Co-op kicks off the festive season with a heartwarming Christmas advert – and MailOnline went behind the scenes to see how it was made.
Singing groups, dance troupes, a ukulele band and a strapping scrum of muddy rugby players – young and old – all come together to warm the cockles and get even the most bah humbug viewers into the yuletide spirit.
The new ad features a host of unsigned music groups who have created a new version of a modern Britpop classic, Blur’s Tender. The song is being released on Friday to raise funds for charity.
And the seasonal message is ‘Christmas is Coming Together’ – with absolutely nobody left out.
MailOnline’s Nick Fagge went on set in Manchester’s historic Northern Quarter for exclusive access to see how it was put together.
Festive: The Co-op’s festive advert celebrates communities joining forces with the message: ‘Christmas is Coming Together’
Together: Local groups young and old got together to share music, food and fun to sing the nineties Blue hit ‘Tender’
Hands up if you’re having fun: Singing groups, dance troupes, a ukulele band and a strapping scrum of muddy rugby players – young and old – all come together to get viewers in the yuletide spirit
Little star: Cheeky trumpet player Izzak is one of the highlights of the 60-second feel good advert. At the closing scenes he reaches up from under the table to steal a sausage from the plate
Among the frenzy of activity, of cameras, lights, wires and of course the stars, Nick met husky-voiced director Max Fisher. ‘Christmas is all about bringing people together,’ he explained in a snatched, five-minute tea break between takes.
It’s thirsty work making a Christmas ad for one of Britain’s biggest convenience stores.
But the idea of bringing families and communities together gets the thumbs up from Max. ‘I really like this idea,’ he says. ‘The project is a party and the food is hanging it all together. And there’s nothing that brings people together more than food.’
The 60-second feel-good ad begins with schoolboy Sam, 13, struggling to push his bicycle up a hill with a guitar strapped to his back and Rochdale’s rolling green Pennines behind him.
MailOnline went behind the scenes on this year’s Co-op festive campaign to find out how a Christmas advert is made
Olivia Lee (left) a beatboxer from the group KYSO, starred in the advert. When the director, Max, was spending time with the groups ahead of filming, she was frustrated trying to find a job. Max actually helped her with an application for an events role and on shoot day, she got a call saying she got the job! Another of of the star’s arrives on set to perform for this year’s advert
A baby with a Co-op carrier bag joins in the fun filming behind the scenes in Manchester for the convenience store’s advert
Schoolboy star: Izzak, who plays trumpet, finishes the advert by cheekily stealing a pig in blankets sausage from a plate as the others are singing. The lad confessed to MailOnline: ‘I really like sausages. I think they are the best part of Christmas dinner!’
Singalong: The other stars in the eclectic mix were tough tackling men from Burnley Rugby Club, the Stockport Ukulele players, the Leeds Music Trust with Vocologee, Punjabi Roots bhangra troop and the Trevor Roots reggae band
Musical talent: Schoolgirl Isla (pictured) plays trombone with Wardle Academy Folk group and is one of the stars of the advert
Come together: The ad featured the ‘Silver Choir’ from Wigan and KYSO youth project – from Manchester’s tough Moss Side
The schoolboy, a local little hero who plays guitar and piano with Wardle Academy Folk group, is joined by schoolgirl Isla, plays trombone.
The action cuts between food and music as groups get together to sing Blur’s nineties classic.
The ‘Silver Choir’ from Wigan, who are an elderly group of singers approaching their later years to combat loneliness, came together with the KYSO youth project – based a world away in Manchester’s deprived Moss Side inner-city district.
Choir member Brenda Mayers, 78, told MailOnline: ‘I lost my husband last year, 18 months ago. My daughter came to see me one day and said, ‘mum you need to do something for you. Why don’t you come and join the choir?’.
‘I said oh no but she dragged me there. It was the best thing that could have happened to me because they are all so lovely. ‘I have not got over the death of my husband, but it has helped with the grieving process. I am so glad I joined.’
Next to Brenda is beat-box singer Olivia Lee, 18. She said: ‘I’ve been part of the group for about a year. I have had an amazing, unforgettable time being on the film set.
‘We’ve got on really well and everyone has treated us so nicely. There has been amazing energy, an amazing vibe. And they have even helped me fill out an application for a job. And I got it! I can’t believe I got it. I didn’t even think I would get an interview. So to get the actual job is crazy!’
Feeding frenzy: Food, as expected, is central to this year’s Co-op ad, as the party is in full swing, out comes the gateaux
Party guests also tuck into some mini sausages and smoked salmon between singing, laughing and enjoying company
The other stars in the eclectic mix were tough tackling men from Burnley Rugby Club, the Stockport Ukulele players, the Leeds Music Trust with Vocologee, Punjabi Roots bhangra troop and the Trevor Roots reggae band.
Together the chemistry is electric. But the star of the ad is the cheeky trumpet player Izzak. As the ad finishes his schoolboy fingers reach up from under the table to steal a sausage from the plate.
Izzak confessed: ‘I really like sausages. I think they are the best part of Christmas dinner!’
Director Max Fisher chipped in: ‘I tried to make the ad like a documentary – real and authentic. ‘I spent a lot of time, about two months, trying to get to know each group.
‘I put them together and there was genuine warmth and affection between them. I wanted to bring this real spirit of joy.
‘Since I got them together there have been some real friendships. Some of them are now connecting via Facebook.’
If this Co-op ad doesn’t get you in the mood for Christmas, nothing will!
Party time: Director Max Fisher told MailOnline: ‘I tried to make the ad like a documentary – real and authentic. ‘I spent a lot of time, about two months, trying to get to know each group’
Closeness: Max, the director added: ‘I put them together and there was genuine warmth and affection between them. I wanted to bring this real spirit of joy. ‘Since I got them together there have been some real friendships’