Adverts H-L

An advert for Halifax from 1991, showing a load of pound signs dancing to 'We're in the moeny'... As pound signs do!!! Ah those jolly days before Halifax's ads became such frequent winners in the site's worst ad awards.

Presented in NICAM stereo, the question to ask is 'Any old iron'? From the early 90s, this advert swiftly became embedded in the memories of the British public thanks to the catchy song to accompany it.

Time for a sharp Exit.... A humourous ad featuring an interview with a former gang member, who of course has to keep his identity a secret.

Another in the long running series of 'time for a sharp exit' adverts. This time an important lesson that whilst listening in to someone else's fight may seem like a good idea at the time, always make sure you have your keys with you!

One of the famous 'Creature Comforts' shorts from 1990, featuring Frank the Tortoise. Keen to find a new way to promote electric heating in the early 90s, the electricity board had turned to Nick Park of Aardman. Park had developed the short film 'Creature Comforts' earlier as part of a Channel 4 series, which had gone on to win an Academy Award. The Heat Electric advert commission took the concept of this, namely off-the-cuff-sounding voxpops set to claymation animals, and adapted this to promote the heating. The Creature Comforts campaign was fondly remembered for many years, with the idea being turned into a full series in 2003.

A loud man on his mobile phone causes some disruption at the bar. At least until a phonebox drops in, in another from the 'Only Heineken Can Do This' campaign.

The follow on advert to the first 1992 ad and suddenly blues man is getting signed up for a lucrative record contract. Was it always intended to be produced, or had some advertising executives suddenly realised having their previous ad run with the message 'drink Heineken and your life will fall apart in an instant' mightn't have been the best marketing angle in the world?

Heineken did it once again in 2001, and produced some of the funniest adverts of the year! In total there were four of them, with more 'celebrities' being added in each one starting off with the late Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee. Presented now are the 1st, 2nd and 4th ones.

In the last version, the collection of celebrities is fed to a pack of lions - oh joy!! What with Jimmy Saville in the background, I think it's safe to say we'll never see this campaign aired again!

David Bellamy appears in this Heinz Baked Beans ad from 1989, showing him being handed beans by his mother in various locations as he grows up.

Comedian Griff Rhys Jones appears in one of several Holsten Pils where he is added to classic movie footage for humourous effect. Here, he's come to fix the plumbing...

Jeff Goldblum again with a lot of flowers for another Holsten Pils advert in 1992.

A few more years into the 90s for Homepride, and thankfully men now do the cooking and the stereotyped characters have been phased out.

Another colourful animated character from the Kelloggs heyday of children-oriented mascots features, as Loopy Bee cheerfully advertises Honey Nut Loops.

Eels and a group in a Chinese restaurant remind us of the importance of local knowledge in this HSBC advert from 2003. The banking brand having firmly replaced Midland Bank by this point.

From the same puppet that brought satirical show Spitting Image to the screens came a long running series of commercials for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. This time round with the cows telling us to lighten up.

One of many well remembered ads for furniture giant IKEA. In a mammoth advert from 1997, we take a look at what a definitely-scientific survey has found different furniture says about the individuals who own it.

Taking a lighthearted shot at Coke adverts of the era, Irn Bru bring their own advert for the early 90s. Promoting the drink as Made In Scotland From Girders.

With subscriptions to the On Digital service not taking off as hoped, the service was rebranded as ITV Digital in 2001 with the hope of the stronger 'ITV' brand giving it a boost. At the same time a famous advertising double act in the form of dimwitted Al (played by Johnny Vegas) and the knitted puppet Monkey (voiced by Ben Miller) were introduced, created by advertising agency Mother. Despite the characters being popular and well remembered, they were not enough to reverse the fortunes of the ITV Digital service, with it collapsing into administration in 2002. Here a Christmas special of one of the many spots produced during the shortlived campaign, where Al has come up with some brilliant ideas in the middle of the night.

Jack Dee in a John Smiths ad from 1997, with no gimmicks, no jokes and no penguins.

John West endure the worst, namely an annoying guy playing music, to bring you the best!

Kelloggs welcome in the new millennium with a general advert for a bunch of their cereals.

John Virgo stars in this 1992 advert for KFC (still titled Kentucky Fried Chicken at this point), promoting their new Hot Shots range.

Smith and Jones as you've (probably) never seen them before.

A humourous ad for KitKat in 1986. The Cold War was coming to an end yet little progress was being made. This ad combines that along with the fact that politicians are generally pointless and stubborn.

Elvis isn't dead. He's hiding away somewhere eating Kitkats!

Set to the song Goodnight Sweetheart by The Spaniels, Lemsip promote their new nighttime remedy in 1992.

The Lion King - One of my favourite films of all time (behind Watership Down of course). This is an advert for its release on video.

I know it's the wrong place in the alphabet for this, but I decided to plonk this funny little 2003 ad for Jelly Babies here as it contains a modern-day Bertie.

Better times for the Little Chef chain in the mid-90s, as it was still a well known force in the service station market. Via various buyouts and mergers, the chain grew throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, even ending up a part of the Granada empire in the late 90s. However the 2000s were less kind. With the chain failing to modernise and losing the interest of their family audience, store numbers contracted and the group fell into administration more than once. Even a last ditch attempt to revive affairs with Heston Blumenthal wasn't enough, with the last remnants of the original chain disappearing in 2018.

The Lightning Loot - Another Tales of the Black Horse ad. A giant wants to buy a new cart from the local salesman, but is a little short on funds at the moment. Never fear, as the nearby Lloyds Bank branch can approve a personal loan on the spot. They apparently don't even mind if you demolish the branch in the process of applying, although I remain less convinced about this detail.

Another 'Tales of The Black Horse' story from the Medieval Lloyds Bank campaign of the 90s, this time entitled 'The Unfounded Fear'. A local couple receive a letter from their bank manager that he'd like to see them. Cue visions of what horrors this may entail...

Initially after the demerger of Lloyds TSB, the new bank of the Black Horse got the short end of the stick advertising-wise. Whilst TSB got beautiful artistic animation with Patrick Stewart narrating, Lloyds plumped for a series of less than inspired slideshow-style ads. In 2015 however to celebrate their 250th anniversary, the bank saw a return to form with the quality of its advertising. A long and heavily artistic trailer featuring black horses throughout the ages was put together, set to the song Wings by Birdy. The ad was used throughout 2015 and into 2016 for their birthday year in long form, then briefly disappeared for a new campaign before reappearing in a shorter re-edited form later in 2016.

Victoria Principal, best known at the time for her role in Dallas, stars in this advert for Lux Soap from 1984. Because why not pick a soap star to advertise some soap!