Sainsbury’s Xmas advert – heartwarming tale of how Santa started out as chimney sweep accused of stealing a Clementine

SAINSBURY’S heartwarming Christmas advert tells a story of how Santa started out as a chimney sweep who was accused of stealing a clementine.

The retailer is marking 150 years in the business and so has set it’s festive ad outside the first Sainsbury’s store in Drury Lane in 1869.

Nick the chimney sweep is accused of stealing a clementine from the first ever Sainsbury's store — Nick the chimney sweep is accused of stealing a clementine from the first ever Sainsbury’s storeCredit: Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s says that the tale is a “totally true story” but in reality “Nicholas” has been created in the spirit of Christmas and there’s no real evidence of the retailer’s founders ever having saved a child in this way.

Even so, Nick the chimney sweep certainly pulls at the heartstrings when he’s accused of stealing a clementine in Victorian England.

The tale has real Oliver Twist vibes – Nick, played by Chris Dunkley, is an orphan and forced to work alongside other parent-less children for an evil workmaster.

It all goes even more pear shaped for Nick after he’s accused of stealing a clementine from the Sainsbury’s grocery cart and dragged through the streets in a cage.

Authorities accuse Nick of being a thief but he's been set up by the evil workmaster — Authorities accuse Nick of being a thief but he’s been set up by the evil workmaster

Nick is "caught" by the authorities in a Dickensian ear where the punishments were harsh — Nick is “caught” by the authorities in a Dickensian ear where the punishments were harshCredit: Sainsbury’s

Luckily for Nick, Mrs Sainsbury's saw the whole even and realised that he was framed — Luckily for Nick, Mrs Sainsbury’s saw the whole even and realised that he was framedCredit: Sainsbury’s

He’s subsequently banished from the city, abandoned in the snow and cold.

Fortunately for Nick, Mary Ann Sainsbury’s witnessed the whole thing, realising that the boy was set up by his workmaster.

Rescuing Nick from his nightmares, Mary Ann gives him is own sack of clementines, squashing the boy’s protests about lack of payment by saying: “If you can’t do something special for someone at Christmas, then when can you?”

Before he leaves, Nick says there’s something that he has to do and he secretly – and magically – drops a fruit into the socks of his chimney sweep friends.

Nick puts on his red coat and hat before walking towards reindeer and his sleigh.

Nick is paraded through the streets in a cage while the city decides how to punish himCredit: Sainsbury’s

Mrs Sainsbury's rescues the boy from his nightmares and gives him a bag of clementines — Mrs Sainsbury’s rescues the boy from his nightmares and gives him a bag of clementinesCredit: Sainsbury’s

Nick puts on his red coat and bobble hat before walking out into the snowy distanceCredit: Sainsbury’s

The ad is directed by award winning Ninian Doff, who has also directed a handful of commercials for brands such as Hula Hoops, 02 and GiffGaff.

Sainsbury’s is planning on running a number of promotions on clementines in the build up to Christmas.

Previous campaigns included the adorable Mog the Cat and James Corden singing a s ong about Dave, a devoted dad who struggled to find the time to get everything done – especially at Christmas.

Its 2014 ad that recreated one of World War One’s most poignant moments – a truce between British and German soldiers to play a game of football – to mark the 100th anniversary.