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Woolworths has been forced onto the back foot over comments by

chairman Gerald Corbett that the retailer's £25m Christmas ad

campaign did not focus enough on products. The campaign, created by

Bates UK, featured celebrities including former EastEnders star Sid

Owen, S Club 7 and Des Lynam, but Corbett said last week it was partly

responsible for the firm's modest seasonal trading performance. A

Woolies spokeswoman this week played down Corbett's comments, saying the

campaign had been its most successful ever. Separately, Woolworths has

handed head of catalogues Jill Martin the interim top marketing post

while marketing director Octavia Morley is on maternity leave.