2022 was a year when the cost-of-living crisis hit people’s budgets hard. This meant many people were planning to spend less on Christmas gifts. They didn’t feel confident that Christmas would feel special and magical, so Boots wanted to inspire people by showing them the joy that beauty and wellness gifts can bring to everyday life. These gifts bring joy without having to be big expensive gifts - a spritz of perfume or a touch of lip gloss can be transformative for our mood and wellbeing. In particular, as a national retailer, we needed to offer something entertaining and uplifting, during a time of hardship, when the mood of the nation was down.

The casting process began as soon as our script was written. We wanted our hero character to be relatable to our audience; somebody they could see as a friend, daughter, or neighbour, while also having the ‘fame factor’. Lydia West very quickly became our top choice for the role, having recently featured in the acclaimed series ‘It’s A Sin’ she was both well known, but also someone you felt instantly drawn to; embodying the feeling of joy so naturally and easily. For our wider cast, we wanted to ensure they represented British culture and the diversity of British society. As one of Britain’s biggest brands, we needed everyone to see themselves when they watched our festive spot. After all, Boots really is for everyone.