Keira Knightley stars in first of its kind Christmas romcom short

Waitrose will today unveil The Perfect Gift; a first of its kind romantic comedy ‘short’ celebrating the supermarket’s 2025 festive offering. 

Created by Wonderhood Studios with media buying by MG OMD, the new festive campaign is led by a first-of-its-kind four minute film. Shaking up the structure of a traditional seasonal marketing campaign, the content is being released the same way you would a blockbuster festive romcom; repositioning Waitrose from ‘another supermarket brand’ to a ‘food entertainment brand’.

The film opens with Joe Wilkinson, who reprises his role of Phil, the lovable ‘everyman’ from the grocer’s 2024 ‘whodunnit’ festive campaign, in a pub with his friends. Phil is a widower whose late wife had said the only person he could ever move on with was his favourite film star ‘Keira Knightley’. Resigned to another Christmas alone, we see Phil at the Waitrose cheese counter, when a chance encounter turns meet-cute with none other than the woman of his dreams, over a shared love of Sussex Charmer Mature Cheddar. A metaphor for our male lead, who is based in Sussex and is a bit of a charmer. 

We jump to a montage of their romance blossoming in front of our eyes; before Phil unexpectedly sees a giftwrapped present for Keira Knightley, addressed from an unknown ‘Mark’. He fears he has a rival for her affections. 

Stuck for ideas of what gift he can buy to win her heart, he phones his mum for advice. Phil’s mum encourages him to cook for Keira Knightley, as “cooking for someone is love”. 

Phil sets to work, saying the ultimate ‘I love you’ by recreating Keira’s Nan’s pie recipe - which inspired the Waitrose No.1 Festive Turkey Pie - delivering the ultimate feel-good festive moment and highlighting that for food lovers, food is the greatest love language.

The mini movie highlights the importance and ease of “saying it with food”, amplifying the key role food plays in bringing people together, and communicating messages of love and care - because if you can't say it at Christmas, when can you, eh?  

Keira Knightley comments, “I love food, and so when I received this script where I get to fall head over heels in love over a shared love of cheese, I couldn't turn it down! I adored working on this silly, fun and delicious film with Joe and I hope those watching it fall in love too.”

Joe Wilkinson adds, “It was great to be back with Waitrose for their 2025 Christmas campaign. This year, Phil got to enjoy both the love and the food he truly deserved. As you can imagine, it was tough having to eat the delicious Waitrose food and falling in love with Keira, but I just got on with it, like the trooper I am!”

The partnership with Keira Knightley and Joe Wilkinson was orchestrated by Anne Batz and her team at Talent Republic.

The soundtrack, featuring ‘She’s a Star’ by British Indie rock band, James, amplifies the empowering and uplifting feelings of the campaign; and nods to Keira Knightley, playing herself, as one of Britain's biggest stars.

The festive short received the ultimate seal of approval, as romantic comedy royalty Richard Curtis, who counts Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones, Love Actually and About Time as just some of his writing and directing credits, has labelled it, “sweet as pie”. 

Nathan Ansell, Waitrose Chief Customer Officer, said: “When it comes to Christmas, delicious food and drink play a central role in bringing people together and helping us show affection.  This year, we welcomed British heroine, Keira Knightley, and Waitrose’ favourite, Joe Wilkinson, to help us show Food Lovers how to ‘say it with food’. 

“Our four minute Christmas film - an industry first - pays homage to the seasonal romantic comedy tradition, celebrates the exciting and elevated Waitrose festive food offering, and adds a little more of that warm, fuzzy feeling to the holiday season. It’s the perfect gift from Waitrose, to you.”

Directed by Molly Manners, who directed the popular Netflix romcom, One Day, the campaign pays homage to some of the UK’s much-loved romantic comedies, providing viewers with a sense of comfort, calm and magic. The film was produced by Biscuit Filmworks.

Molly Manners, director, adds: “What a privilege to be invited in by Waitrose and Wonderhood to tell this emotional rollercoaster of a love story. We had such a great time making this miniature romcom with food as a love language deep at its heart. The combination of Keira Knightley and Joe Wilkinson is completely magical in such an unexpected way, I hope they knock your socks clean off, as they did mine.”

The campaign was created by Wonderhood creative team, Jen Ashton and Oli Short. 

Jack Croft and Stacey Bird, Executive Creative Directors at Wonderhood Studios, said, “Working with a brand like Waitrose on our first Christmas campaign has been a genuine privilege and a true creative partnership from start to finish. 

From day one, we all rallied around a single, joyful idea, brought to life through every part of the customer journey, whether it's the epic movie style trailers and posters featuring our delightful duo, right through to the romcom inspired quotes on the customer service t-shirts worn on the shop floor. We simply could not be more excited to release this perfectly plotted romcom onto the British public.” 

The first-of-its-kind advertising ‘short’ will premiere on YouTube at 12.01am on 12th November. 

This will be supported by 60 and 30 second films running across TV stations, social and digital platforms. Designed as ‘movie trailers’ to generate excitement and intrigue around the main event, the trailers will run in programmes such as Coronation Street, Gogglebox and 1% Club. Paid media was planned and bought by MG OMD and encourages viewers to watch online to experience the full feel-good of The Perfect Gift. 

Adopting a blockbuster romantic comedy approach to the campaign rollout, stand out OOH executions feature the main protagonists in movie-style posters, riffing off the genre. 

Beyond the brand film, product films will be released where Waitrose food plays a starring role, supported by OOH, press, radio and digital display. Each one demonstrates how you can show your love and care to family and friends at Christmas, with products including:

• Waitrose No.1 Golden Mince Pies With Limoncello

• Waitrose Hickory Smoked Salmon

• Waitrose No.1 Free Range Turkey Bauble

• Waitrose Party Food 

  • Waitrose No1 King Prawn Toasts

  • Waitrose No.1 Party Polar Bao Buns 

  • Waitrose No.1 Wagyu Beef Mini Pie

• Waitrose No.1 Vintage Cheddar Bake with Turkey, Bacon and Sage

Further building on Waitrose’ mission to behave more like a food entertainment brand, Joe Wilkinson and Keira Knightley will feature in individual episodes of the Waitrose Dish Podcast shared on 12th November & 17th December respectively, and be interviewed by content creator Max Balegde in press junket-style content for social. The campaign will also be further supported on social with BTS edits and paid influencer support, as well as on radio, in store via POS and romcom inspired T-shirts for Partners, via paid media and through PR.

Creative & Media Credits:

Waitrose

Chief Customer Officer: Nathan Ansell

Head of Channels: Caroline Kinsmann

Advertising Lead: Joanne Massey

Senior Advertising Manager: Alia Ahmad

Advertising Manager: Vinay Patel

Interim Managing Director: Tina Mitchell 

Senior Campaign Manager: Laura Wallsworth

Campaign Manager: Kate Drake

Social Media Lead: Sarah Hood

Senior Social Media Manager: Emily Angliss

Social Media Manager: Chloe Ball

Creative Direction Lead: James Turner

Art Direction & Image Lead: James Davies

MG OMD

CEO: Natalie Bell
Managing Director: Kat Bozicevich
Chief Creative Officer: Tamara Cross

Client Executive Director: Gereldine Ridgeway

Client  Business Director: Jane Ridehalgh

Client Account Director: Megan Cupples

Media Creativity Director: Will Selwyn

Partnerships Business Director: Maddie Taylor Wilson

Partnerships Account Director: Polly Mason

Wonderhood Studios

Founder & CEO: Alex Best 

Founder & CCO: Aidan McClure

Managing Director: Sam Brown 

Head of Integrated Production: Natasha Johnson 

Executive Creative Director: Stacey Bird 

Executive Creative Director: Jack Croft 

Executive Strategy Director: Nick Exford

Senior Creative & Writer: Jennifer Ashton

Senior Creative & Writer: Oliver Short 

Creative - Product: Holly Nash 

Creative - Product: Alysha Radia

Lead Senior Producer: Nikki Holbrow

Senior Producer: Alice Konstam

Senior Producer: Stefanie Forbes

Producer - Product: Henry Davies

Assistant Producer: Anu Kogbodoku

Business Director: Tom Butler

Account Manager - Brand: Minna Griffiths

Account Manager - Product: Lizzie Coombes 

Account Executive: Pericles Brierley

Wonderhood Makers

Co-founder & EP: Jo Lumb

Co-founder & Managing Partner: Katie Hunter 

Senior Account Director: George Alleston 

Senior Account Manager: Rosie Hopley

Social Creative: Ella Banks

Producer: Jake Parker 

Editor: David Shepherd

Wonderhood Design 

Head of Design: Simon Elvins 

Design Director: Tommy Spitters

Senior Designer - Brand: Ayano Takase

Designer - Brand: Josephine Choy

Senior Designer - Product: Avi Bamra

Photography

Brand Photographer: Jason Bell

Product Photographer: Chris Bernabeo

Product Photographer: Matt Russell

Full Production Credits:

Production Company & Country: Biscuit Filmworks, UK

Director: Molly Manners

Producer: Peter Knowles

Founding Partner: Shawn Lacy

Managing Director: Rupert Reynolds-MacLean

Executive Producer: Hanna Bayatti

Head of Production: Emily Atterton

Production Manager: Ada Almeida
Production Assistant: Rabia Glynn

Production Assistant: Jess Glaus
Director of Photography: Benedict Spence

Production Designer: Fiona Crombie

Casting Director: Hanna Birkett

Socials Director: James Murray

Socials Producer: Tom Birmingham

Socials DOP: Ilya Maksymenko

Social 1st AD: Pete Ward

Socials Gaffer: George Purser

Socials Sound Recordist: Quillon Larratt

Socials Boom Op: Grace Robertson

Socials Props: Rosie Kidd

Costume Designer: Emma Rees

Keira Knightley:

Stylist: Leith Clark

Makeup: Georgina Graham

Makeup: Sam Coughlan

Hair Stylist: Luke Hersheson

Hero Casting: Talent Republic

CEO & Founder: Anne Batz

Head of Talent Production: Sophie Jacob-Melhuish

Senior Account Director: Disha B.B

Talent Production Assistant: Emily Curtis

Editing Company: Shift Post

Editor – Brand Film: Saam Hodivala

Editor – Product Films: Joanna Lewandowska

Editor - Social: Robert McGuire

Executive Producer: Kirsty Oldfield

Assistant Editor: Stanley Whitaker

Post Studio: Time Based Arts

Creative Director & VFX Supervisor: Sheldon Gardner

2D Lead: Miguel Wratten

2D Artists: Ria Shroff, Jasmine Cooper, Olivia O’Niel, Andre Bittencourt, Liam Doyle, Ollie Ramsey, Lucy Lawrence 

3D Artist: Ihor Obukhovskyi, Jake Thompson, Ashley West

DMP: Lee Matthews

Colourist: Simone Grattarola 

Senior VFX Producer: Matt Squires

Producer: Mia Saunders

Audio Post-Production: Runamok

Sound Designer Mix: Jon Clarke

Executive Producer: Lucy Spong

Executive Producer: Ornela Peka