Altrincham company plays starring role in acclaimed BBC Christmas advert

An Altrincham company has played in a starring role in the BBC’s acclaimed Christmas advert.

Puppet makers MacKinnon & Saunders, based on Seamons Road, made the characters in the animated ad.

Created by BBC in-house and produced by Blinkink, ‘The Supporting Act’ follows a 10-year-old girl as she tries to convince her dad to take an interest in her Christmas talent show and has been described by many as the festive ad of the year.

Watch the ad here:

The girl is shown practicing at the supermarket, in the kitchen and on the street in preparation for the most important dance performance of her life.

Her dad is always with her, but is busy with work and fails to notice until the moment that really matters when he helps his daughter remember her dance moves in a touching show of ‘oneness’.

MacKinnon & Saunders said it was “a bit stunned” by how its puppets had been realised in the finished film.

Also involved in the production of the film was Stockport-based Clockwork Frog Films, who designed and built the set.

MacKinnon & Saunders’ previous credits include Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, and Frankenweenie.