Christmas isn’t always a perfect winter wonderland. A new campaign from Matalan pokes fun at the messy, imperfect chaos of the festive season to reassure customers that the retailer has their backs.

The campaign, created by McCann, builds on Matalan’s new ‘We Get It, We’ve Got You’ brand platform designed to demonstrate the retailer's in-depth understanding of its customers.

While the festive season is often depicted as picture-perfect, Matalan pays homage to its customers, the everyday heroes who still find joy in the real, messy moments.

The campaign opens much like any other Christmas spot. The Melling family arrive at a holiday party decked out in their finest Christmas get-up, ‘strutting’ into the party with ease. They see grandparents bonding with children over gifts and next-door neighbours ‘getting merry. The spot holds on Matalan’s Christmas fashion from £9 and gifts from £4, showcasing the value and quality of the range.

Things soon take a more realistic turn when the voice-over asks: ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right?’ and the Melling’s turn to the camera with grimaces on their faces. Humorous, relatable, less-than-perfect Christmas scenarios begin to unfold from board game tantrums to falling baubles, unexpected deliveries to greedy advent eaters. An array of flashing scenes tell the story of the other side of Christmas before audiences return to the Melling’s back at the party enjoying the fun despite the chaos. The spot ends with the voice-over: ‘We get it, we’ve got you’, pointing to the affordable quality and style at Matalan.

Imogen Tazzyman, Executive Creative Director at McCann Manchester, explains: “We’re obsessed with Christmas in our house. As Diane Morgan puts it, “It’s the most wonderful time of year... Right?” But as most families know, it can feel like a bit of a mission.”

She continued: “Capturing those two sides of the same (chocolate) coin was so important to us - and we’re thrilled with the result. All the gorgeous festive chaos, wrapped up in a shiny bow. After all, glitter is for life, not just for Christmas.”

The campaign launched during ITV’s Emmerdale and Married at First Sight  (MAFS), and will run through to December, across ITV, C4, Sky and Digital TV channels. Media buying was handled by Havas Media Network, Manchester.

With humour the campaign showcases the multitude of moments that make up Christmas and in doing so Matalan releases its customers of the pressure to be perfect.