M&S adds punch to its Christmas campaign with Amandaland star weeks after celebrity-studded fashion show

Party frocks and seasonal treats such as Snow Much Fun pudding will take centre stage when Marks & Spencer unveils plans this week to add sparkle to its Christmas.

The FTSE 100 store has recruited Lucy Punch, star of the sitcom Amandaland, as the face of its Christmas advertising campaign.

There may also be an appearance by fellow actress Gillian Anderson, who fronted Marks & Spencer’s successful ‘Love That’ fashion campaign.

The update will come as M&S delivers its half-year results on Wednesday with 21 shopping days to go until Christmas.

Trading in the six months to September, when temperatures soared, drove demand for skimpier outfits and salads.

Thanks to lighter dishes and a growing number of customers doing their full weekly shop at its stores, M&S was named Britain’s fastest-growing grocer.

Kate Calvert, head of retail and consumer research at Investec bank, forecast pre-tax profits of £397million, more than double the previous year’s £184million, although last year M&S was reeling from a serious cyber-attack that forced the suspension of its online and click-and-collect orders.

In charge: Stuart Machin, chief executive of M&S, has ambitious plans for the business

Calvert expects a 12.5 per cent increase in food sales to £252million and a 20 per cent jump in food, home and beauty sales to £197 million.

M&S chief executive Stuart Machin has emphasised the focus on food, home and beauty, saying ‘the hard yards start here’. 

In September, M&S launched its first catwalk show at London Fashion Week, with half the collection from the fashion show costs under £50. 

Models at the fashion show included Lara Stone, Jodie Kidd and Erin O'Connor, while guests such as Dame Joan Collins, Jessie Ware, David Gandy, Katherine Jenkins, Jamie Redknapp and Kelly Hoppen watched on from the front row. 

M&S began selling ready-made petticoats, pullovers and underwear in 1926, and paved the way to make everyday fashion affordable to the British public on the High Street. 

Christmas cheer: M&S has recruited Lucy Punch, star of the sitcom Amandaland, as the face of its Christmas advertising campaign

Fashion show: Kemi Badenoch and Dame Joan Collins at the M&S fashion show in September

Machin said: 'We started selling fashion 100 years ago with our first products being everyday essentials – from poplin jumpers and pleated dresses to socks and sleepwear.

'We added more categories and more fashion and M&S became known for bringing style to the High Street – always with brilliant quality and value.

'Our transformation is building the business we want to be tomorrow, but it starts with our heritage. "Protect the magic, modernise the rest" means protecting what has made M&S special for 100 years and putting fantastic products at the heart of everything we do.

'Our first London Fashion Week collection is designed around that DNA; fashion that is stylish but wearable, made with outstanding quality and always value for money.'

John Lyttle, managing director of fashion, home and beauty at M&S, said in September: 'The show reflects the progress we have made, but it is not an end point.

'There is much more to do as we continue to invest in our stores, modernise our supply chain and strengthen our data and digital capability.'

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