Featured include Christmas commercials, wet paint, being British, crazy goalkeepers and testing events from the likes of mobile phone companies, retail shops, betting companies and insurance firms. Enjoy my selection of the best commercials of 2012.
25. Aldi - It's beginning to look a lot like Aldi
The Christmas season has begun and all the major supermarket brands have brought out adverts to celebrate some great deals.
However, all the major supermarkets should hang their heads in shame. Aldi have produced these great adverts (this example for roast), to a retune of 'It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas.'
Mocking the other players such as Waitrose and Sainsbury's, the catchphrase says it all at the end; 'It's beginning to look a lot like Aldi.'
24. Nokia - The new Nokia Lumia
Nokia has been left behind in the smartphone market by the likes of Apple and Samsung, but their new phone, the Lumia isn't the worst on the market.
They also produced this advert in February for the new 800 edition, promoting their apps to some catchy dance music. It is a catchy tune and a different model to most smartphones.
23. Sky Sports F1 - The race is only part of the story
It has been a difficult year for Formula One fans like myself, especially if you haven't got Sky Sports F1 HD. However, they have produced a brilliant first season of coverage, helped by this promotional ad which was shown on all commercial channels in the spring.
The fact is that the future of F1 is on satellite now, and I might be joining the bandwagon in 2013. It is true too, the race on Sunday is only part of the story.
22. BlackBerry - Two kinds of people
Apple and Samsung have led the way in the smartphone market and unfortunately, BlackBerry has been left behind.
When I say that, it is because I'm one of their customers. They haven't recovered from the RIM server crash of October 2011 but I still liked this commercial, which portrayed two different types of people. Just a shame they can't make decent phones!
21. Carlsberg - The England fan academy
Euro 2012 came and went. It was another typical tournament for England but to be a Three Lions fan, you must follow the rules and graduate into the fan academy.
Starring the likes of Des Lynam, Ian Wright and Stuart 'Psycho' Pearce, this is what being a true England fan is all about. Sorry, I'm a Spanish football fan!
20. BP - Inspiring Dreams
The best adverts of 2012 will be dominated by Olympic campaigns.
This was BP's summer ad for London 2012, inspiring the dreams of a nation. Poster girl Jessica Ennis is seen here daydreaming while refuelling her car, perhaps having the vision of success she would have in the Olympic Stadium on that amazing Saturday evening in early August.
19. Febreze - Experiments with the Azerbaijan wrestling team
I'm not generally keen on the product but Febreze came up with this commercial in the summer, experimenting the smell of air effects with the Azerbaijani wrestling team. The results speak for themselves!
This advert can be viewed at: http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7VTD/febreze-air-effects-featuring-the-azerbaijan-wrestling-team
Let's be honest. Standing in a queue at check-in can be boring and tiring and it can't be much better for the airport staff. Introduce some Maltesers into the action though and the entertainment value is bound to happen as seen by this funny commercial in the autumn. The staff had a laugh but the travellers seemed largely unimpressed.
17. BT - Bringing us all together for London 2012
Telecommunications giant BT produced this powerful advert for the Olympic Games, going down the lines of the 'Inspire a Generation' motto. The Olympics brought us all together and BT's fibreoptic network along with BT London Live (which I went to TWICE!) certainly lived up to expectations.
16. Paddy Power - The Vuvuzela returns
What was your abiding memory of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa? Mine was definitely the noise of the dreaded vuvuzela. In fact, I asked someone (whose name will remain unidentified) to bring one back cheekily when they went to South Africa last year!
In 2012, Paddy Power took one to the Ukraine and the noise is so loud, a block of flats is demolished. I don't want to hear that sound ever again, but the advert does make the point it was aiming at.
15. Lynx - Unleash the chaos
It seems like every single year, Lynx brings out a commercial which grabs the attention of the TV viewer. This year, it did so again with the new 'Attract' range by unleashing chaos on New York City.
It is false advertising though. I tried this range in October and it didn't work!
14. Google Chrome - The satchel craze
The power of the internet grows with every year and the web browser war is on. Internet Explorer has had a revamp while Safari tries to please the Apple consumers.
Leading the way though is Google Chrome, and this was a great commercial in the summer, as the satchel gets relaunched through the internet's force.
13. Virgin Media - Meditation
I honestly preferred the Usain Bolt commercials with Richard Branson in the spring but these were banned by the ASA for breaking regulations over the offer Virgin Media promoted.
So, I've gone for this one in the top 25, which features Branson and former Doctor Who star David Tennant, who tells the media mogul he is weird - probably not for the first time either!
12. Direct Line - Sob Story
2012 saw an end to the Direct Line commercials starring comedians Chris Addison and Alexander Armstrong.
Yes they are promoting insurance, a boring topic, but there was good humour around the adverts. This was the best of the bunch in 2012, involving a sob story about the insurance salesman's nan and emigration to New Zealand.
11. Toyota - Talking cameras
Japanese car manufacturer Toyota have had a testing few years, thanks to the recession and the worldwide recalls over some of their models.
To show they weren't lying down though, they brought out the YARIS hybrid car in May and this commercial, which is daft but clever at the same time.
Who would have thought that speed cameras, lamp posts and traffic lights had a way of talking to one another!
10. British Airways - London Calling
The national airline of choice, British Airways released this advert to the beat of the cracking 1979 song, 'London Calling' by The Clash.
This promotes their support of the London Olympics by having an aeroplane travel through and past some classic city landmarks, before arriving at the Olympic Stadium.
9. British Gas - The British Gas team
8. Vodafone - Freebee Rewardz
Vodafone have had the bees promoting their UK campaigns for a few years now and the 'Freebee Rewardz' scheme was highlighted through some BlackBerry Curve phones and wet paint. Be careful in how to impress the female equivalent, it could lead to a very sticky situation!
7. Ladbrokes - John McCririck rattled
Horse racing expert John McCririck lost his job with Channel 4 Racing this year after over 30 years in broadcasting. His enthusiasm will be missed next year, as the terrestrial broadcaster becomes the home of horse racing in the UK.
Ahead of this year's Cheltenham Festival, he gets hot under the collar from Ladbrokes' Tiziano Crudeli in this brilliant take on the betting ring at the races.
Crudeli has hit Chris Kamara in the face with a football this year too, so he's had a decent 2012!
6. VISA - Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt had another incredible summer as he retained all of his Olympic titles. However, he was racing before the Olympics.
Using VISA's new Flow Faster scheme, he races across London against a keen customer and the Olympic Starter.
This is a great demonstration of how Bolt appeals to the UK, not just his Jamaican home nation.
Filmed in Milton Keynes and it isn't looking good for England. Another penalty shootout and defeat looms, especially when the goalkeeper hurts his knee and can't continue.
Step forward an energised match steward, and a Mars chocolate bar and the results are spectacular.
The crazy goalkeeper saves a spot-kick from Robin van Persie, then pulls off the 'wobbly legs' and the 'scorpion kick' to win the shootout for England.
This is hilarious - where was he in Kiev when the country needed him!
4. EDF Energy - Athlete Dreams
EDF Energy had the power of electricity behind London 2012. Starring cyclist and Strictly Come Dancing's Victoria Pendleton, two technicians have their own dreams, trying out events in the Velodrome, Aquatics Centre and in the Olympic Stadium itself.
You can't blame them for trying!
3. Weetabix - 'You're Gonna Need It.'
Breakfast time has arrived and Weetabix introduced a new cereal for 2012, called 'Golden Syrup.'
Little does the Dad eating know that he is going to be in for an action-packed day out with his son, who tells him 'You're Gonna Need It.'
Featuring cycling, swings and piggy-backs, this is a humorous take on a father's grand day out.
Never trust the youngsters, they need to be loved all the time. This is a worthy of a top three ranking.
2. M&M's - Sorry Yellow
I'm unimpressed that M&M's tried to steal the 'epic fail' catchphrase from 'Yours Truly,' but this was a fantastic commercial all the same.
To celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at the beginning of June, yellow tries to get into the special packs of M&M's but he doesn't manage to achieve it.
Featuring some American voices and animation from the Aussies - this is number two in the top 25. Sorry Yellow, it doesn't make it to number one.
1. John Lewis - The Snowman Journey
So we come to the number one advert of the year and for the second year running, it goes to John Lewis for the Christmas commercial called 'The Snowman Journey.'
The commercial is tender, heart-warming and emotional. I'll even admit that it nearly brings me to tears every time I see it.
John Lewis encourage everyone to go the extra mile to get the desired gift and this advert once again ticks all the right boxes.
The song 'The Power of Love,' is currently in the iTunes top 10 too and fits the advert superbly. This totally deserves number one ranking once again.
Congratulations to John Lewis on winning this advert of the year prize for the second year in a row. Here's to more corking commercials in 2013!
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