Viewers claim viral Yorkshire Christmas advert is 'better than John Lewis'

Sam Teale’s heart-wrenching short film, called The Go Kart, about a struggling single father who is trying to make Christmas special for his son, has been watched more than 10m times on Facebook.

Some viewers claim the production, which was shot over two days in locations around Kirklees with a £4,000 budget, rivals Christmas adverts made by the likes of John Lewis and Sainsbury’s.

Mr Teale, who owns Sam Teale Productions, said he was inspired to make the film after hearing about a little boy who said he was not getting anything for Christmas because “Santa was ill”.

The 20-year-old from Cleckheaton believes it resonates with people around the world who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and those who find it difficult to celebrate the festive season because they have recently lost loved ones.

“The viewing figures are incredible,” he said. “We never ever expected this. We had a little target of getting over 100,000 views.

“We’ve taken all the commercialism out of Christmas and we’re just focusing on people.

“In the last scene, it says the magic of Christmas is made not bought. For me that sums it all up – Christmas is more of a feeling.

“Christmas trees are nice and the dinners are nice, but Christmas is really about being with the people that you love.”

The film was made by a four-person crew and stars four actors, including six-year-old Ashton Saunders. It was shot over two days in November, in locations in Norristhorpe, Mirfield and Brighouse.