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Waitrose's star-studded 'whodunnit' Christmas advert has launched, leaving viewers with a festive cliffhanger to mull over.
The 90-second film – entitled Sweet Suspicion, A Waitrose Mystery – features an absolutely stellar cast, including Matthew Macfadyen, aka Tom Wambsgans in Succession, comedian Joe Wilkinson from Afterlife, Rakhee Thakrar of Sex Education, Sian Clifford from Fleabag, Dustin Demri-Burns from Slow Horses and Eryl Maynard of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple.
In it you’ll see a family preparing Christmas dinner, only to make the shocking discovery that the show-stopping No.1 Waitrose Red Velvet Bauble Dessert has gone missing.
But who would be capable of such a crime?
Macfadyen turns amateur detective to uncover the culprit. Was it the disgruntled grandma, or perhaps the perfect hostess, Samira, who’s had enough of the holiday chaos? There are Easter eggs woven throughout, and we’re told clues will be dotted around stores, too.
You’ll have to wait until the end of November for the big reveal, but until then, our bet's on Fig the cat.
To get you in the mood for the festive season, throughout the film you’ll see snippets of the supermarket's delicious Christmas products, including the oozy Reuben Rarebit, crumbly Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac and a Glorious Treacle Glazed Turkey Crown. All of which have been sampled at the Good Housekeeping Institute as part of our Christmas taste test.
To help you shop the ad and make your big Christmas shop a little easier, we’ve collated all our top-scoring mains, sides, sweet treats and more, so you can simply select your delivery slot, add to basket, and wait for your GHI Taste Approved feast to arrive.
Best Christmas food to order from Waitrose
Waitrose Medium Free Range Bronze Whole Turkey with Giblets
Read review
When can I book a Waitrose Christmas delivery slot?
The delicious Waitrose Christmas range is available online through waitrose.com. You’ll need to spend a minimum of £40 in order to check out. Delivery charges vary depending on the day and time of your chosen slot, and the value of your order.
Christmas delivery slots are open for 2024 – you can book a slot now but, be warned, they go fast!
Waitrose opening hours 2024
If you’d rather head to a Waitrose shop, opening hours vary between 7am and 9.30am, and closing times vary from 8pm to 10pm on weekdays. To find your nearest store and its opening hours, simply use Waitrose's store finder tool.
How we test
Our consumer panel is constantly evaluating each grocer's product ranges, from mince pies to champagne. They assess aroma, taste and texture, with only the very best receiving the Good Housekeeping Institute stamp of approval.
Turkeys & main courses
Score: 89/100
A clear favourite with testers, our winning turkey was succulent and juicy, with a sweet and sticky treacle glaze, and nutty stuffing. Testers thought it would make the perfect centrepiece for the big day, saying they would definitely recommend it to family and friends.
Score: 86/100
With a well-crisped skin and deliciously rich, umami flavour, this leg of lamb makes a great centrepiece. Our testers rated both the taste and texture – the meat was perfectly tender after the recommended cooking time.
Score: 82/100
All of Waitrose’s turkeys are raised to higher-welfare standards, and this one – complete with giblets – is the ideal size for gatherings of around eight people. Our testers described it as “moreish” and found it achieved a unique roasted flavour, not dissimilar to barbecued meat.
Score: 78/100
Soft with big, meaty flakes, testers loved the flavour of this fillet of salmon – buttery with a hint of a hint sweetness. Grilled, pan-fried or oven-baked, this is also a great choice for salmon en papillote with roast cauliflower and peppery watercress, if you fancy something a little different over the festive period.
Score: 75/100
Waitrose has successfully elevated this year’s plant-based roast, with a flavoursome sage stuffing and rich red wine gravy. Any “fake meat” flavour has been pleasantly improved with notes of garlic, clove and thyme, and the texture was firm and juicy.
Available: 11th December 2024
Score: 72/100
This quality beef roasting joint is the ideal size for two, or for serving alongside the turkey when catering for larger groups. The festive honey and mustard butter adds a subtle warmth and sweetness we're confident your guests will love.
Serve with roast potatoes, and save some for your Boxing Day sandwiches.
Christmas brunch
Score: 76/100
With the light, buttery texture of a croissant and rich, complex Christmas spice flavour, these Scandi-style buns are quite unique and perfect for Christmas Day brunch. The vanilla-flecked, white chocolate is — quite literally — the icing on the cake.
Available: 6th November 2024
Score: 70/100
If you can’t tuck into a chocolatey breakfast on Christmas Day, when can you? The pre-made pancakes will also leave you with more time to prep for the main event — simply top with yoghurt and berries for a slightly more balanced start to the day.
Available: 13th November
Christmas starters
Score: 93/100
This decadent take on a prawn cocktail is packed with sweet, succulent prawns, crab meat, and generous chunks of lobster. The mayonnaise is flavourful and creamy, without overpowering the delicate fish. All that’s left to do is pile into kitsch cocktail glasses and top with lemon wedges. Very on-trend for Christmas 2024.
Available: 16th December 2024
Score: 80/100
These terrines are packed with quality pork, sweet apricots, and pistachios. The texture was deemed “spot on” by testers who thought they would be delicious paired with caramelised onion chutney and warm sourdough.
Available: 4th December 2024
Score: 76/100
This buttery soft smoked salmon is worth seeking out for your Christmas table. The flavour is as classic as they come, with robust smoke from the cherry, alder and birch wood, and a hint of natural sweetness on the finish.
Score: 73/100
Prefer your salmon on the stronger, smokier side? The powerful smoke in this flavoured fish is paired with bright orange zest and sweet whisky notes, while the texture is firm and moreish, making it perfect for a more complex canapé.
Available: 27th November 2024
Christmas sides
Score: 80/100
It’s clear from the get-go that these are quality sausages; despite the rich treacle note, the natural pork flavour remains prominent. They’re exceptionally well-seasoned, with black pepper and sage at the fore, and our testers loved the satisfying texture, too.
Available: 20th November 2024
Score: 77/100
These rustic parsnips have a homemade aroma and appearance (perfect if you’re trying to convince the in-laws everything was made from scratch). Sweet honey and a hint of mustard pair perfectly with the earthy root veg, though some felt they could have benefitted from a few more minutes in the oven for crispier edges.
Available: 27th November 2024
Score: 76/100
These downright indulgent dauphinoise potatoes are bound to be the talk of the table. Testers described the cream sauce as “perfect,” while the potatoes retained their bite, and the generous cheese created a golden, molten topping on cooking. Serve alongside beef wellington or salmon en croûte for a special New Year’s Eve supper.
Available: 27th November 2024
Score: 75/100
At £6 for 600g, these Waitrose potatoes are undeniably indulgent, but their rich, umami-forward flavour and crunchy golden edges justified the price tag, according to our testers. If you’re looking for special spuds to serve alongside your Christmas dinner, make it these.
Available: 27th November 2024
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
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