John Lewis Christmas adverts over the years: Including amazing 2016 #BusterTheBoxer commercial

Over the last few years, John Lewis has firmly ensconced itself as the king of the Christmas commercial, not only with extended short movies but with cover versions of songs that make it to the top five of the British music charts.

Each year’s effort becomes a viral sensation, spreading faster on social media than a Kim Kardashian bottom pic, and this year’s is no exception.

Buster The Dog is funny, heartwarming and cost a staggering £1 million to make. A further £6 million will be spent on UK TV slots.

This year’s music track is One Day I’ll Fly Away covered by the Vaults. It’s available from numerous music download services.

You can check out #BusterTheDog below and we’ve also included all the ads from the last few years.

John Lewis Christmas advert 2016: Buster The Dog

This year’s effort includes a whole cast of CGI animals. We won’t spoil the ending (although you might be able to guess it easily), but we do hope that mum and dad were out afterwards with disinfectant before letting their little girl have a go. 

John Lewis Christmas advert 2015: Man On The Moon

Cleverly filmed, albeit a little loose on the abilities of telescopes, Man On The Moon was criticised a little for its bleakness. The music is Half the World Away, written and originally released by Oasis, and covered by Norwegian 19-year-old Aurora.

Fans of The Royale Family will also recognise it, the original version was the main theme tune for that show.

John Lewis Christmas advert 2014: Monty The Penguin

In 2014, the company went on an all-out tech offensive, with a number of innovative initiatives that complemented its charming Monty The Penguin advert. As well as an interactive storytelling app for iPad and Android – Monty’s Christmas narrated by Dermot O’Leary – John Lewis hosted an online 360-degree panoramic tour of lead characters Sam and Monty’s world, and each of the shops had a dedicated section called Monty’s Den.

John Lewis Christmas advert 2013: The Bear & The Hare

Like its latest effort, The Bear & The Hare also cost the high street chain £1 million to produce. It released a dedicated iPad and Android tablet application, soft toys, online activities – including a Make your own card service – and in-store experiences in order to make some of that back.

The song used in the advert was a cover version of Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know performed by Lily Allen.

John Lewis Christmas advert 2012: The Journey

Considered by many to be the best Christmas commercial from the high street retailer, The Journey present a great, beautiful love story with a twist. The music was a cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Power of Love sung by Gabrielle Aplin.

John Lewis Christmas advert 2011: The Long Wait

The Long Wait changed everything for John Lewis and British Christmas adverts in general. By telling a sweet and sincere story, it engaged with audiences like never before and many advertisers have since aimed to emulate it.

Few have succeeded.