M&S creates the Home of Christmas with James Norton and Lucy Punch

M&S is bringing fashion, home, beauty and food together in one Christmas campaign, The Home of Christmas.

Launched on social media on Friday 6 November 2026, the festive film stars James Norton as an undercover Santa, alongside Lucy Punch as Mrs Claus, with a special appearance and exclusive soundtrack from one of the UK’s most celebrated voices, Katherine Jenkins OBE.

The campaign takes Christmas beyond the North Pole and into the home, with a playful twist on one of the season’s most familiar characters.

After a little encouragement from Mrs Claus, played by Amandaland's Lucy Punch, Santa goes incognito so he can experience Christmas himself without being recognised. He swaps his red suit for a Christmas jumper and shaves off his beard. Suddenly looking a little younger and a lot less familiar, Santa, played by award-winning actor James Norton, leaves the North Pole behind and heads out into the world to experience Christmas from a different perspective.

His Christmas adventure takes him through the moments that make the season special: getting dressed up, gathering around a table of brilliant food, choosing gifts people will genuinely love and transforming the home for Christmas.

Along the way, Santa discovers that Christmas magic doesn't just come from the North Pole.

It's created in homes across the country, around tables, under trees and in the moments shared with the people we love. And he's not the only one making it happen. From food and fashion to beauty, gifting and home, M&S is there for every festive moment. 

The idea reflects what customers say matters most. M&S Customer Pulse research found that 81% of customers want a special Christmas with the people they love. Food also remains firmly at the heart of the celebration, with 68% saying food is what makes the season feel special.

Award-winning actor James Norton, (Happy Valley and Grantchester), takes on the role of Santa.

James Norton: “It’s not every day you get asked to play Santa, let alone a Santa who immediately shaves off his beard! M&S has been such a familiar part of Christmas for as long as I can remember, so being part of its Christmas campaign feels really special. I loved that this story takes such an iconic character and lets us see him differently. He gets to experience Christmas like the rest of us, discovering that the real magic is in the food, traditions and moments we share with the people we love. It’s warm, funny and full of Christmas spirit, and I’m very happy to have been briefly trusted with the red suit.”

Alongside him is Lucy Punch (Amandaland and Motherland), as Mrs Claus. It is Mrs Claus who encourages Santa to lose the beard, leave the North Pole behind and experience for himself the Christmas magic being created in homes across the country.

Lucy Punch: “M&S and Christmas just go hand in hand, so it was an absolute joy to become part of that tradition this year. I loved that Mrs Claus is the one who gets this story moving. She gives him the nudge to get out there incognito and experience the magic of Christmas for himself. There’s something very sweet and fun about their dynamic, and something quite lovely about the idea behind it: this idea that the magic you’re looking for is actually happening all around you.”

Credits

Brand: M&S
Creative Agency: Mother
Production Company: Smuggler
Director: Shannon Murphy
DOP: Justin Brown
1st AD: Clara Paris
Managing Director*: Lucy Kelly
Executive Producer: Tom Knight
Producer: Tess Mitchell
Stills / Social Producer: Seb Jowers Red
Production Manager: Marketa Husecka
Production Coordinator: Nellie Heron-Anstead
Cast Coordinator: Carys Duffield
Production Designer: Sherree Philips
Food Stylist: Elaine Ngan
Campaign Stylist: Sam Ranger
Talent Make-up Artist: Rebecca Wordingham
Talent Hair Artist: Kota Suizu
Stills & Social Production:
Production Company: Mother- Made
Photographer: Thurstan Redding @ Parent Global
Director: Rob Norman
Producer - Stills: Mollie Davison
Producer - Social: Millie Costley - Deakin
Production Manager: Tom O’Driscoll
1st Ad: Andrew Vannek
Production Designer: Samuel Overs
Edit House: TenThree
Lead Editor: Billy Mead
2nd Editor: Rebuen Williams
Edit Producer: Rachel Goodger
Sound House: King Lear
Lead Sound Engineer: Jack Sedgwick
Sound Producers: Hannah Gibson & Matthew Steven
Post House: Black Kite
Colourist: Tom Mangham
VFX Lead: Sasha Danjou
Post Producer EP: Chris Allen
Post Producer: Carla Thomas
Music Supervisor: Mr Pape
Music Track: ‘Heaven Is a Place on Earth’
Music Artist: Katherine Jenkins
Music Supervisor: Sam Emery
Additional Music Production: Craig Brown
Lead Groomer: Liz Taw & Petra Sellge