The 10 Funniest 80s Ads (The UK Edition)
It’s official – these are the 10 funniest UK TV Adverts from 1980’s. From Bran Flakes and Trio, to Talking Pages and the John Smith’s acrobatic dog.
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1980s
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Jacobs Trio – Too Loud Susie (1984)
Synopsis A couple of Hippies and a little blonde girl are playing a song – The Trio song to the music of Day-O. Susie (the girl) sings too loud, almost shouting the lyrics. The drummer tries to calm her down, but she continues shouting anyway. Review Great advert, and one which spilled over into the playground. There was something about screaming TRIIIIO whenever someone had one of these chocolates in their lunch box that seemed
Kellogg’s Bran Flakes – Waiters (1982)
Synopsis This ad is one of a series, all of the same theme. Of all of the food options, people tend to break into the very catchy song, and choose Bran Flakes. This ad features Allo Allo’s Gordon Kaye as a waiter. Review This is an advert that shows that even if you have one of the most boring cereals, you can boost sales and become a top seller if you have a catchy song.
Glade – Shake ‘N’ Vac (1980)
Synopsis A woman explains through song and dance the benefits of using Shake ‘n’ Vac to bring the freshness back. Review With its ridiculously catchy song, this advert is one that has kept fresh in my 80’s nostalgia box. It would only take an image of the product for that song to reappear and get stuck in my head for the rest of the day. This proves how a lighthearted catchy song can sky rocket
Terry’s Chocolate Orange – Safe – Indiana Jones Spoof (1984)
Synopsis A spoof of Indiana Jones & The Raiders of the lost Ark, this ad follows George (Played by Just Good Friends actor John Ringham) as he tries to find his wife’s Terry’s chocolate orange. He slips into a hidden passage and journeys through a booby trap filled maze of tunnels, before finding the sacred chocolate. Review I love this adverts as it takes a normal guy, from his nice home and places him into
HP Sauce – Naughty Postcards (1982)
Synopsis A woman narrates herself writing a postcard from holiday. Filled with innuendo, whatever she says, the husband is doing something rude / naughty. Animated in a seaside postcard style. Review Adverts like this wouldn’t happen nowadays. The Benny Hill style innuendo isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, the same could be said for brown sauce, but it was funny back then, and was an edgy campaign. Entry Submitted By Brad Holcombe
Scotch Video Tapes – Dirty Videos (1987)
Synopsis The Scotch video tapes skeleton dressed in a ‘flasher’ mac, asks us if we have any ‘dirty videos’ The Ad is for VHS head cleaner, but the seediness of the beginning is great, and works as a good set up for the real reason for the ad. The ad doesn’t have the ‘Re-record, not fade away. Re-record not fade away…’ catchphrase, but it is part of the series. Review Great joke, and outs all
Hamlet Cigars – Photobooth (1986)
Synopsis Follically challenged man attempts to get his passport photo’s taken in a photo booth. When it all goes wrong, he takes time out with a cigar, cue the music. Features Gregor Fisher’s character Baldy Man. Review I love Gregor Fisher, whether Rab C Nesbitt, or Baldy Man, he delivers everything in such a cripplingly awful, funny way. It’s a great advert, and one of many of the same theme for Hamlet Cigars. This Ad
Trebor Softmints – Mr Soft (1987)
Synopsis Mr Soft lives in a soft world. The song is about him being soft. The product he’s advertising is called Softmints. Then he hits a not so soft lamppost. Review I always loved this advert, and the song has never left my head. Such a memorable ad and song. Whether it’s Mr soft’s weirdness, or the strange vocals, I don’t know. All I know is it is one that has stuck with me. This
Castlemaine XXXX – Flying Doctor (1985)
Synopsis Set in the outback of Australia, a man is deathly ill in bed, and his friend calls the flying doctor. The doctor advises him to give him a cold drink, so he survives the time it will take for him to arrive. Having only one can of XXXX in the fridge, the man keeps the beer to himself, and tells his friend it doesn’t look good. Review Being young, sweet and innocent, I never
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