John Lewis Christmas ad snaps back on track with a Venus flytrap

Retailer reboots ‘child-makes-unusual-friend’ formula but drops the usual pop cover – bringing in tenor Andrea Bocelli instead

John Lewis has turned to a cheeky carnivorous plant – and an operatic superstar – for its Christmas advertising campaign.

After last year’s low-key charity-linked clip featuring a skateboarding foster dad, the department store chain has returned to its tried and tested formula of a heartwarming story featuring a child and an unusual friend – with a twist from some catchy Italian rock opera sung by the tenor Andrea Bocelli.