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Marcus Rashford MBE is the surprise star of Aldi's magical Christmas advert, featuring Kevin the Carrot. 

The Manchester United striker, 24, plays Marcus Radishford in the TV spot, which ties in with Aldi's seasonal campaign to donate 1.8 million to families in need across the UK during the festive period. 

This year's A Christmas Carrot advert is a veggie retelling of Charles Dickens' famous tale to the sound of an instrumental version of Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues, with Ebanana Scrooge playing the cold-hearted character who hates the holidays. 

Marcus, who has been open about his childhood spent relying on food banks and received a MBE from Prince William yesterday, said he was delighted to be part of the campaign.  

Marcus Rashford makes a surprise appearance in Aldi's Christmas advert, playing 'Marcus Radishford,' a radish who is 'always helping kids.' The campaign was created in partnership with Neighbourly. Aldi will donate 1.8 million meals to family in needs this festive period

In the adorable spot, the Spirit of Christmas visits a new character, called Ebanana Scrooge, in a retelling of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, pictured 

Set on Christmas Eve, it shows the grumpy banana walking down the street, destroying snowmen with his cane on his way home. 

It is revealed Ebanana resents the festive season because he was once left on a plate by himself after everyone preferred to eat mince pies.  

As night falls, Ebanana is suddenly awoken by the Spirit of Christmas - which looks a lot like Kevin in a beard. 

The spirit takes the fruity Scrooge on a festive tour to show him 'how magical' Christmas can be. 

Rashford, who received a MBE yesterday, pictured, said he was delighted to take part in the campaign 

He starts by telling Ebanana that the spirit of Christmas is about 'peas and goodwill.' 

Marcus makes his cartoon debut when the Ghost introduces him as Marcus Radishford, who is 'always helping kids.'

The radish, who is wearing a tux jacket can be heard saying: 'Merry Christmas, Kevin!' and shooting a vegetable back into a basket carried by two peas. 

The Spirit of Christmas then takes Ebanana to the 'Aldi Christmas Market,' where they fly over a scrumptious Christmas meal with turkey, pigs in blankets, salmon, lobster and more. 

As they hover above the table, they encounter the gingerbread family which appear in Aldi's sponsored ads on the Great British Bake Off. 

The family are seen skating and sliding down a cake's icing with sleighs, and the Spirit of Christmas helps one of the children who's broken his arm, bringing back a smile to the whole family. 

As the journey continues, Ebanana flies over the snowmen he destroyed earlier, before the Spirit of Christmas suddenly drops him into the mouth of an evil-looking snowman. 

The villainous character lands in his bed, and realises all the sadness and misery he's brought to people around him. 

The advert was aptly named 'A Christmas Carrot; and stars Ebanana Scrooge. In the original Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is the character who hates Christmas 

This triggers a change of heart, and the next day as Kevin and his family get ready to celebrate Christmas together, Ebanana shows up a their door, and he's brought dessert. 

'Merry Christmas everyone,' he says enthusiastically, holding out a Christmas pudding. 

'This is for "pudding" up with me,' he adds with a sheepish smile. 

It is also revealed that Ebanana has rebuilt the snowmen he destroyed the day before. 

In the advert, the banana, pictured, is awaken by the Spirit of Christmas on the eve of Christmas Day

The Spirit of Christmas takes Ebanana on a journey to show him the magic of Christmas, pictured 

The advert ends on a heartfelt message, saying: 'The answer you'll find is that for you to be happy, you have to be kind.'

Marcus Rashford MBE, said: 'As a family, we relied on the local food bank to get our Christmas dinner. 

'To this day, I remember queuing outside that building with mum; mum feeling embarrassed that she might be recognised. It is with that in mind that I’m delighted to lend my support to the Aldi campaign,' he added. 

'For many children in situations like mine growing up, there is very little expectation around this time of year; add the impact of the pandemic and the very least they deserve is a Christmas dinner.'

Aldi released their Christmas advert in partnership with Neighbourly, which links businesses to charitable organisations in local communities, in order to donate their surplus food. 

Neighbourly CEO, Steve Butterworth, comments: 'We're delighted to be supporting Aldi in their year-round food redistribution programme and in their commitment to donate 1.8 million meals this Christmas. 

The pair fly across the town to Aldi's Christmas Market, pictured, where they hover above a Christmas feast 

The Gingerbread family Aldi usually use to promote the Great British Bake Off also make an appearance in the advert, pictured 

'These donations will help a record number of families across the UK during what is expected to be the busiest year on record for local charities and causes,' he added.  

Sean McGinty, Marketing Director at Aldi UK, said: 'Christmas is a time for hope, and we’re privileged to be working with Marcus, who is one of the most inspirational young people in the UK, having done so much in the past 18 months to help provide free school meals for children.

'At the same time, it wouldn’t be the festive season without Kevin the Carrot on our TV screens, and we’re thrilled to be bringing him back for the sixth year for his many fans, in what we think is his best Yuletide performance yet.

'We hope our campaign will remind everyone of the true meaning of Christmas,' he added. 

Footballer Marcus Rashford received his MBE during a ceremony hosted by Prince William at Windsor Castle yesterday. 

After his nightly journey, Ebanana lands in his bed and reconsiders how selfish he has been, pictured

The next day, Kevin and his family are readying to celebrate Christmas, but are interrupted by a surprise guest, pictured

Ebanana has had a change of heart and arrives with a Christmas pudding, thanking the family for 'pudding' up with him 

The England and Manchester United star, 24, received the award for leading the fight against child poverty, and appeared in high spirits as he was presented with the award by the Duke of Cambridge as his proud mother Melanie Maynard watched on.

The footballer was recognised for his campaign last summer to ensure no child in need went hungry, which forced the Government into a U-turn over providing free school meal vouchers for 1.3million children during the summer holidays.

Speaking after the Windsor Castle investiture ceremony, the striker said he would be giving his MBE to his mother who raised him and his four brothers and sisters.

The advert ends on a heartwarming message, saying that for people to be happy, they need to be kind

He said: 'It seems like there's a lot going on but for me to put it in the simplest way - I'm trying to give children the things I didn't have when I was kid. If I did have, I would have been much better off and had many more options in my life.

'I'm just giving them the opportunity and I think they deserve the opportunity what child doesn't. For me it's a punishment for them not to be getting things like meals or supplies of books.

'And if we can all come together to make these small change - they are small changes but they become big changes once you see the rewards of it - I see a generation that's coming after me as a very special generation.