24 CARROT ADS

Brits crown Captain Birdseye as favourite TV brand star

A BEARDED old sea captain finished just ahead of a frog, a carrot and a monkey, leaving a battery-powered rabbit trailing in their wake.

A poll to find Brits’ best-loved TV advert characters was topped by Captain Birdseye, who has promoted frozen fish fingers on our screens since 1967.

First played by John Hewer, the latest to wear the skipper’s cap is Italian Riccardo Acerbi, who set pulses racing when he made his TV debut in 2018.

Aldi’s Christmas favourite Kevin the Carrot, who has sparked a sought-after range of toys since he first appeared in 2016, took third place behind Cadbury’s 1973 creation Freddo the Frog.

Coco the Monkey finished fourth, although he would rather have a bowl of Coco Pops, while the wisecracking M&Ms and the Duracell bunny made the top 10.

Marks & Spencer’s Percy Pig, who started as a sweet but came to life for the first time in last year’s Christmas campaign, also features in the list compiled by The Grocer.

The trade journal also named nine faces of brands which are missed by the public.

They include Tony and Sharon – played by Anthony Head and Sharon Maughan – in a series of romantic ads for Nescafe Gold Blend from 1987 to 1993.

Instant mash brand Smash’s lovable martians and the Man from Del Monte who often said “yes” were on the gone but not forgotten list.

Camilla Yates, strategy director at creative agency Elvis, said: “Brand characters are more effective than any other element. They humanise a brand, adding warmth and personality to a set of attributes.”

ruki.sayid@mirror.co.uk