The song Merry Christmas Everybody by British band Slade has been part of the Christmas tradition in the UK for decades, and this year it has received a version adapted to shopping for festive food. Lidl GB has used the familiar melody as the basis for its Lidl Christmas Everybody campaign, replacing the original lyrics with words celebrating products from the retailer’s Christmas range.
The leading role goes to Shaun Williamson, a British actor known to audiences as Barry Evans from the television series EastEnders, as well as for his musical performances under the name Barrioke. In the advert, he visits his neighbourhood carrying bags of food and gifts, gradually joined by other residents in his festive performance. Familiar faces appearing in the campaign include former footballer and television presenter Chris Kamara, Capital FM presenter Kemi Rodgers and comedian Abi Clarke.
The campaign uses a music video format to incorporate seasonal products into the action itself. Turkeys, Brussels sprouts, traditional British Christmas treats such as mince pies, and chocolate gonks appear as Williamson visits his neighbours and helps fulfil their festive wishes. The familiar melody, humour and celebrity appearances thus become a way of presenting Lidl’s offering, with an emphasis on making products for the Christmas table accessible.
Speaking about the campaign, Williamson said that Christmas is a time for bringing people together, having fun and spreading festive cheer, which is why he gladly accepted Lidl’s invitation. He described reworking the well-known Christmas song as a great experience and expressed hope that the new version would get audiences smiling and singing along.
For Lidl, the campaign also provides an opportunity to highlight the performance of its seasonal range. According to the company, this year’s Christmas offering has received more than 160 awards and endorsements, representing a 128% increase compared with 2025. These include 12 Best Value endorsements from the British Good Housekeeping Institute, which also recognised Lidl’s offering as the Best Value Christmas Range for 2026.
Joanna Gomer, marketing director at Lidl GB, said the campaign marks the beginning of the retailer’s Christmas activities for this year, with further initiatives planned over the coming weeks.
The festive campaign also includes the return of Toy Bank, an initiative run by Lidl in partnership with the charity network Neighbourly. From 5 November to 16 December, customers across Great Britain can donate unopened toys and gifts in stores, which will be distributed to children through local charities, food banks and community groups. Over the past four years, more than 250,000 toys have been distributed through the initiative.
