The Beginner
YouTube loads only when you choose to watch.
The story
Why it stays with you
A middle-aged man keeps practising on a skateboard, falling off and getting back on, and the reason only becomes clear when a teenager arrives to live with his family through foster care.
It was tied to the brand's Building Happier Futures programme. The comedy of the falls carries most of it until the last few seconds.
Touches on foster care. Linked to the brand's Building Happier Futures programme.
First shown 10 November 2022. Video availability may change.
The song behind the story
All the Small Things
Performed by Postmodern Jukebox featuring Puddles Pity Party (2017).
Cover of Blink-182
External music services. Account or subscription requirements may apply.
Behind the advert
Agency
adam&eveDDB
Director
Steve Rogers
Production company
Biscuit Filmworks UK
Credits & sources
- Brand
- John Lewis & Partners
- Year
- 2022
- Cut
- Full film
- Running time
- 1 min 30
- Shown
- Online and television
- Territory
- UK
- First shown
- 10 November 2022
- Agency
- adam&eveDDB
- Director
- Steve Rogers
- Production company
- Biscuit Filmworks UK
- John Lewis, official YouTube upload (opens in a new tab) · checked 27 September 2026
- Marketing Week, launch coverage (November 2022) (opens in a new tab) · checked 27 September 2026
- shots Awards, The Beginner (opens in a new tab) · checked 27 September 2026
- shots, The Beginner credits (opens in a new tab) · checked 27 September 2026
- LBB, launch coverage (opens in a new tab) · checked 27 September 2026
- Spotify, the track linked from the official upload (opens in a new tab) · checked 28 September 2026
Record updated 28 September 2026.