A man named John Lewis has finally embraced the seasonal attention around his name. After decades of playful teasing due to sharing his name with the iconic department store, the 64-year-old from Leicester recorded his own Christmas song, making this celebration his “most memorable Christmas.”
Lewis performed lines from the classic 1956 Christmas song Mary’s Boy Child at a studio in Shenley, near St Albans in Hertfordshire. The session included support from a gospel choir linked to the Comfort Centre Leicester charity. The performance formed part of the “namesake feature” on BBC Three Counties Radio, hosted by presenter Justin Dealey.
A Long-Awaited Christmas Moment
The recording session came after Mr Lewis revealed he was often the target of light-hearted jokes during the festive season. As he explained, people often feel they are the “first person who has thought of it,” referring to the store association. Instead of resisting the name recognition this Christmas, Lewis leaned into the humour by singing one of the season’s most popular hymns.
Before entering the recording studio, he admitted feeling both “excited but terrifying” at the opportunity. The gospel choir joined him in singing sections that begin “Long time ago in Bethlehem so the Holy Bible say” and “While shepherds watched their flock by night.” Lewis also hummed along during the performance, allowing the choir to complement his voice.
A Studio with Musical History
The setting added to the significance of the moment. The studio belongs to American-British composer Jeff Wayne, best known for the musical adaptation The War of the Worlds. The studio has hosted major artists such as Gary Barlow, Joss Stone and Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Wayne made an unexpected appearance during the recording session, surprising Lewis. The producer stepped into the studio and greeted Lewis, who described the moment as an honour. Wayne later noted that welcoming artists from all backgrounds reflects the studio’s creative spirit.
A spokesperson for John Lewis, the department store, reacted warmly to the moment, stating: “We love the idea of music as a gift, and John’s song is a present that’ll put a smile on anyone’s face.”
A Christmas to Remember
Dealey’s radio feature aims to bring personal stories to listeners by connecting people with shared names. The festive edition delivered a joyful surprise and provided Mr Lewis with an experience he said he “would never forget.” After recording, he joked that he “probably needed a drink” to calm his nerves.
The recording forms part of BBC Three Counties Radio’s seasonal programming, available on BBC Sounds and shared across regional BBC social platforms. The light-hearted story highlights the personal connections and unlikely festive memories that can emerge during the holiday season.
As Christmas approaches, Mr Lewis’s journey from reluctant namesake to seasonal singer underscores how shared identity, humour and music can create lasting holiday memories.
