Trending PR Campaigns
Lidl Christmas Everybody
Lidl cast EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson in a musical Christmas advert, rewriting Slade’s “Merry Christmas Everybody” with lyrics celebrating its festive food range. The familiar tune, Williamson’s cult TV persona and a cast including Chris Kamara give the seasonal product campaign a playful, singalong hook; its launch also coincides with the return of Lidl’s Toy Bank.
Why it worked: It fused a nostalgic earworm with a cult TV face and a charity activation, giving journalists an easy headline, embed, and feelgood angle.
The lesson: Consider piggybacking a universally known song or ritual with a beloved B‑list personality and a concrete give‑back mechanic journalists can link to.
Coverage over time
How this story spread across the media
| Publication | Headline | Date |
|---|---|---|
| marketingweek.com | Lidl enlists Shaun Williamson to rework Slade’s Christmas classic for festive push | Tuesday 3rd November, 2026 |
| retailgazette.co.uk | WATCH Lidl recruits Barry from EastEnders for musical 2026 Christmas campaign - Retail Gazette | Tuesday 3rd November, 2026 |
| campaignlive.co.uk | Lidl "Lidl Christmas everybody" by Coolr | Campaign UK | Tuesday 3rd November, 2026 |
| digitalspy.com | Barry from EastEnders lands starring role in Christmas ad - watch it here | Tuesday 3rd November, 2026 |
| joe.co.uk | Shaun Williamson fronts Lidl's 2026 Christmas advert | Wednesday 4th November, 2026 |
| joe.co.uk | Shaun Williamson fronts Lidl's 2026 Christmas advert | Wednesday 4th November, 2026 |
| theretailbulletin.com | Lidl launches ‘Lidl Christmas Everybody’ Slade parody starring Shaun Williamson | Retail Bulletin | Wednesday 4th November, 2026 |
| esmmagazine.com | Tesco, Asda And John Lewis Unveil Christmas Ads 2026 | ESM Magazine | Monday 9th November, 2026 |