Will Ferrell returns as Buddy the Elf in stunning new Christmas advert

And that's why elves go to Asda

Buddy, played by Will Ferrell, is the star of this year's Christmas advert from supermarket Asda. The 90-second ad uses original footage and iconic lines from the 2003 movie Elf, with Buddy appearing as the newest member of Asda's Christmas team. Already available to watch on YouTube, the ad will have its TV premiere tonight (Friday, November 4) at 8.45pm on ITV during the Coronation Street ad break. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnW1TWqAXYs Set to the classic 'Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town', we follow Buddy as he arrives at Asda for his trial shift where he explores the supermarket, taking in the mince pies on display, eating the maple pigs in blankets samples and commandeering the store tannoy system so he can sing. Speaking about the advert, Sam Dickson, Acting Chief Customer Officer at Asda said: "Like Buddy, we absolutely love Christmas – so we’re thrilled to welcome him to our team. "We know this has been a tough year for so many people, which is why we want to create some little moments of joy for families this year with our Christmas campaign, and more importantly, our amazing products. [caption id="attachment_366085" align="alignnone" width="1332"] And that's why elves go to Asda (Picture: YouTube/Asda)[/caption] "We hope that with a little bit of help from Buddy, our joy-filled Christmas offering will create some festive magic and helps give families a Christmas to remember together." Last year, Elf won a YouGov poll to find the UK's favourite Christmas movie, but the festive film almost didn't happen. Elf was first released 2003. It quickly became a Christmas classic, as film fans fell in love with Will Ferrell as Buddy, the human raised at the North Pole who think's he is one of Santa's elves. In 2010, it was spun off into a Broadway musical, with Sebastian Arcelus taking the role of Buddy. The stage show would later transfer to the West End in 2015, with Girls Aloud's Kimberly Walsh in the cast. That musical would also be adapted into a 2014 stop-motion animated special for NBC entitled Buddy's Musical Christmas, with Jim Parsons, Mark Hamill and Kate Micucci all providing voices. But it is the original movie that remains the true festive staple. Every year families settle down for their traditional watch of the film, with phrases like"You sit on a throne of lies," and "Santa! I know him!" becoming part of the Christmas lexicon. Now we have it in the form of a festive ad! Related links

• Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel sing 'Baby It’s Cold Outside' together at Elf reunion
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