- The new Waitrose Christmas campaign hits screens today with a six-minute festive romcom, seeing beloved actress and author, Keira Knightley and award-winning comedian, Joe Wilkinson return for the sequel
- This year, the pair are joined by Alex Hassell as Hugo Bunty-Griffin, Joe’s love rival, the dashing groom-to-be and a man whose one true love may well be his own reflection
- Once again directed by Molly Manners, the sequel serves up an emotional rollercoaster of romance, comedy and delicious festive food
Waitrose today unveils The Perfect Gift 2, the sequel to last year’s festive romcom, and this time love comes with a deadline, a love rival and a plan that has all the ingredients for disaster.
Keira Knightley is getting married at three o’clock. Unfortunately for Phil, she isn’t marrying him – the only thing standing between Keira and the wrong man is a beef Wellington. Can a romance first sparked over the Waitrose cheese counter win out, or is Phil about to eat a very large slice of humble pie?
Building on the success of last year’s campaign, Keira Knightley reprises her most personal role to date, herself, alongside Joe Wilkinson as Phil ‘Phil Phil’, the lovelorn everyman who won her heart last Christmas. Joining them is Alex Hassell as Hugo Bunty-Griffin, a suave new love rival with impeccable tailoring and charm so cheesy it should come with crackers.
Keira Knightley has it all: the dress, the venue, the dashing groom. There’s just one catch. Hugo Bunty-Griffin is more in love with his own reflection than his bride-to-be, treating his own wedding as a photoshoot in which he’s the star and Keira is merely a supporting role. And the man who has the recipe to truly steal her heart? Nowhere to be seen…
Across town, Phil is in full-blown heartbreak mode. His beard has reached tragic proportions, his dressing gown is now his entire wardrobe, and his only confidants are a pack of Waitrose No.1 Handmade Polar Bear Bao Buns. But when all hope seems lost, his best friends arrive with Waitrose bags in hand, and a plan even bolder than last year’s: another homemade food creation. But this is no ordinary love story, so Phil sets about baking the beef Wellington of his life.
Then comes a breakneck race against the clock, or at least a breakneck run-walk, from a man built for cheeseboards, not cross-country. Clutching his lovingly homemade wellington, he battles a flat tyre, a dog with a keen sense of smell and a stately home that has more stairs and corridors than should be legal.
In his efforts to get there in time Phil bursts through the doors, only for his beloved beef Wellington to end up sliding down the aisle to Keira's feet, followed by his final gambit: a jar of homemade sauce labelled ‘Marry Me Instead?’. Hugo is furious at being upstaged, Keira is speechless and Phil is ushered out into the cold.
In the end, love (and good food) conquers all. Keira swaps the wedding aisle for the man she met in the Waitrose aisle, and gets down on one knee with a cheeseboard ring, with Phil’s ‘Marry Me Instead’ jar as the diamond. Because a true food match really is the perfect gift. And handmade beats handsome every time.
Keira Knightley comments: “I always felt last year’s love story deserved another chapter, and what a sequel this has been. I absolutely loved the chance to revisit our relationship this Christmas, although I wasn’t expecting to find myself caught between two men and a beef Wellington! Making this short film has been so much fun. I hope it brings a little festive magic to everyone who watches it.”
Joe Wilkinson adds: “Chuffed to be back for the sequel. If a beef Wellington doesn’t win back the heart of a Hollywood A-lister, nowt will. Although there is the thorny issue of Keira Knightley’s new beau, the dashing Alex Hassell. How will she choose between us?”
Alex Hassell says: “I play ‘Hugo’, a man in love… but really only with himself! And the idea of being a part of a celebrity power couple. I loved The Perfect Gift last year, so it was an honour to join the cast for another episode in the story, and all the gorgeous, silliness that went with it. Hugo thinks he’s the cat’s meow but Phil has something he doesn’t: a beef wellington and an adorable heart... may the best man win!"
Directed once again by Molly Manners, the film is made with all the ambition of a Hollywood blockbuster: snow-dusted country house locations, sweeping tracking shots and a soaring original score recorded by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Manners brings cinematic scale and a light comic touch to every frame, giving a tale about a man, a deadline and a beef Wellington the epic treatment it never knew it needed. Gary Martin, best known as the voice of the Honey Monster, narrates the trailer for full cinematic spectacle, and the film closes to Jennifer Rush’s ‘The Power of Love’, reinforcing its central message: sometimes the best way to tell someone you love how you feel is through food. From a chance spark at the Waitrose cheese counter to a proposal sealed with a cheeseboard ring, The Perfect Gift 2 brings the story full circle. Full of festive charm and heart, the mini-movie celebrates the starring role food plays in bringing people together, from the first spark of romance to the grandest of gestures.
Molly Manners, Director, adds: “We had a world-class orchestra, beautiful locations, snow and crane shots- all the ingredients for an epic love story. Then we put Joe Wilkinson at the centre of it, racing against the clock with a beef Wellington. That contrast is what makes it so much fun. We played every moment completely straight, giving Phil’s increasingly desperate mission the full cinematic treatment. And beneath all the chaos, there’s a genuine story about how food can say what words sometimes can’t.”
Nathan Ansell, Waitrose Chief Customer Officer, says: “Last year’s The Perfect Gift sparked a huge reaction, and our customers were clear: they wanted to know what happened next. So this Christmas we’ve given them a bigger, bolder sequel, with a love rival, a race against the clock and a beef Wellington as an unlikely hero. Every great romcom needs a moment where all seems lost, and ours just happens to be wrapped in pastry.
“Like last year we approached the edits as a film studio would, with trailers to hook you in and the full film available online to give this story the space it deserves. We significantly raised the creative and production stakes by extending the mini-film by two minutes, making it an ambitious six-minute cinematic romcom - the longest advert produced by a UK supermarket - while keeping our exceptional food credentials firmly at the narrative core. This is our way of giving audiences the happy ending they’ve been waiting for, and we hope it brings a smile, and a little inspiration, to homes across the country this Christmas.”
Where to watch
The festive film premiered on Waitrose channels including YouTube at 6.30am on 10 November, and will be supported by two shorter, 60 and 30 second movie-style trailers adverts and romcom inspired movie posters all teasing the twists and turns of the longer film.
A series of playful product ads also see the cast lose themselves mid-conversation, distracted by the irresistible delights of Waitrose’s festive range, including:
- Waitrose No.1 Ham & Cheese Croissant Stacks
- Waitrose No.1 Slow Cooked Double Butter Basted Free Range Turkey Crown
- Waitrose No.1 Frosted Raspberry Snowflake Dessert
- Waitrose No.1 Pistachio & Sour Cherry Frangipane Mince Pies
- Rick Stein with Waitrose Signature Cure Cornish Sea Salt Smoked Salmon
Watch The Perfect Gift 2 at www.waitrose.com/theperfectgift.
Notes to Editor
For more information please contact [email protected].
Created by Wonderhood Studios and directed by ‘One Day’ and Bafta-winning director Molly Manners. Paid media was planned and brokered by MG OMD.
Starring Waitrose food, in order of appearance
- Waitrose No. 1 Handmade Polar Bear Bao Buns
- Beef Wellington (recipe)
- Homemade Festive Cheese and Fruit Wreath
Selected homeware and clothing featured in the campaign is available from John Lewis and johnlewis.com.
About Waitrose
Waitrose is the Home of Food Lovers, serving customers with exceptional quality products and expert service.
Part of the John Lewis Partnership – the UK’s largest employee-owned business – Waitrose has over 320 shops and a strong online business. It also has agreements with brands like Welcome Break and Shell, further bolstering its local footprint.
It works closely with British farmers and suppliers, and is a market-leader for animal welfare and responsible sourcing – using sustainable farming methods, including on its very own farm, the Leckford Estate.
Waitrose holds a Royal Warrant as Grocer and Wine & Spirits Merchant to His Majesty King Charles III.
Creative & Media Credits
Waitrose
- Chief Customer Officer: Nathan Ansell
- Head of Advertising & Social: Sarah Hood
- Advertising Lead: Joanne Massey
- Senior Advertising Manager: Alia Ahmad
- Advertising Manager: Vinay Patel
- Senior Campaign Manager: James Ward
- Senior Social Media Manager: Emily Angliss
- Social Media Manager: Chloe Ball
- Creative Direction Lead: James Turner
MG OMD
- CEO: Kat Bozicevich
- Managing Director: David Bratt
- Chief Creative Officer: Tamara Cross
- Chief Client Development Officer: Geraldine Ridgway
- Client Partner: Lewis Young
- Client Business Director: Jane Ridehalgh
- Client Account Director: Megan Cupples
- Client Account Manager: Tom Warren
- Client Account Executive: Izzy Cherry
- Head of Planning: Flora Williams
- Strategy Business Director: Helen Brain
- Head of Media Creativity: Will Selwyn
- Partnerships Business Director: Maddie Taylor Wilson
- Partnerships Account Director: Polly Savva
Wonderhood Studios
- Founder & CEO: Alex Best
- Founder & CCO: Aidan McClure
- Managing Director: Sam Brown
- Head of Integrated Production: Natasha Johnson
- Executive Creative Director: Stacey Bird
- Executive Creative Director: Jack Croft
- Strategy Director: Charlotte O’Brien
- Strategist: Kit Thwaites
- Senior Creative & Writer: Jennifer Ashton
- Senior Creative & Writer: Oliver Short
- Creative - Product: Coel James
- Creative - Product: Chiara Piccirillo
- Lead Senior Producer: James Plaxton
- Senior Producer: Georgia Totvanian
- Senior Producer - Product Stills: Chris Battye
- Assistant Producer: Pericles Brierley
- Business Director: Tom Butler
- Account Director: Tara Lidstone
- Senior Account Manager: Minna Griffiths
- Senior Account Manager - Product Stills: James Tasker
- Account Manager: Hannah Chinyemba
Wonderhood Makers
- Co-founder & EP: Jo Lumb
- Co-founder & Managing Partner: Katie Hunter
- Senior Account Director: George Alleston
- Account Manager: Katie Luton
- Creative Director: Mandy Gould
- Senior Social Creative: Ella Banks
- Producer: Jake Parker
- Editor: Ben Infantion and Will Meighan
Wonderhood Design
- Head of Design: Simon Elvins
- Design Director: Tommy Spitters
- Designers - Brand: Ed Garland, Brianna Bartlett, Nancy Phillip, Joe Chakravorty, Lucja Wroblewska, Emma Gray
- Designers - Product: Lucja Wroblewska, Emma Gray
- Motion Designer: Tom Pounder
Photography
- Brand Photographer: Charlotte Rutherford
- Product Photographer: Matt Russell
Full Production Credits:
- Production Company & Country: Biscuit Filmworks, UK
- Director: Molly Manners
- Producer: Peter Knowles
- Founding Partner: Shawn Lacy
- Managing Director: Rupert Reynolds-MacLean
- Executive Producer: Hanna Bayatti
- Head of Production: Emily Atterton
- Production Manager: Ada Almeida
- Production Coordinator: Jess Glaus
- Production Assistant: Hannah Lockwood
- Production Assistant: Nessie Appleton-Smith
- 1st AD: Rawdon De Fresnes
- Director of Photography: Benedict Spence
- Production Designer: Fiona Crombie
- Casting Director: Hannah Birkett
- Food Stylist: Fergal Connolly
- 1st Ad: Rawdon De Fresnes
- 2nd Ad: Isusko Garcia
- 1st Ac: Jim Mclean
- 2nd Ac: Evangeline Perkins
- Key Grip: Jake Lavan
- Gaffer: Greg Probert
- Food Stylist: Fergal Connolly
- Stylist: Emma Rees
- Stylist Assistant: Naomi Golding
- Hair And Make Up Artist: Eve Coles
- Hair And Make Up Artist Assistant; Ashleigh Haines
Socials
- Socials Director: James Murray
- Socials Producer: Dalia Saeed
- Socials Production Assistant: Hannah Lockwood
- Socials 1ST AD: Spencer Wilson
- Socials DOP: Dylan Bruce
- Socials 1st AC: Justin Mcgillivray
- Socials 2nd AC: Tim Pakyar
- Socials Electrician: Jay Tesfamarieam
- Socials Electrician: Stan Garbett
- Socials Art Director: Katren Wood
- Socials Props Assistant: Coco Cardozo
- Socials Costume Designer: Gabrielle Edmunds and Amy Laverack
- Socials Hair And Make Up Artist: Courtney Reece-Scott
- Socials Casting Director: Hannah Birkett
- Socials Food Stylist: Fergal Connolly
- Socials Food Stylist’s Assistant: Sophie Sibbald
- Socials Runner: Guy Lewis
Stills
- Stills Producer: Dalia Saeed
- Stills Photographer: Charlotte Rutherford
- Stills Movement Director: Simon Donnellon
- Stills Lighting Director: John Neate
- Stills Assistant: Bradley Polkinghorne and Jed Barnes
- Stills Digi Op: Alex Gale
- Stills Art Director: Katren Wood
- Socials Props Master: Louis Glickman
- Stills Props Assistant: Coco Cardozo
- Stills Food Stylist: Fergal Connolly
- Stills Food Stylist’s Assistant: Sophie Sibbald
- Stills Runner: Guy Lewis
Glam team
- Keira Knightley:
- Stylist: Leith Clark
- Stylist Assistant: Florence Thompson, Tilly Wheating
- Seamstress: Serafina Kruegel-Hanna
- Makeup: Lisa Eldridge
- Makeup Assistant: Nilofar Mussa
- Manicurist: Sabrina Gayle
- Hair Stylist: Luke Hersheson
- Hair Assistant: Rogerio da Silva
- Joe Wilkinson & Alex Hassell:
- Groomer: Sam Coughlan
- Costume Designer: Emma Rees
Hero Casting: Talent Republic
- CEO & Founder: Anne Batz
- Business Director: Disha B.B
- Talent Partnerships Lead: Emily Curtis
Editing Company: Shift Post
- Editor – Brand Film: Saam Hodivala
- Editor – Product Films: Adam Buckmaster
- Editor – Social: Robert McGuire
- Executive Producer: Kirsty Oldfield
- Assistant Producer: Tallia Clarke
- Assistant Editor: Stanley Whitaker / Christina Hill
Post Studio: Time Based Arts
- Creative Director & VFX Supervisor: Sheldon Gardner
- 2D Lead: Ollie Ramsey
- 2D Artists: Hannah Wilk, Chris Fraser, Javier Leon, Elliot Donovan, Ria Shroff, Anthony Laranjo, Jasmine Cooper, Ralph Briscoe, Gavin Marler, Jamie Crofts, James Pratt, Pavel Rehak, Nithin Francis, Simon Melin, Stepan Pazderka
- 3D Artists: Ihor Obukhovskyi, Jake Thompson, Ashley West, Ian Baird
- DMP artists: Billy Stockwell, Barbara Pozzi
- Colourist: Simone Grattarola
- Socials Colourist: Tom Matthews
- Senior Producer: Matt Squires
- Producer: Mia Saunders
Audio Post-Production: Runamok
- Sound Design & Mix: Jon Clarke
- Socials Sound Design & Mix: Harry Butcher & Jonny Platt
- Executive Producer: Caroline Jemirifo
- Managing Director: Lucy Spong
Music (Sync track): Native
- Music Company: Native
- Music Supervisor: Dan Neale, Sophie Faricy
- Publisher: Sony
- Label: Sony
- Track Name: The Power of Love
- Artist: Jennifer Rush
Music (Composition): Holy Wax
- Music Company: Holy Wax
- Music Supervisor: Jeremy Newton
- Track Name: Project Chestnut
- Music Producer / Composer: Harry Lightfoot
