KEIRA KNIGHTLEY'S CHRISTMAS ROMCOM SEQUEL HAS VIEWERS IN TEARS, AND IT'S AN AD
Keira Knightley has done it again, and this time she has brought a wedding dress, a jilted hero and a beef Wellington along for the ride.
The British actor has returned for a sequel to last year's much-loved Waitrose Christmas advert, and fans are already calling it the festive romcom of the season.
The new mini film, called The Perfect Gift 2, was released in the UK on November 10.
It runs for a generous six minutes, which is two minutes longer than last year's instalment.
According to B&T, the supermarket says it is the longest advert ever produced by a UK supermarket.
Where Keira Knightley's love story left off
If you missed the original, here is a quick catch-up.
Last Christmas, comedian Joe Wilkinson played Phil, an ordinary bloke whose romance with Keira began, rather sweetly, at the cheese counter.
The short film was a surprise hit, with viewers sharing it widely and asking what happened next.
Waitrose clearly listened.
This year's story opens on Keira's wedding day, but there is a catch: she is about to marry the wrong man.
Her smooth groom, Hugo Bunty-Griffin, is played by actor Alex Hassell and seems far more interested in his own image than in his bride.
Irish entertainment site EVOKE noted that the character has more than a whiff of the dashing cad from the TV drama Rivals.
A beef Wellington to the rescue
Meanwhile, poor Phil is moping at home, convinced he has lost her for good.
His two loyal mates turn up with Waitrose bags and a plan, and that plan involves a beef Wellington.
In a nod to every classic romcom you have ever loved, Phil races to the wedding venue with his dish and a jar bearing a hopeful question: "Marry me instead?"
Security promptly escort him out before he gets an answer.
We won't spoil the ending entirely, but let's just say Keira, still in her wedding dress, has the last word.
Fans of Notting Hill will spot a speech that tips its hat to Julia Roberts' famous declaration of love in that film.
TV favourites Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary also pop up in a This Morning segment that reminds Phil the big day has arrived.
Keira Knightley admitted she had not seen the plot coming, telling B&T she wasn't expecting "to find myself caught between two men and a beef Wellington!"
Why viewers can't stop watching
The reaction online has been overwhelmingly warm.
Heart reported that the advert notched up more than 30,000 likes on Instagram within its first four hours.
Viewers described it as epic, admitted it made them cry, and said they had watched it several times over.
Some even declared it the best Christmas advert of the year, while others are already hoping for a third chapter in 2027.
The film was directed by Molly Manners, and the soundtrack features the eighties power ballad The Power of Love by Jennifer Rush, so you may want the tissues handy.
How to watch the Keira Knightley ad in Australia
Waitrose doesn't have stores in Australia, but you don't need to be a customer to enjoy the film.
Trailers and the full six-minute version have been released online, and the easiest place to find them is the Waitrose website or the supermarket's official social media pages.
A sweet reminder of what Christmas is really about
Part of the charm is how ordinary the hero is.
Phil isn't rich or famous, he is just a kind, slightly hopeless man who shows up with home cooking and a big heart.
And if the advert inspires you to try a beef Wellington this festive season, you won't be the only one.
It is a show-stopping centrepiece for Christmas lunch, though many Australian cooks prefer to serve it at a cooler evening gathering rather than on a scorching December afternoon.
Store-bought puff pastry is your friend here, and chilling the seared beef before wrapping helps keep the pastry crisp.
Keira Knightley's return is a lovely way to kick off the Christmas countdown.
Have you watched it yet?
