John Lewis Christmas advert: Who is Richard Ashcroft from The Verve? | Celebrity News | Showbiz and television

John Lewis has officially announced the date of its final Christmas advert in a new teaser clip.

The upscale retailer is known for its tear-jerking holiday adverts leading up to the holidays – and this year it certainly won’t disappoint. For the first time, the supermarket is launching three festive adverts, two of which have already been revealed.

Now the chain has revealed the release date of the latest clip, which it shared in its latest post on X – formerly known as Twitter. The third and final part of John Lewis’ Christmas advert hits our screens on Thursday evening (November 14).

Created by Saatchi & Saatchi, the two-minute commercial celebrates the search for the perfect gift through the wisdom of its customers and the breadth of offerings in its stores. It’s fair to say that John Lewis is known for its Christmas adverts featuring covers of classic hits.

This year, musician Richard Ashcroft provides the musical accompaniment to the poignant advertisement with the song Sonnet from his Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 album released on RPA/BMG. Ahead of the TV debut, let’s take a deep dive into the musician himself and his star-studded background.

Who is Richard Ashcroft?

Richard Ashcroft is an English musician who hails from Wigan, Lancashire. The 53-year-old hitmaker is best known as the lead singer of alternative rock band The Verve, which he founded in 1989.

The group rose to fame in 1997 with their number one album Urban Hymns, which still holds the title of the 18th best-selling album in the UK.

After The Verve disbanded in 1999, Ashcroft launched a successful solo career, releasing six UK Top 3 solo albums including Alone with Everybody, Keys to the World and These People.

The Verve re-formed in 2007 and it’s fair to say they didn’t disappoint, releasing another UK number one album ‘Forth’ before splitting up again in 2009.

Throughout his career he has received two Ivor Novello Awards, the first for songwriter of the year and the second in 2019 for outstanding contribution to British music from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.

Connect with Oasis

Over the years, the hitmaker has formed close relationships with several other major musicians, including Oasis’ Noel Gallagher and Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

His association with the Manchester band dates back to the 1990s, when The Verve supported Oasis on their first national tour in 1993.

The singer, best known for his hits such as Bitter Sweet Symphony, was said to have been “inspired” by brothers Liam and Noel early in his career.

Their relationship goes beyond the stage: Noel dedicates the song Cast No Shadow from the album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory to Richard. Richard also provided vocals for the song All Around the World from the 1997 album Be Here Now.

This comes after Richard was confirmed as a support act for Oasis during their reunion tour in 2025. Confirming the exciting news, Richard said: “As a Dan from day one, I was excited for many reasons when news of Oasis’ return was announced.

“I can say without exaggeration that Noel’s songwriting talent and Liam’s pure spirit as lead singer have inspired me to create some of my best work.

“It was the perfection of ‘Live Forever’ that forced me to try to write my own. You dared to be great, you made the dreams we had come true and I will always remember those days with joy. Now it’s time to make more memories and I’m ready to bring them with me. See you next summer. Music is power.”

Surprising collaboration

But the excitement isn’t over yet. The retailer is offering aspiring musicians a unique opportunity to become the next John Lewis cover star.

In collaboration with BMG and Richard Ashcroft himself, they will launch a nationwide talent search on TikTok on November 15th via a branded effect on the John Lewis page using the hashtag #MySonnet.

The lucky winner will record their own version of Sonnet, which will be featured in a special broadcast of the advert on Christmas Day, with the track officially released by BMG.

The winner, selected by Richard Ashcroft and an independent jury, will receive a remarkable prize package including a professional recording session with a top producer, the release of their cover single on BMG (proceeds will be donated to the Building Happier Futures charity) and an award £3,000 John Lewis shopping spree and tickets to a Richard Ashcroft headline show in 2025.