So apparently it's Christmas! Well not quite yet, but the decorations and presents are in the shops, the lights are up on Oxford and Regent Street and I just can't wait for the Christmas trees to start being sold on the London streets.

Of course this time of year means the Christmas battle has started for the best Christmas television commercial and without doubt, this year's winner is the Magic and Sparkle ad from M&S. Ok, ok... yes I might be slightly biased this year as I'm part of the commercial alongside Rosie Huntingon-Whitley and Helena Bonham Carter. However, I do feel that this is a very special commercial for many reasons. Firstly it draws on what I think are the great loves of Christmas. It's a magical, whimsical time of year and this is exactly what the M&S commercial brings to the forefront of everyone's imagination. We are taken into a fairy tale world and for just a couple of minutes we get to be part of the fantasy.

Being part of that fantasy was astonishing in that the fairy tale worlds were actually fully created in five huge studios in London and every day myself and Rosie were part of a different one. There were no green screens, very little CGI and we got to play the parts of characters that we had only seen on cinema or TV screens. It was truly wonderful.

It was a departure from my normal shoots and filming. When M&S approached me about playing the different characters, I think they thought I might be daunted by the prospect but I jumped at the chance. Of course the outfits were a slight challenge as we had to recreate the characters using M&S clothing and make them come to life as the characters we all know and love. Truth be told, I felt a little bit too comfortable as the Mad Hatter, with top hat, scarf and velvet blazer, maybe because I could have created the same look from my own wardrobe - I'm not sure if thats a good thing or not!

The four filming days were wonderful. The crew, everyone from M&S, Rosie, my good friend and hair stylist Larry King, all had a wonderful time on set and even though the days were long, the atmosphere was truly brilliant - even when at 11pm as we were filming the scarecrow scene and I came out from amongst the Christmas trees and started a domino effect with them each falling one by one (that would be an out take I'd love to see).

If you haven't seen it yet, here it is and if you have, have maybe one more watch just for me!
Related Gallery Watch Marks & Spencer’s Fairy-Tale Mash-Up

Talking of a slightly surreal experience, I had a rather wonderful experience when I went to the Philippines a couple of weeks ago. This wasn't a holiday (I haven't taken one this year), but for work with my first Asian brand called SM Men's fashion.

We have had many offers from Asian brands over the last year as this market is becoming so important to all industries now. For some reason, the Philippines intrigued me and once I had researched more about the brand, the Philippines, and had spoken at length about the ideas and expansions of SM, I knew that this was a great place to start and one which will hopefully lead to a continued relationship over the coming years. Southeast Asia is maybe not considered to be an area of importance when expanding fashion brands, however it has a very promising and emerging economy.

Sarah Jessica Parker opened SM Women's fashion and became the face of the brand a few months before, so their intention was clear to see. One journalist asked me if they thought I was SM's Mr Big as SJP is also famously known as Carrie from Sex and The City. At first I laughed, then I thought about it. Mr Big, wears three-piece-suits, drives Jaguars, drinks whisky and is quite old school - and in conclusion, I really know way too much about Sex and The City!

The surreal part of the trip, which only lasted two days, was the way we were treated. Never in 13 years of working have we been treated with such respect and thoughtfulness and it started immediately as I got off the plane, not that I wanted to get off the plane as I flew Emirates first class and it was stunning. I was then taken from the plane, rushed through security, I didn't even have to collect my luggage as it was brought to the hotel later. I was taken by police escort to the hotel where I was whisked off to the Presidential Suite to be met by my butler, Dante. I had to pinch myself and couldn't help but think of the mouse-infested hotel, where I had to share a bathroom with a whole floor of people when I first went to NYC as I started modelling.

The wonderful respectful nature of the Philippino people is what made the trip so special.  Entering a new and emerging fashion market can sometimes be precarious, however SM were open to everything we suggested - from flying over photographers and digital and lighting experts, to considering all of our styling recommendations when it came to shooting. On the final evening I was unveiled as the face of SM Men's fashion at their annual fashion shown and the most astonishing runway design where I walked out to a live orchestra. As I said, a surreal and wonderful experience.

This makes it all the sadder, when I see the news of the horrific Typhoon that recently hit and the tens of thousands feared dead. The level of destruction is on a scale I cannot even imagine and my thoughts go out to all the people there. If you would like to help, I cannot think of a better way than with donations to the following charity - Shelterbox.org/donate.php.