It’s a Christmas cat-astrophe!
First appearing in Deborah Kerr’s delightful 1970 book, Mog the Forgetful Cat, and sticking around for a series of delightful books which culminated, at least until this Christmas with Goodbye Mog in 2002, Mog is one very adorably klutzy cat.
While she technically died in the final book in the series – a brave storytelling movie for a children’s book series where reality often plays second fiddle to heartwarming goofiness – she has sprung back to life with Kerr’s help for this year’s Sainsbury’s ad.
And what a delightful ad it is, with overtones of Paddington’s amusingly chaotic, blissfully-unaware approach to life, a heartwarming message about festive sharing – admittedly with a subtle call to action to get the food and accoutrements at Sainsbury’s but hey it is their ad and you have to get all the trappings of a perfect Christmas somewhere – and some brilliantly humorous slapstick scenes.
While UK department store John Lewis traditionally wins Christmas advertising every year with their iconic ads, there’s a good chance that accidentally heroic Mog, beloved saviour of the Thomas family’s Christmas may just get all the bon bons and presents this year.