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez, who hosted the 007 themed party at their $165 million Beverly Hills mansion. Kim Kardashian herself is said to have net worth of around $1.7 billion, while her mother is thought to be worth $170 million.

Meghan is not a billionaire, but her net worth, which is already in the millions at a reported $61.2 million, is gradually increasing. This thanks to a plethora of new ventures, including a return to acting.

The former actress, who first made a name for herself as Rachel Zane on Suits, is set to star in a new Hollywood film called Close Personal Friends. The cast also features Lily Collins, Brie Larson, Jack Quaid and Henry Golding. Meghan previously retired from acting when she married into the royal family.

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Kris also posted pics from her party. The 70-year-old wore a scarlet gown as she posed with big names, such as Beyonce, and danced with Justin Bieber. She also posted pics of herself with Meghan, who smiled widely with her hand on Kris’ shoulder.

Kerr ‘relishing every moment’ after first Chelsea start in 692 days

Reuters

They say a week is a long time in football, never mind 99 of them.

Sam Kerr knows that all too well, as her 692-day wait to start a match for Chelsea came to an end on Tuesday.

After scoring in her side’s 3-1 Champions League victory against BK Hacken on 20 December 2023, Kerr’s career was rocked by injury.

An anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained during a warm-weather training camp in January 2024, followed by several setbacks, kept her out of competitive action until September this year.

After scoring twice in nine substitute appearances this season, Kerr made the most of her first start with two superbly taken goals in Chelsea’s 6-0 Champions League thrashing of Austrian side St Polten.

“It feels good. It felt like I had to work myself into it but yeah, happy to score,” Kerr told Disney+.

“Of course, I prefer to play more minutes. When you come on for 20 minutes it’s a bit hectic, there’s lots of subs and it can be a bit wishy-washy. I feel like today was good.

“I had a few chances in the first half. I’m just happy to be back out here playing in the Champions League again, with an amazing team. I’m relishing every moment.”

For a while it looked like it just wouldn’t be Kerr’s night.

She may have started two friendlies for Australia last month but her sharpness is still coming back and, in the first half, missed three chances she would be expected to take.

Her wayward finishing continued when she blazed over early in the second half, while her poorly timed run led to team-mate Naomi Girma’s first-half header being ruled out for offside.

Then emerged the Kerr Europe’s defenders hoped they might not see again.

A superb first touch from Wieke Kaptein’s cross got the ball out of her feet, before a sweeping right-foot strike left goalkeeper Carina Schluter helpless.

For her second, Kerr dropped back off the defensive line into space, adjusted to meet the flight of Niamh Charles’ cross and planted a header high into the net.

“It feels a bit sweeter but it feels a bit weird,” Kerr said on whether the feeling of scoring has changed after her injury.

“I didn’t score for so long that I was like I haven’t celebrated, really. I haven’t got that celebration thing yet. I’ve got to score a few more.”

Next Kerr will target a first WSL start since 17 December 2023. With Aggie Beever-Jones missing the last two games with a dead leg, it could come against Liverpool on Sunday.

“I feel 100% but I was out for a while, so I have to build myself up,” Kerr said.

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Bompastor ‘likes’ selection headache

Kerr wasn’t the only one making a comeback on Tuesday.

Lauren James made her first Chelsea appearance in 225 days after suffering an ankle injury during Euro 2025, while January signing Girma made the starting XI for her first minutes of the season.

“That’s really important. That’s almost crucial when you have all your players available from a quality perspective, but also having depth and being able to rotate,” Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor told Disney+.

“It was a really quick turnaround between the game on Saturday and this one, so when you are able to bring on some fresh legs and quality, it always helps a lot.”

With Beever-Jones and Guro Reiten set to return soon from injury and parental leave respectively, Bompastor could be faced with a selection headache. She doesn’t mind.

“I like to have that problem, I think it’s always better for the manager to have many options and to have to make decisions,” she said.

Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines

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I’m A Celeb’s Martin Kemp issues emotional statement as he lands in Australia

The contestants of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! are arriving in Australia to get ready to enter the jungle, including Martin Kemp, who is following in son Roman’s footsteps

Singer Martin Kemp has arrived in Australia to take part on I’m A Celebrity, and issued an emotional statement, saying he would miss his family.

“What am I going to miss….my family, but it’s going to be an adventure,” he said as he touched down at Brisbane Airport ahead of the ITV show starting this Sunday. He added: “I don’t want to take things too seriously and just enjoy it.”

He follows in son Roman’s footsteps who has previously done the show. Roman headed to the jungle in 2019 and finished in third place, behind EastEnders’ Jacqueline Jossa and Coronation Street’s Andy Whyment.

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Earlier Alex Scott arrived at the airport, after sharing a touching farewell with her girlfriend at Heathrow. She said of girlfriend Jess Glynne: “I already miss her, this will be the longest we’ve been apart since we’ve been together. We are certainly not used to it, it’s going to be hard.

“I am going to miss her show in Birmingham too. I am gutted she is not going to be here but I know she is going to be my biggest cheer leader. I am getting emotional now. I am trying to not even think about it. Hopefully I will see her on that bridge.”

Comic Eddie Kadi also arrived saying he would miss his eight-year-old daughter. Other celebs flying Down Under include Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley, YouTuber Morgan Burtwistle, known as Angryginge, EastEnders actress Shona McGarty comedian Ruby Wax, and Jack Osbourne. They are to be joined by rapper Aitch, and presenter Vogue Williams.

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Ant and Dec are returning to host the hit series, which is in its 25th year. A source close to the show said: “Producers are expected to pull out the stops to ensure the 25th series is the most memorable yet.”