Rick Astley is the star of this year’s Sainsbury’s Christmas TV advert.
The ‘80s icon – who returned to the charts last month with his ninth album, ‘Are We There Yet?‘ – stars in the one-minute commercial airing over the festive period, in which a young girl asks on the tannoy: “Hey Sainsbury’s, what does Santa eat for his Christmas dinner?”.
It prompts a series of suggestions from the store’s colleagues, who showcase the supermarket’s festive range, with the Together Forever star popping up down the chilled aisle and offering: “How about some cheese?”
He’s soon rebuked by two colleagues, who say, “C’mon Rick, cheese before pudding, you know the rules”, to which he adds, “And so do I”, in a reference to his chart-topping classic, Never Gonna Give You Up.
“For me, food plays such an important part during the holidays and we’re always looking to bring something exciting to the Christmas dinner table whether that’s a new starter or a surprise showstopping dessert,” he says.
“It was a real honour and so much fun to join the Sainsbury’s store team on the shoot – even if they did pull me up on my cheeseboard before dessert suggestion.”
The ad marks the first time the store has used its actual employees to play colleagues in its advert, which ends with the supermarket’s new brand promise, ‘Good Food for All of Us’.
Sainsbury’s head of campaigns, Emma Bisley, added: “We wanted to create an advert that champions our colleagues all over the country, as well as highlighting the innovation of this year’s Taste the Different range.
“From brand-new festive treats to offers on household Christmas favourites, Sainsbury’s has something for everyone’s table – whatever the budget or tastebuds.”
