The two women in the Tesco Christmas advert 2026 are Roisin Conaty and Anna Maxwell Martin. Conaty plays Polly, the Tesco delivery driver, while Maxwell Martin plays Lizzy, her former school friend whose Christmas food shopping has been delivered to the wrong address.
If you recognise the delivery driver from After Life, you are right. Roisin Conaty played Roxy in the Netflix series. Meanwhile, Anna Maxwell Martin is best known for playing Julia in Motherland and Patricia Carmichael in Line of Duty.
The actresses star in Tesco’s three-minute Christmas film, The Wrong Address, released on 1 November 2026. It tells the story of two former friends who unexpectedly reconnect after a Christmas grocery delivery goes wrong.
By Will Corry, Publisher, The Marketing Blog
Published and last reviewed: 5 November 2026
Who Are the Women in the Tesco Christmas Advert 2026?
Roisin Conaty and Anna Maxwell Martin are the two lead actresses in Tesco’s 2026 Christmas advert, The Wrong Address. Conaty is the woman driving the Tesco delivery van, while Maxwell Martin is the customer trying to rescue her Christmas groceries. Both are established British television actresses with extensive comedy and drama credits.
| Actress | Who she plays | Television programmes you may recognise her from |
|---|---|---|
| Roisin Conaty | Polly — the Tesco delivery driver | After Life, GameFace, Man Down, Death Valley |
| Anna Maxwell Martin | Lizzy — the customer and former school friend | Motherland, Line of Duty, Ludwig, Bleak House |
The advert features the actresses as fictional characters, rather than as celebrities playing themselves.
For viewers trying to identify a particular woman, the easiest distinction is their roles.
The woman wearing the Tesco delivery uniform is Roisin Conaty. The woman whose groceries have gone to the wrong address is Anna Maxwell Martin.
Who Is Roisin Conaty, the Woman Driving the Tesco Van?
Roisin Conaty is the actress playing Polly, the delivery driver in the Tesco Christmas advert 2026. She is a British comedian, actress and writer, best known for After Life, GameFace and Man Down. She also appeared in the BBC comedy-drama Death Valley.
Conaty is particularly recognisable to viewers of Ricky Gervais’s Netflix series After Life.
She played Roxy, a sex worker who becomes friends with Tony, the grieving newspaper journalist played by Gervais.
Although After Life frequently explores loss and loneliness, Conaty’s character brings warmth and humour to several scenes.
Her performance helped establish her with viewers who may not previously have followed her stand-up comedy career.
What else has Roisin Conaty appeared in?
Conaty created, wrote and starred in GameFace, a Channel 4 comedy about Marcella, a struggling actress whose personal and professional life rarely goes according to plan.
The programme ran for two series and established Conaty as a performer capable of combining awkward comedy with more emotional moments.
She also appeared in Man Down, playing Jo opposite Greg Davies.
More recently, she played Karen Hughes in the BBC series Death Valley, which combines comedy with a murder-mystery storyline.
Her television career includes:
- After Life: Roxy, a friend of Tony.
- GameFace: Marcella, the central character in the comedy she created.
- Man Down: Jo, one of Dan’s friends.
- Death Valley: Karen Hughes.
What role does Roisin Conaty play in the Tesco advert?
Conaty plays Polly, a delivery driver who recognises the name on a Christmas grocery order.
The customer turns out to be Lizzy, somebody she knew at school but has not seen for years.
When Polly discovers that Lizzy has sent her order to the wrong address, she offers to help get the food to its intended destination.
Her generosity leads to an unexpected road trip and the restoration of their friendship.
Polly is a fictional Tesco employee. The actress is not presented as a real delivery driver or a spokesperson explaining the company’s delivery procedures.
Who Is Anna Maxwell Martin, the Other Woman in the Tesco Advert?
Anna Maxwell Martin plays Lizzy, the customer in Tesco’s Christmas advert 2026. The British actress is best known for her television roles in Motherland, Line of Duty, Ludwig and Bleak House. She has twice won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Actress.
Viewers who recognise her from Motherland will probably associate her with Julia, the frequently overwhelmed mother at the centre of the BBC comedy.
Julia is constantly attempting to balance family responsibilities with work, childcare and everyday problems.
That makes her Tesco character particularly familiar.
Lizzy is trying to organise Christmas for her family when she discovers that her groceries have been delivered hundreds of miles away.
For anyone who remembers Julia struggling to keep her family life under control, the situation feels like something that could have happened in Motherland.
Was Anna Maxwell Martin in Line of Duty?
Yes. Anna Maxwell Martin played Detective Chief Superintendent Patricia Carmichael in the BBC police drama Line of Duty.
Carmichael is a senior police officer known for her controlled manner, sharp questioning and intimidating presence.
It is a very different performance from her comedy work.
Maxwell Martin also starred in the BBC adaptation of Bleak House, playing Esther Summerson. Her performance earned her a BAFTA Television Award in 2006.
She won another BAFTA for Poppy Shakespeare in 2009.
Her other notable television appearances include Ludwig, the BBC detective comedy-drama starring David Mitchell.
Why might you recognise Anna Maxwell Martin?
Depending on which programmes you watch, you may know her as:
- Julia in Motherland: A working mother struggling with the demands of family life.
- Patricia Carmichael in Line of Duty: A senior police officer with an intimidating interviewing style.
- Esther Summerson in Bleak House: The central character in the BBC’s Dickens adaptation.
- Lucy Betts-Taylor in Ludwig: A leading character in the BBC mystery series.
In the Tesco commercial, Maxwell Martin plays a woman who must deal with an embarrassing Christmas mistake while confronting an unexpected reminder of her past.
Her character’s relationship with Polly becomes the emotional focus of the film.
Are the Two Women in the Tesco Christmas Advert Friends in Real Life?
Roisin Conaty and Anna Maxwell Martin play former school friends in Tesco’s The Wrong Address. Their characters, Polly and Lizzy, have lost contact over the years before an incorrect grocery delivery brings them together. The storyline does not establish that the two actresses have the same relationship outside the commercial.
Tesco’s official announcement focuses on their on-screen friendship and the message behind the film.
Both actresses have spoken positively about the story’s emphasis on kindness and reconnecting with old friends.
However, there is no reason to treat their fictional school friendship as a fact about their personal lives.
The apparent familiarity between Polly and Lizzy is part of their acting performances.
What Happens in the Tesco Christmas Advert 2026?
Tesco’s Christmas advert, The Wrong Address, follows Polly and Lizzy, two former school friends who unexpectedly reunite. Lizzy accidentally sends her Christmas grocery order to her old address, hundreds of miles away. Polly, the Tesco delivery driver, recognises her name and offers to help.
The story begins on Christmas Eve, with Polly making deliveries.
When she recognises Lizzy’s name, it becomes clear that the two women knew each other years earlier.
Meanwhile, Lizzy realises her Christmas food has been delivered to an address where she no longer lives.
Polly offers to meet her halfway so the shopping can reach Lizzy’s family before Christmas.
However, their plans become more complicated when Lizzy experiences car trouble.
Polly eventually offers to drive her home.
During the journey, the two women remember their school days and revisit their shared history.
The conversation gradually reveals that their friendship ended after a disagreement.
Polly apologises, while Lizzy indicates that the incident happened a long time ago.
By the end of the commercial, the women have repaired their relationship.
Lizzy invites Polly to spend Christmas with her family, turning an unfortunate grocery-delivery mistake into a reunion.
The film concludes with Tesco’s familiar Every Little Helps message.
What Is the Song Playing in the Tesco Christmas Advert?
The song playing in Tesco’s 2026 Christmas advert is Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police. Originally released in 1981, the track accompanies Polly and Lizzy as they travel together and rediscover their friendship.
The selection also connects with Tesco’s longstanding Every Little Helps advertising message.
The campaign suggests that a relatively small act of kindness can produce a much more meaningful outcome.
Rather than commissioning a new recording of a Christmas classic, Tesco uses a familiar song that supports the film’s story.
Where Was the Tesco Christmas Advert Filmed?
Skipton in North Yorkshire is one confirmed filming location for Tesco’s 2026 Christmas advert. Local publication Your Skipton reported that Sackville Street appears in The Wrong Address, which follows Polly and Lizzy during their unexpected journey.
The film contains several locations as the characters travel towards Lizzy’s home.
However, a complete list of filming locations has not been independently confirmed.
Viewers should therefore not assume that the entire production took place in Skipton.
Who Made the Tesco Christmas Advert 2026?
BBH London created Tesco’s 2026 Christmas advert, The Wrong Address, with Steve Rogers directing the film. Production was handled by Biscuit Filmworks UK and Revolver. The commercial launched on 1 November 2026 and features Roisin Conaty and Anna Maxwell Martin as its two principal performers.
| Campaign detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Advert title | The Wrong Address |
| Brand | Tesco |
| Main cast | Roisin Conaty and Anna Maxwell Martin |
| Creative agency | BBH London |
| Director | Steve Rogers |
| Production | Biscuit Filmworks UK and Revolver |
| Cinematography | Bradford Young |
| Editor | Rich Orrick |
| Song | Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic — The Police |
| Release date | 1 November 2026 |
The full commercial runs for approximately three minutes.
A shorter 60-second edit premiered on ITV during Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on Sunday 1 November.
Why Tesco Chose Roisin Conaty and Anna Maxwell Martin
Tesco’s decision to cast Roisin Conaty and Anna Maxwell Martin gives The Wrong Address two performers who are experienced in both comedy and emotional drama. Their established television work helps viewers recognise them quickly, while their performances make the former friends’ reunion more convincing.
Conaty frequently plays characters whose humour comes from awkward situations and everyday problems.
Maxwell Martin has played both frustrated comedy characters and serious dramatic roles.
That combination is well suited to Tesco’s story.
The film begins with an embarrassing mistake, develops into an awkward reunion and ends with an emotional reconciliation.
The actresses must make each stage of that journey believable.
The Marketing Blog’s view: Why the casting works
There is a significant difference between using a celebrity to attract attention and choosing a performer who improves the story.
Tesco has done the latter.
Neither woman appears simply to deliver a memorable line or advertise a Christmas product.
Their characters have a history, a problem to solve and a reason to reconnect.
The advert also places adult female friendship at the centre of a major Christmas campaign.
That makes it different from many festive commercials that concentrate on children, parents, grandparents or romantic relationships.
There is a commercial benefit, too.
The mistaken grocery order places Tesco’s home-delivery service directly inside the narrative. The supermarket is not simply a logo added at the end.
However, the idea has attracted criticism.
The Grocer reported that some Tesco delivery drivers questioned the realism of Polly’s actions, arguing that taking a customer on an extended journey would conflict with normal working arrangements.
Tesco explained that the advert uses creative licence.
The criticism raises a fair question about how advertising portrays customer service, but it does not change the identity of the two actresses or the fictional nature of the story.
Is John Bishop in the Tesco Christmas Advert 2026?
John Bishop was involved in Tesco’s 2025 Christmas advertising, not as one of the two main performers in its 2026 film. He provided narration for That’s What Makes It Christmas, a series of short commercials showing familiar festive situations.
Tesco has taken a different approach in 2026.
Instead of several independent Christmas scenes, it has produced one longer film built around Polly and Lizzy’s friendship.
The two leading actresses are Roisin Conaty and Anna Maxwell Martin.
Where Can You Watch the Tesco Christmas Advert 2026?
Tesco’s full Christmas advert, The Wrong Address, is available through the supermarket’s official Christmas campaign page. The three-minute film stars Roisin Conaty as Polly and Anna Maxwell Martin as Lizzy, and features music by The Police.
Watch Tesco’s Christmas campaign.
You can also find the campaign film and production information in Creative Salon’s coverage of The Wrong Address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the woman in the Tesco Christmas advert 2026?
There are two leading women in Tesco’s 2026 Christmas advert. Roisin Conaty plays Polly, the Tesco delivery driver, and Anna Maxwell Martin plays Lizzy, her former school friend. Both star in The Wrong Address, released on 1 November 2026.
Who is the actress driving the Tesco delivery van?
The actress driving the Tesco van is Roisin Conaty. She plays Polly, a delivery driver who helps an old school friend recover her Christmas shopping. Viewers may recognise Conaty from After Life, GameFace and Man Down.
Is the Tesco delivery driver from After Life?
Yes. Roisin Conaty played Roxy in the Netflix comedy-drama After Life, starring Ricky Gervais. In Tesco’s Christmas commercial, she plays Polly, a fictional delivery driver who goes out of her way to help a customer she knew at school.
Is the other woman from Motherland?
Yes. Anna Maxwell Martin played Julia in the BBC sitcom Motherland. She plays Lizzy in the Tesco Christmas advert, a customer who accidentally sends her festive shopping to her old address and unexpectedly reconnects with a former friend.
Is the actress from Line of Duty in the Tesco advert?
Yes. Anna Maxwell Martin, who played Patricia Carmichael in BBC police drama Line of Duty, stars in Tesco’s 2026 Christmas commercial. She portrays Lizzy opposite Roisin Conaty, who plays Tesco delivery driver Polly.
What is the Tesco Christmas advert called?
Tesco’s 2026 Christmas advert is called The Wrong Address. It tells the story of two former school friends who unexpectedly reunite when a Christmas grocery delivery goes to the wrong address. The commercial was released on 1 November 2026.
What is the song in the Tesco advert?
The soundtrack is Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police. The song was originally released in 1981. Tesco uses it during the Christmas road trip featuring Roisin Conaty and Anna Maxwell Martin.
Are Roisin Conaty and Anna Maxwell Martin related?
The two actresses play former school friends, not relatives, in Tesco’s Christmas commercial. Their characters reconnect after years apart when Lizzy’s Christmas food delivery goes to the wrong address. The film does not portray them as sisters or other family members.
More Christmas Advert Cast Guides
For the other major festive campaigns, read our Christmas adverts 2026 guide.
You can also read our guide to the woman in the John Lewis Christmas advert 2026 and our Walkers advert cast guide.
Sources
- Tesco PLC — Official 2026 Christmas advert announcement
- The Grocer — Roisin Conaty and Anna Maxwell Martin star in Tesco’s Christmas advert
- Creative Salon — The Wrong Address campaign and creative credits
- Independent Talent — Roisin Conaty’s acting credits
- Your Skipton — Tesco Christmas advert filming location
- The Grocer — Tesco delivery drivers respond to the advert
- Tesco PLC — 2025 Christmas campaign
About the Author
Will Corry is the publisher of The Marketing Blog. He has more than 30 years of experience in publishing and has managed more than 40 trade publications. He writes about advertising, brand strategy and the people behind memorable commercials.
Last reviewed: 5 November 2026. The cast and campaign details were checked against Tesco’s official announcement and contemporary reporting. This guide will be updated if additional cast information becomes available.