The John Lewis Christmas ad captures the deep need for grandmothers

By Helen Minnis, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Glasgow

Like many of us, I always enjoy the John Lewis Christmas advert and 2026 is no different. This year, I love the fact that the star of the show is a grandmother.

Feeling disconnected from her visiting grandchildren and ready to resort to cash in envelopes for Christmas, Gloria (Kristin Scott Thomas) is scolded by her childhood toy dog Pickles, who comes to life and whisks her on a whirlwind London TukTuk ride. Inspired, Gloria transforms her home office into a glittering, disco-lit “gran cave”, bridging the…

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