TV Commercial Review
Memorable
Effective
Style
Heart or Humor
Execution
Good
O2’s Christmas advert features ten-year-old Darcy Murdoch tentatively taking to the ice rink alone, in an epic winter landscape. Darcy, a young professional ice skater from Dundee, is just one of millions of young people unable to participate in the sport they love this year due to lockdown.
As Darcy begins to take her first steps on the ice, help is at hand in the form of Bubl the robot, O2’s brand mascot – highlighting that O2 is always there for you, whenever you need it. A heart-warming story unfolds, with Bubl and Darcy gliding around on the ice, supporting each other and getting lost in the magical scene.
The dream fades to reveal Darcy at home with her real-life sister Lexi, and their Mums. Darcy was watching Olaf’s Frozen Adventure on Disney+ via her new tablet, and had gone into a world of her own imagination with the Disney Christmas featurette.
The campaign was inspired by O2’s long standing partnership with the NSPCC, and the work to keep children safe online and when using tech, particularly important at a time when technology will keep us connected to those we can’t be with over Christmas.
Behind the scenes, Darcy has talked about the challenges of training during the lockdown, as ice rinks across the country have been closed. A competitive ice skater since she was five years old, Darcy was treated to an entirely new ice rink built for the shoot by O2 and VCCP in a secret location filmed in the UK.
Nina Bibby, Chief Marketing Officer at O2, said: “Our story brings to life the power of imagination, and the importance of connectivity at a time when we might be apart from the people and things we love. At O2, we place importance on the great value we bring to our customers, with unbeatable offers on technology and low monthly prices. We also want to celebrate our great offers, including up to 12 months Disney+ on us. And we wanted to bring some Christmas magic to screens this year, and Darcy is a true star. It’s magical to see her doing the sport she loves alongside our helpful robot Bubl.’
