Comedy icon Dawn French has to confront herself in the latest M&S Christmas advert, launched for the 2024 festive season. Dawn, who now lives in Fowey in Cornwall, stars as a stressed woman throwing a Christmas party in the latest advert for Marks and Spencer, just released in time for Christmas.
Thanks to a tiny fairy godmother version of herself, a Marks and Spencer banquet soon arrives to replace the food she forgot to buy, and she’s ready to welcome in the villagers. In one scene, Dawn goes from wearing comfy checked pyjamas with her grey hair in a loose ponytail to totally glammed up.
Fans love the new advert, as one said: “Love, love the Christmas advert this year. A celebration of both Christmas and the wonderful Dawn French. What more could you ask for?”
Another agreed: “Love it, best one yet Dawn!” And another said: “Fabulous, great fun… I love Dawn in this ad.”
A fourth added: “It’s absolutely fantastic. Dawn French is also amazing!” While somebody else wrote: “Epic epic epic!”
In a video for Instagram, Dawn admitted: “Really, I’m here to save you from yourself, because you’re going to feel really foolish if you’re the only person amongst your mates who hasn’t actually seen the M&S Christmas ad. So I’m here to help you go and look for it!
“I wonder who’s in it! I wonder. But I’m just saying, you know, you go and have a look at that if you’ve missed it, I’m just going to be here having one of these Collection Mince Pies and a cup of tea. Come back and tell me what you think later! Or don’t. I don’t really care what you think!”
The official M&S Instagram account joked: “Don’t believe a word @dawnrfrench says… She ABSOLUTELY wants to hear what you think of her festive escapades in this year’s Christmas food ad!
“ESPECIALLY if you’re already as enchanted by the Dawn x Fairy double act as we are… Have you seen this year’s FIRST ad yet? If not head to our page to find it and let Dawn know what you think in the comments below.”
In true fashion for the comedy icon, the ad is filled with jokes, with Dawn admitting as the fairy transforms her dining table into an exquisite feast: “That is reasonably impressive.”
When she answers the door to her gathered guests, she says, deadpan: “Welcome, near strangers! Please, invade my personal space and eat all my ham and cheese scones.”
Alongside a soundtrack of Elton John’s Step Into Christmas, Dawn delivers the famous line: “This isn’t just food. This is M&S Christmas food.”