Off Message: 'We’ve had enough of misery Christmas ads playing with our emotions'

It’s time to bring back robins and elves - and just keep it Christmassy

Lidl’s latest festive ad features an old man whose family surprises him at Christmas

The animated ad shows the usual Christmassy things – a decorated tree, a cosy home, a little girl, a snowy landscape.One thing is missing, though: Santa Claus. The little girl’s dad tells her that Santa Claus used to deliver presents, but then he started getting confused and mixing them up. He seemed “sad, distant and afraid”. And then he stopped coming to deliver gifts altogether.

The little girl is sad at this news, ...