Christmas TV ads 2023: Patrick Freyne on Aldi, John Lewis, Boots and more
We rate this season’s advertisements for weepiness, capitalism, gluttony and liturgical correctness
John Lewis
Cult of the gifted amateur persists
Some of the most important jobs in Britain are still filled by people with zero experience or interest in the field
John Lewis is the corporate equivalent of a national treasure; be damned whoever messes with it
A national panic attack follows a report that the John Lewis Partnership might sell a slice of the company to investors to raise £2bn
Anatomy of a Revolut scam: Peter watched helplessly as thousands drained from his account
Pricewatch: The live chat with the help desk was genuine, the phone call and ‘verification’ request were fake
Tesco’s weird take on Irishness, Boots’ night-bus terror: The Christmas TV ads, 2022
Patrick Freyne: John Lewis’s skateboarding ad is moving. Aldi’s Kevin the Carrot is still theologically perplexing
Queen Elizabeth II Barbie doll released on her 96th birthday
The $75 limited edition doll will commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Grammy awards 2022: Olivia Rodrigo and Silk Sonic triumph
Ukraine’s president Zelenskiy makes cameo at scandal free ceremony after Oscars chaos
No crying in the kitchen: ‘Tearless’ onions go on sale
Sunions, developed by decades of cross-breeding, hit the shelves in British supermarkets
Don’t fancy a long, infectious flight this year? These 9 holidays are less than 3 hours away
Reduce time on planes and your carbon footprint with these nearby holiday options
Biden likely to signal willingness to change Senate rules to facilitate voting rights reforms
Amendment to filibuster may be on cards in move to overcome restrictions on voting
Bezos donates $100m to Obama foundation in honour of congressman John Lewis
Amazon founder has asked that plaza at the Obama Presidential Center be named after Lewis
Aldi’s Christ the Carrot, Amazon’s fake kindness: The Christmas TV ads, 2021
Patrick Freyne: Disney’s ad is quite moving. M&S’s needs more existential angst
Christmas ads keep faith with supply chains in season of trade strains
Several of this year’s festive campaigns have already arrived – even if the HGVs have not
The flexibility factor: Who must go back to the office?
Tech firms tend towards maximum choice for staff, with financial firms the most rigid
Mary Portas: ‘I had no idea consumerism was killing the planet’
The former ‘queen of shops’ says people ‘have been shown the wrong ideas on how to live’
Biden pledges to close US racial wage gap on anniversary of Tulsa massacre
President’s visit marks 100 years since hundreds of black residents killed by white mob
Jennifer O’Connell: Every woman has met a Charles Michel who looks the other way
Ankara incident shows women have a more insidious enemy than Erdogans and Trumps
Boris Johnson may end up paying price for flat refurbishment
London Letter: Renovation controversy re-enforces questions about the PM’s judgment
Britain’s John Lewis to axe more stores after Covid-19 ‘earthquake’
Employee-owned group recorded £517m annual loss
Anti-slavery hero’s 1845 trip to Ireland to be feted in ‘Douglass Week’
Online events will focus on Frederick Douglass’s ‘transformative’ four-month visit
Six Nations 2021: English based players putting Wales at a disadvantage
Clive Woodward backs his compatriot, Simon Zebo explains Finn Russell’s nickname
Coronavirus: British police vow tougher enforcement of restrictions
UK stores to insist on face coverings as 45,533 new cases and 1,243 deaths reported
Mass testing for asymptomatic Covid to be rolled out across England
Scientific experts give the proposed programme a mixed reception
John Lewis Christmas ad: I’m not crying but...
Patrick Freyne: There’s nude pigeons, flying snow people, heart-shaped haircuts – and a broken time-space continuum
Biden pledges to unify America as he prepares for transition
World leaders congratulate president-elect, while Trump has yet to concede
Joe Biden pledges to unite America but no sign of Trump concession
Republicans have reached out to president-elect but not White House
Simon Schama: A fight to the death between two visions of America
A bitterly polarised nation could do with a little of the spirit Lyndon Johnson showed in 1965
Online shopping makes town centre jobs unviable, says Next boss
Boss of prominent retail chain flags ‘very uncomfortable’ period for retail staff
Paddle-in cinemas, Comcast’s new investor and the Republic of Kent
Planet Business: Constructive discussions all round
UK retail rebounds in bright spot for Covid-hit economy
Gloomy picture persists for high street despite sales volumes rising 0.8% in August
Christmas shopping frenzy to kick off later due to Covid-19
Brown Thomas and Arnotts delay decking their halls as retail spending appetite curbed
Debenhams cuts 2,500 UK jobs in latest blow to retail sector
Move comes after chain entered administration and closed 11 stores in Ireland in April
Trump v Biden: US contemplates nightmare scenario of disputed election
Rhetoric from both sides points to potential constitutional crisis if result is close
Trump defends sending federal agents to deal with protests
President seeks to foster law and order credentials ahead of November election
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