Adverts H-L

Halifax - 1991

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.

Hammerite - 1992

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.

Harp (Dog and Ball) - 1989

In a sendup of Nescafe's 'will they, won't they' coffee commercials, everything is going well for the guy round for 'tea'... until he throws a ball for the dog, and they're on a high floor apartment. Time for another sharp exit...

Harp (Gangmember) - 1990

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.

Harp (Dating) - 1990

Time for a cool sharp Harp.... Another laugh, this time involving a find-a-date service.

Harp (Infidelity) - 1991

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!

Heat Electric (Creature Comforts) - 1990

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.

Heineken - 1990

And now we have a load of Heineken adverts throughout the years. Heineken deserve the award for making consistently funny adverts, for god only knows how many years. This one is from 1990.

Heineken - 1992

Not really managing to get into the right frame of mind to play the blues? Follow this invaluable lesson courtesy of Heineken.

Heineken (V2) - 1992

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 - 2001

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.

Heineken (Part 2) - 2001

Two more people were added alongside Paul Daniels and Debbie in the second version.

Heineken (Part 4) - 2001

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!

Heinz Baked Beans - 1986

An old advert for Heinz Baked Beans with the famous 'Beanz Meanz Heinz' slogan. This slogan disappeared from the Heinz ads during the 90s. Despite that, it was revived for a marketing campaign by Heinz asking people to text them to vote whether they should keep the slogan they'd quietly dropped years earlier. The eventual outcome of this was that the beans were renamed Heinz Beanz on a permanent basis in 2008. Clip Courtesy of Iam Burn.

Holsten Pils - 1988

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...

Holsten Pils - 1991

One of a long running series of ads for Holsten Pils starring Jeff Goldblum, in days before Jurassic Park and Independence Day. Still with a vaguely festive feel to it this time around, as this airing dates from very early into January 1991.

Homepride - 1991

Remember, ladies! Ah the early 90s - when casual stereotypes were still perfectly fine in advertising.

Homepride - 1996

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

Hovis - 2004

An animated ad from 2004 for Hovis; things have come a long way from kids cycling up hills on a bike. Courtesy of Iam.

HBSC - 2003

~ NEW! ~

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.

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light - 1996

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.

Irn Bru - 2002

An entertaining/warped (delete as applicable) ad for Irn Bru in 2002, with a woman giving birth. Don't worry, that Irn Bru will help... or will it? Thanks to Iam for this clip.

Jaffa Cakes - 1983

Those Munchkins are always trying to munch your McVities Jaffa Cakes, as we're told in this 1983 ad. Clip courtesy of Iam Burn.

John Smiths - 1997

Jack Dee in a John Smiths ad from 1997, with no gimmicks, no jokes and no penguins. Clip thanks to Iam Burn.

John Smiths - 2004

Englebert Humperdinck in this ad for John Smiths... No nonsense! Thanks to Iam again for the clip.

John West Tuna - 1998

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

Kelloggs - 2000

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

Kentucky Fried Chicken - 1991

Celebrating 25 years of KFC in the UK in 1991, with a special offer meal from the Colonel.

Kentucky Fried Chicken - 1992

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

Kitekat - 1993

Smith and Jones as you've (probably) never seen them before. Thanks to Iam again for the clip.

Kitekat - 1998

Think 'Men Behaving Badly' for this Kitekat advert from 1998.

Kit Kat - 1986

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. Courtesy of Iam Burn.

Kit Kat - 1997

Elvis isn't dead. He's hiding away somewhere eating Kitkats! Thanks again to Iam Burn for this ad.

Lemsip - 1992

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

Lenor - 1992

Why smaller sometimes means better (an argument I have tried to make on many occasions). Indeed they could almost have labelled the new bottle of Lenor 'Fun Size'.

The Lion King - 1995

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.

Liquorice Allsorts - 1991

A seemingly normal, quiet town centre... until you realise they've all been ravaged by a Liquorice Allsorts habit!

Bassetts Jelly Babies - 2003

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. Thanks to Iam Burn for the clip.

Listerine - 1990

Clifford the dragon has a problem with his breath... namely that he cant talk to birds without roasting them with it.

Lloyds Bank - 1993

This is one of several 'Tales of The Black Horse' ads, ran in the early nineties. In this one, a brave knight needs help getting a bigger place, so gets a mortgage from Lloyds Bank... happens all the time doesn't it!!

Lloyds Bank - 1994

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.

Lloyds Bank - 1996

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...

Lloyds TSB - 2000

An extended ad marking the dawn of the new millennium from Lloyds TSB, as it was then known. After thanking all of their staff and their families for all their hard work over the previous year with behind the scenes filming footage from their latest commercial, it then launches into the new commercial itself. With the song 'What Can I Do' from The Coors providing the backing.

Lloyds Bank - 2016

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.

Lunn Poly - Christmas 1992

An animated Santa hearing about the unbelievable Lunn Poly deals at the end of 1992. One of a long running series of adverts for Lunn Poly featuring the tagline 'Get Away'. This particular short advert would reappear yearly from the mid 80s through to the mid 90s.

Lux - 1984

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!