We’ve had the tear-jerking tales of Monty the penguin, a bear and a hare and a man on the moon, but this year John Lewis is pinning its hopes for a bumper Christmas on Buster the boxer, a comedy bouncing dog.

Buster is the star turn in the department store’s festive ad campaign, which has become a much anticipated annual media moment in recent years.

The dog’s buddies in the advert, which cost £1m to make in a west London studio, include two foxes, a badger and a hedgehog. The department store will spend a total of £6m on the campaign.