Long-suffering lecturer named John Lewis who is bombarded with tweets meant for the department store EVERY Christmas gets his OWN festive advert poking fun at his plight

  • Following the release of John Lewis Christmas ad viewers tweet the store  
  • Many of the tweets are mistakenly sent to lecturer John Lewis in Virginia 
  • This year Twitter has given Mr Lewis his very own festive campaign  

Last week saw the launch of the much anticipated John Lewis advert which prompted plenty of Brits to take to Twitter to share their reaction.  

However, thousands of these Tweets mistakenly mention @JohnLewis, a computer-science lecturer at Virginia Tech University who snapped up the Twitter handle in 2007. Last year alone, John received 50,000 Tweets.

John's tongue-in-cheek and quick-witted responses to the mistaken identity has made him a cult hero in the UK, amassing over an incredible 41,200 followers.

Every year following the launch of the John Lewis Christmas advert a lecturer of the same name who lives in Virginia receives thousands of tweets intended for the store

Every year following the launch of the John Lewis Christmas advert a lecturer of the same name who lives in Virginia receives thousands of tweets intended for the store

To celebrate John's story, Twitter UK has made him the star of his very own Christmas campaign, shot on location at his home in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Featuring in his own film is a far cry from John's life in America, where he lives with his wife and four children. 

John Lewis said: 'I think it's hilarious that people mistake me for the UK store and I do my best to direct them to the right place. 

'I see a massive spike in Tweets at this time of year and I always watch the John Lewis advert, especially as it becomes a huge part of my Twitter conversation. 

'I find it absolutely fascinating that Twitter UK has chosen me to star in their Christmas film. 

Now 'the real' John Lewis has starred in his very own festive campaign for Twitter 

Now 'the real' John Lewis has starred in his very own festive campaign for Twitter 

John says that he receives a 'massive spike' in tweets around the festive season and tries assist those who tweet him

John says that he receives a 'massive spike' in tweets around the festive season and tries assist those who tweet him

'Hopefully people will be kind about my acting skills, I am no Elton John but who knows maybe I'll get Tweets about my own film this year.'

The playful video focuses on John's annual festive ritual, where he responds to wayward Tweets, whether its praise for the latest ad or simply routine customer enquiries.

The film pays homage to the tradition of the John Lewis Christmas advert with familiar nods to previous years for fans to spot, featuring the telescope, a miniature moon ornament, Monty the Penguin and Buster the Boxer.

His witty replies have now earned John more than 42,000 followers on Twitter 

His witty replies have now earned John more than 42,000 followers on Twitter 

The soundtrack revamps the classic 'In the Bleak Midwinter' as the satirical yet sentimental background accompaniment to the film.

David Wilding, Director of Planning at Twitter UK said: 'Twitter is full of amazing stories and @JohnLewis is one of our favourites. 

'His open, honest and funny responses really capture the spirit of Twitter at Christmas and we wanted to createthis film tell his story. Twitter is a platform that allows anyone to join the conversation, even if it's by mistake.'

#NotARetailStore can be viewed at twitter.com/TwitterUK.