Kevin the Carrot stars alongside Ebanana Scrooge in Aldi Christmas campaign

After conspicuously leaving Kevin the Carrot out of its Christmas teaser this weekend and causing much speculation over his fate, Aldi has released its full length festive ad in which the brand mascot returns for his sixth year.

Created by McCann UK, the ad plays on the classic Charles Dickens’ story A Christmas Carol. Ebanana Scrooge, a new character for the supermarket, is confronted by the Christmas ghost of Kevin for his humbug attitude and taken on a winter flight to remind him of the joys of the season.

After showcasing a Christmas dinner full of food, the tale ends with the moral: “For you to be happy, you need to be kind”.

The animated spot introduces a number of new fruit and vegetable characters, including Marcus Radishford, voiced by England striker Marcus Rashford. Viewers also meet Tiny Tom, Peas and Goodwill, and Kevin’s Dickensian family.

“Every year the anticipation for our most famous brand asset builds and this year Kevin gets to help a new character, Ebanana Scrooge, discover the true meaning of Christmas,” says Aldi marketing director Sean McGinty.

“It wouldn’t be the festive season without Kevin the Carrot on our TV screens and we’re thrilled to be bringing him back for the sixth year for his many fans, in what we think is his best Yuletide performance yet. We hope our campaign will remind everyone of the true meaning of Christmas.”

‘A Christmas Carrot’ airs on television today (11 November) at 7.15pm during Emmerdale on ITV. The ad forms part of a wider seasonal campaign which will see 1.8 million meals donated to families in need of help across the UK over the festive period.

McGinty adds: “Christmas is a time for hope and we’re privileged to be working with Marcus [Rashford], who is one of the most inspirational young people in the UK, having done so much in the past 18 months to help provide free school meals for children.”