Mel B stars in latest Virgin Media ad
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
Virgin peppers ads with computer animated Spice
A computer animated Mel B is to be the next celebrity to star in a Virgin Media ad campaign.
In the TV advertisement, the former Spice Girl, dressed in her trademark leopard-print cat suit, goes to a plastic surgeon to discuss having a boob job because she wants to make “a big impression in Hollywood”, but ends up buying a film package from Virgin Media.
It turns out that the plastic surgeon with a German accent is not all he seems to be: when Mel B has left the room he takes off a mask to reveal the face of Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin empire.
Mel B said “I’m over the moon with my animated alter ego and the advert really made me giggle! It’s definitely fresh and original and I’m going to make sure all my friends and family go to the cinema to see it.”
Advertising agency Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe, the company behind Marks & Spencer’s latest campaign, created the innuendo-filled commercial for Virgin Media, while the animations were created by American design studio So! Animation. It follows a number of advertisements featuring celebrities such as comedian Ruby Wax and former Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall.
Acting managing director of brand and marketing at Virgin Media Ashley Stockwell said: “Following the success of the Mick Hucknall ad, we couldn’t wait to release our next ad and we’re thrilled to have such a fun-loving and larger-than-life personality as Mel B on board.
“After all these years in the limelight, Mel is still a favourite with the British public and was the perfect choice for the ad, as she was happy to have a real laugh with us.”
