Great Scott it’s Hovis!
QUESTION Did film director Ridley Scott make the famous Hovis ad?
Ridley Scott, the director of oscarwinning films and cult classics from Blade Runner and Gladiator to Alien and thelma And louise, is also renowned for directing iconic adverts.
in 1968, Ridley and his brother tony founded film production company Ridley Scott Associates (RSA). in 1973, Ridley was approached to direct a series of adverts for bread brand Hovis.
the concept had been outlined by Geoff Seymour, who was the first copywriter to be paid a salary of £100,000.
Filmed in 1973, the Boy on the Bike tells the tale of a youngster struggling to push his bicycle, loaded with bread, up a steep, cobbled street in post-war Britain to the accompaniment of Antonin dvorak’s New World Symphony played by the Ashington colliery Brass Band.
After reaching the top and dropping off his delivery, the boy freewheels down the hill to a yorkshire accented voice-over: ‘t’was like taking bread to top of the world — t’was a grand ride back though.’
However, the advert was not filmed in yorkshire, but on Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, dorset.
this commercial influenced Ridley Scott’s later work. ‘it taught me that when you combine the appropriate music and the appropriate film you have liftoff,’ he said. ‘in fact, advertising taught me everything i know, and i brought this knowledge forward into film.’
RSA was responsible for ground-breaking ads for Pepsi, Apple and Nissan. in particular, it revived the fortunes of chanel No 5 through mini-films that became the archetype for perfume ads.
Joe Parrott, Liverpool.
QUESTION What is the best response to a truly daft question by a reporter?
iRASciBle former Scotland football manager Gordon Strachan was famously spiky in interviews. there are a host of funny responses to anodyne questions.
Reporter: ‘you don’t take losing lightly, do you, Gordon?’ Strachan: ‘i don’t take stupid comments lightly either.’
Reporter: ‘there goes your unbeaten run. can you take it?’ Strachan: ‘No, i’m just going to crumble. i’ll go home, become an alcoholic and maybe jump off a bridge.’
Reporter: ‘So, Gordon, in what areas do you think Middlesbrough were better than you today?’ Strachan: ‘What areas? Mainly that big green one out there.’
Reporter: ‘you must be delighted with that result?’ Strachan: ‘ you’re spot on! you can read me like a book.’
Reporter: ‘ Welcome to Southampton Football club. do you think you are the right man to turn things around?’ Strachan: ‘ No, they should have got George Graham because i’m useless.’
His most famous response was to the reporter who asked: ‘ Gordon, can we have a quick word?’ to which Strachan replied ‘Velocity!’ before strutting off.
Ian Palmer, Oldham, Lancs. lAuReN coNRAd is the u.S. reality tV star of the Hills. during a 2012 interview with SiriusXM, she drew the question ‘What’s your favourite position?’ from a mystery bag. She replied: ‘ceo.’ the interviewer high-fived her.
Carrie Lewis, Leeds. My FAVouRite was when Bob dylan arrived in england in the 1960s. then best known for protest songs, he faced a Press conference where an out-of-touch journalist asked: ‘How many protest singers are there?’ An incredulous dylan responded: ‘About 136 — or maybe 142.’
John Denton, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. tHe Beatles were experts at deadpan one-liners. u.S. reporter: ‘We think your haircuts are unAmerican.’ John lennon: ‘ Well, that’s very observant of you, because we aren’t American.’ Reporter to lennon: ‘ Which one are you?’ lennon: ‘i’m eric.’
Reporter: ‘you’ve got fame and fortune; if this were to disappear and you were left with one thing you’d like to hang on to, what would that be?’ the Beatles responded in unison: ‘the money!’
George Harrison was particularly good at keeping a straight face. during a 1964 interview, a reporter asked lennon what type of girls he preferred. He responded: ‘My wife.’
When the question was put to Harrison, he replied: ‘John’s wife.’
Richard Murray, Lanark.
QUESTION When and why was diplomatic immunity implemented?
iMMuNity for diplomatic envoys has been recognised throughout history. the need to ensure the safe transfer of information, maintain contact and build alliances relied on granting messengers safe conduct.
As societies became more complex, the need for diplomats to make contact safely and forge trade and political alliances became increasingly important.
often diplomats were ordered to raise difficult issues in a direct manner. While they would take into account local customs and sensibilities, it was essential they were immune to reprisal.
the list of protections afforded to foreign envoys has been increased and codified in law.
Greek heralds were recognised as inviolable by the city states and procured safe passage for envoys before negotiations. the Romans developed the role of diplomats and envoys and protected them in law. Ambassadors and their entourages also enjoyed the right of safe passage during the Middle Ages.
the 16th century saw the development of international embassies and the dutch introduced the doctrine of quasi extra territorium — latin for ‘as if outside the territory’. in england, the 1709 Act of Anne exempted ambassadors from civil suit and arrest.
the abuse of immunity led to the Vienna convention on diplomatic Relations in 1961, which standardised and restricted the privileges granted to diplomats, their families and staff.
Giles Reece, Oxford. IS THERE a question to which you want to know the answer? Or do you know the answer to a question here? Write to: Charles Legge, Answers To Correspondents, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT; or email charles.legge@dailymail.co.uk. A selection is published, but we’re unable to enter into individual correspondence.
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