Yorkshire’s Youth Star In 2024 Christmas TV Ads

The battle of the Christmas TV ad is a fixture on the festive calendar, and for one acting agency based in Yorkshire, it’s proven to be a Christmas gift.

Articulate Agency has four of its young actors starring in a festive advert this year.

Myla Brown Maynard

Mia Tormey,

The ads are the NSPCC, Smyths Toys, O2’s and Vodafone.

Mia Tormey, from Sheffield, aged 8 makes her screen debut in the NSPCC Christmas advert.

Kate Luo, 10, from Bingley, features in Smyths Toys commercial, which she filmed in Prague. It’s her sixth acting credit.

Tommy Wilson-Bond Photo: Emily Goldie Photography

Kate Luo Photo: Emily Goldie Photography

Tommy Wilson-Bond, 20, currently studying at the University of Leeds, opens the O2 Christmas commercial, which was shot in London, and Myla Brown-Maynard, 5, from Leeds landed her first cast role for the phone network, Vodafone, which was also filmed in London.

Articulate Agency also has several of its young actors in a new Christmas ad filmed by Sam Teale Productions in Cleckheaton, who were behind the viral GoKart Christmas ad last year, which received global attention. Their ‘alternative John Lewis advert’ attracted 15 million views. This year, the production will focus on a widow who has recently lost her husband, with audiences being reminded on what’s important at Christmas. It’s released on November 29.

Based in Yorkshire, Articulate Agency is a preferred agency for major casting directors. It also runs a competitively priced drama school in locations across the county, helping to break down barriers for young local actors seeking to break into the industry.

Stacey Burrows, founder and director of Articulate Agency, said:
“The increased demand for child actors on TV has opened up incredible opportunities for young talent. Being based in local communities across Yorkshire, we’re incredibly proud to be nurturing raw talent, and creating transformative opportunities for children and teens from diverse backgrounds.”

Articulate Agency has built a reputation around Christmas adverts. Previous years, its talent has featured in Christmas ads for Iceland, Nintendo, Sports Direct, Asda, Lakeland, the Co-op and MacDonalds.

Rocco Haynes, 10, who recently was awarded a Yorkshire Young Achiever Award for his work in the arts, starred with his brother Austin, who is also represented by Articulate, in the Co-op Christmas ad in 2020, where the boys busked to Oasis’s Round Our Way. The commercial went on to win several awards, including Best Casting Featuring Children at the Casting Directors Association Awards 2021, at BAFTA.

Rocco went on to have parts in many TV shows and films, and is now set to feature in a film with an Oscar-winning director next year, due to be announced. His brother Austin has had multiple TV and film roles, including George Clooney’s Boys in the Boat.

Stacey said:
“Christmas ads have become a huge occasion for the nation, so to have so many of our young actors’ star in them each year is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s often a gateway too to bigger roles.”

Articulate Agency has a reputation for securing significant roles – particularly for children (4-15) and young adult (16-25) actors. Its clients feature in shows including Waterloo Road (BBC), The Dumping Ground (BBC), Ackley Bridge (Ch4), Biff & Chip (CBeebies) Peaky Blinders (BBC), Happy Valley (ITV), Emmerdale (ITV), Robin and the Hoods (Sky), and also has one of its young stars in Richard Curtis’s upcoming animation, That Christmas (Netflix)