The Brandwatch Christmas Adverts Rankings 2019
The best UK Christmas adverts of 2019, ranked
Explore the technology behind our festive data♪♫It’s the most wonderful time of the year!♫♪
Houses are dressed up in lights. There are decorations floating around the office. People are even smiling on their way into work.
Christmas always seems to put a little bit of magic into the air. In fact, the holiday season can even make adverts enjoyable. It’s one of the few times that people in the UK actually get excited for commercial breaks.
Every winter we see a barrage of branded festive spectacles both on our TV screens and online, and 2019 was no exception. In true Brandwatch Christmas tradition, we have ranked the best festive adverts of 2019 using social data.
So without further ado, here they are.
10.
JOINT Dobbies
Have you ever wondered who makes sure Santa has Christmas presents to come home to? Meet Dobbie, the tenth reindeer. Animated to be as cute as cute can be, this advert was a big hit for its sweet message and adorable graphics.
- Reach: 34th place
- Social shares: 33rd place
- Positive sentiment: 100%
- Brandwatch team rating: 4/10
10.
JOINT Boden
Christmas is a time for family and loved ones and a few days of holiday spent cozied up in front of the fire with all of your favourite foods. But what about the men and women who have to work over Christmas?
Boden used their Christmas advert to make the unsung heroes feel special ahead of the holidays. Dressing a handful of healthcare workers in sparkling outfits and treating them to a festive feast, this commercial reminds us to give thanks to the people who can’t be home for the holidays.
- Reach: 31st place
- Social shares: 34th place
- Positive sentiment: 100%
- Brandwatch team rating: 3/10
10.
JOINT BBC One
Let’s be honest with each other, 2019 was a bit of a shitshow in many ways. Wouldn’t it be nice to just leave it all behind?
BBC One is all about embracing some short-term amnesia for the sake of Christmas. With the hashtag #XmasLife, Graham Norton is encouraging friends and family to get together and enjoy what’s left of the year.
Good riddance, 2019. We won’t really miss you.
- Reach: 12th place
- Social shares: 15th place
- Positive sentiment: 92%
- Brandwatch team rating: 5/10
9.
Gap
Being home for the holidays conjures up a whole lot of nostalgia.
Gap plays at the heartstrings of mums everywhere with their 2019 adverts. Documenting the journey of a young boy growing up in his beloved red Gap hoodie, the commercial ends with the now grown man opening up his gift. Which is, you guessed it, a new Gap hoodie.
Cue the universal “awws.”
- Reach: 25th place
- Social shares: 30th place
- Positive sentiment: 95%
- Brandwatch team rating: 6/10
8.
JOINT Tesco
Time travel + decade dress + food = one good advert.
Tesco is celebrating 100 years of delivering food to homes across the UK and this Christmas spectacle is a tribute to their legacy. Featuring a delivery driver and his festive van, we’re transported through different time periods with the same great food.
- Reach: 6th place
- Social shares: 13th place
- Positive sentiment: 84%
- Brandwatch team rating: 5/10
8.
JOINT Joules
Joules joined forces with the dynamic duo Wallace and Gromit for a special animated Christmas advert.
Set to the tune of We Wish You A Merry Christmas, the short clip sees the iconic pair getting ready for Christmas surrounded by all of your favourite Joules products. As Wallace clicks a button his Christmas essentials pop up, reminding everyone that they can easily order Joules items to arrive in time for Christmas.
- Reach: 22nd place
- Social shares: 26th place
- Positive sentiment: 99%
- Brandwatch team rating: 5/10
8.
JOINT Barbour
Starring Santa Claus himself, this Barbour ad follows the jolly fellow through his Christmas journey over the past 125 years. One thing has kept him warm all along: A Barbour’s winter coat, from his beloved Mrs. Claus.
This old school ad ranked in the top five for positive sentiment.
- Reach: 20th place
- Social shares: 18th place
- Positive sentiment: 95%
- Brandwatch team rating: 7/10
8.
JOINT McDonald's
A little girl who believes she’s a reindeer, a four-legged friend, and a happy ending. McDonalds tugged at the heartstrings of viewers with this year’s Christmas advert.
Turns out, reindeers love Chicken McNuggets® too.
- Reach: 9th place
- Social shares: 11th place
- Positive sentiment: 88%
- Brandwatch team rating: 8/10
7.
Zalando
This year, Zalando’s theme was ‘Free to Be’ – an ode to joy of individuality in all things. The advert features a young man with older taste taking his Grandma out dancing. We see joy, style and grace all in this one commercial.
Turns out, people loved it. It was one of only 4 adverts on our list to receive 100% positive sentiment.
- Reach: 35th place
- Social shares: 28th place
- Positive sentiment: 100%
- Brandwatch team rating: 7/10
6.
JOINT Visa
It’s encouraging to see a growing movement towards shopping small. Small businesses across the UK are the backbone of communities and Visa recognised this in their 2019 Christmas advert.
Featuring real independent shopkeepers, the aim is to inspire shoppers to visit their high streets and shop locally this Christmas with the hashtag #WhereYouShopMatters.
- Reach: 4th place
- Social shares: 10th place
- Positive sentiment: 96%
- Brandwatch team rating: 4/10
6.
JOINT Walkers
Can you really have Christmas without Mariah Carey on every radio station? The pop princess herself stars in this hilarious Walkers advert.
Carey is seen handing out gifts to everyone in arms length when she stumbles upon one last bag of Walkers’ crisps. A battle ensues between her and a production hand and well … we don’t want to spoil the ending, have a watch.
- Reach: 3rd place
- Social shares: 6th place
- Positive sentiment: 74%
- Brandwatch team rating: 5/10
6.
JOINT Argos
Didn’t we all have aspirations of being a rockstar at one point? This advert pokes at those dormant dreams with lots of drumming fun – starting with a Dad in his kitchen, evolving with an assist from his daughter and eventually exploding into a full on concert.
We’re here for the cheer.
- Reach: 13th place
- Social shares: 4th place
- Positive sentiment: 95%
- Brandwatch team rating: 5/10
5.
JOINT IKEA
Imagine if your knick knacks started rapping at you? A little bit of grime and a modest amount of decorating creates a whole lot of fun in this IKEA Christmas advert. If you need a good laugh, hit that play button above.
IKEA’s ad also snagged the top spot amongst Brandwatchers, scoring on average 8.5 out of ten.
- Reach: 8th place
- Social shares: 7th place
- Positive sentiment: 87%
- Brandwatch team rating: 8/10
5.
JOINT Dogs Trust
The commercial might start off joyful and cute but it has a serious message. Did you know that pets are returned to shelters in record numbers after the holidays? This advert sheds light on this problem and reminds viewers that a dog is for life – not just Christmas.
Our guess is that this particular ad really resonated with people. Everyone wants best for the puppies out there during Christmas time!
- Reach: 5th place
- Social shares: 16th place
- Positive sentiment: 96%
- Brandwatch team rating: 7/10
4.
Sky
Everyone’s favourite extra terrestrial friend is home for the holidays. E.T. makes his triumphant return in this clever Sky advert.
We see E.T. up to his usual antics, this time with Elliot’s family. The throwback prompted plenty of social shares and was an instant hit.
- Reach: 7th place
- Social shares: 3rd place
- Positive sentiment: 95%
- Brandwatch team rating: 7/10
3.
Hafod Hardware
Hafod Hardware, a local hardware store, is the breakout star of 2019, creating an advert that cost only £100 and took 3rd place – beating out loads of well-known brands.
We see a toddler heading to work, spreading joy and running the store. By the end of the commercial we see it’s been an adult with the Christmas spirit all along.
This advert was also the best received on Twitter, with 99.5% of mentions being positive (neutral mentions excluded).
- Reach: 10th place
- Social shares: 2nd place
- Positive sentiment: 100%
- Brandwatch team rating: 7/10
2.
Aldi
Aldi’s Christmas ad features its festive brand mascot Kevin the Carrot and villain Russell Sprout. The sprouts are furious that carrots have stolen their thunder as the Christmas vegetable of choice. But Kevin escapes their grip and delivers a spectacular Christmas show for all to enjoy!
The advert is fun to watch and might even convince the kids to eat their veggies this year – a win-win in our book.
- Reach: 2nd place
- Social shares: 5th place
- Positive sentiment: 88%
- Brandwatch team rating: 6/10
1.
John Lewis & Partners
For the third year in a row, John Lewis & Partners topped the rankings, getting the most shares and reach. This year the advert focuses on a excitable little dragon that breathes fire at the slightest provocation.
His trusty best friend refuses to give up on him depsite his blunders. She eventually finds a use for his flames, showing him how much she truly cares. A happy ending for all!
- Reach: 1st place
- Social shares: 1st place
- Positive sentiment: 88%
- Brandwatch team rating: 8/10