BBC One launches its Christmas film for 2019, #XmasLife, running throughout the Christmas period in key junctions between programmes.

Produced by BBC Creative, the short film depicts leaving behind the trials and daily stresses of 2019, instead reminding audiences of that joyful Christmas feeling and to live our #XmasLife, which is finally here.

This Christmas, BBC One will remain the home of the biggest programmes that family and friends can enjoy together including Gavin & Stacey, Strictly Come Dancing, Call The Midwife, Mrs Brown’s Boys, EastEnders, Doctor Who, Dracula, A Christmas Carol, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, The Snail And The Whale, The Trial Of Christine Keeler and many more.

The fast paced, light hearted and feel good film - which includes cameos from BBC favourites Graham Norton and Rochelle Humes - shows families and friends living their best #XmasLife. Whether it’s staying in their PJs all day or spending quality time with the family, it illustrates that Christmas is a time to kick back, with BBC One at the heart of festive living rooms up and down the UK.

In addition to the film, the BBC has teamed up with animators and illustrators including Alex Grigg (MTV EMA 2019) and Teddy Hall (Ducktales, Pink Panther) to create a selection of joyous idents to carry us all through Christmas with a smile.

Chris Hooper, Head of Marketing says: “Christmas is a time when we come together through the shared treats and rituals of the season to take care of ourselves. BBC One has a special role in helping to bring people together and, understanding that poignant festive brand films are a territory that feels well-explored, we wanted to demonstrate this in way that was relatable and fun.”

The film has been created for BBC One by BBC Creative, the BBC’s in-house creative agency, working with Director Ernest Desumbila and his team from Iconoclast. BBC Creatives were Rachel Miles and Michael Tsim working in to Executive Creative Director Helen Rhodes and Director of BBC Creative, Justin Bairamian.

Helen Rhodes, Executive Creative Director, BBC Creative says: “Christmas doesn’t officially start until BBC One release their Christmas campaign, so we hope we’ve done the nation proud with a film that shakes off the shackles of 2019 and embraces our favourite time of the year. If showing a yoga-clad woman destroying avocados with a giant gingerbread, and a Maine Coon breed of cat riding on top of a Roomba, is wrong then I don’t want to be right.”

The music for the film is a recording and reimagining of Gorillaz beloved Feel Good Inc. with a rock choir.

The film is available from today on BBC iPlayer and the BBC’s social media channels and will be televised tonight for the first time after Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One.

BBC Press Office

Credits

BBC Creative
Justin Bairamian, Director of BBC Creative
Helen Rhodes, Executive Creative Director
Michael Tsim, Creative
Rachel Miles, Creative
James Wood, Head of Production
Liz Dolan, Producer
Dan Robinson, Production Manager
Georgie Williams, Production Co-ordinator
John Trevor, Project Manager
Michael Lean, Head of Planning
Jenny Double, Senior Planner
Ashley Temple, Creative Director, Digital & Innovation
Laurence Honderick, Head of Design
Luke Carpenter, Design
Will Jarvis, Design
Janina Petrylaite, Design
Molly Davies, Design
Craig Dolan, Design
Andrea Stragapede, Design
Pedro Ramos, Design
George Fletcher, Design
Imroz Brar, Design
Peter Baynton, Design
James Nolan, Design
Alex Griggs, Design
Ed Linfoot, Design
Jamie Jones, Design
Paul Ruska, Design
Alex Dray, Design
Carlos Faria, Design
Teddy Hall, Design
Josceline Fention, Design
Kevin O’shea, Design

BBC Marketing & Audiences
Kerris Bright, Chief Customer Officer
Sarah Fuller, Director, Marketing & Audiences
Chris Hooper, Head of Marketing
Rhion Leadbitter, Marketing Manager
Alice Gleeson, Marketing Executive
Jemima Lobb, New Talent Apprentice
Richard Lally, Social Media Manager
Andrea Taylor, Media Portfolio Lead
Toni Gregory, Media Scheduler
Oscar Evans, Assistant Media Scheduler

Production Company: Iconoclast
Ernest Desumblia, Director
Anna Smith Tenser & Guy Rolfe, Executive Producers
Jane Lloyd, Producer
Benji Edwards, 1st Assistant Director
Ben Todd, Director Of Photography
Buki Ebiesuwa, Costume Designer
Zoe Koperski, Production Designer
Hannah Birkett, Casting Director

Post Production: Savage
Daniela Borges, Post Producer

Music: Native Music (Dan Neal)
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc., Original Song
Some Voices, Choir