The simple story of a special sibling bond is at the heart of this year's John Lewis Christmas advert , The Gifting Hour. Viewers follow Sally as she desperately tries to find the perfect gift for her sister Lauren. As she's searching through a dress rack, she tumbles through it - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe-style, into her memories of their life together.
She is seen stumbling through various rooms in her childhood home and various special places to her, hunting through memories - fiery rows and all - with her sister to find the perfect present. Sally returns back to reality and to the store and she has found the gift, wrapped as she reunites with her sister outside in a heartwarming moment. With such a simple message - and no dragons or Venus flytraps in sight - all of the focus is on the sisters' chemistry and their performances.
John Lewis' Customer Director Charlotte Lock agrees: "It's such a simple story that the performers need to carry it. We saw thousands on the casting table and we went again and again. We really, really looked hard to make sure we got the right heads and the chemistry between them as well.
" Actress Margaret Clunie, 37, took on the role as Sally, with Alice Handoll playing 'adult Lauren' and a young actress called Bonnie playing 'young Lauren'. Fans might recognise Margaret as she's appeared in TV show Victoria alongside Jenna Coleman as Harriet, Duchess of Sutherland and the Queen's Mistress of the Robes. She starred in the programme for 2.
