What has been the most effective ad campaign?

Wow, so many memories resurfaced just reading this thread! The road safety/public information ones definitely stick in my mind; I remember being terrified by a film we had to watch at school about a boy called Robbie who was a promising footballer, but played on the railway lines… I’m still haunted by the final scene of his football boots hanging up on a peg. The fact that all railways near where I lived were closed thanks to Dr. Beeching back in the 60s meant that it was never that likely that I would play on a railway line, but that film still scared the life out of me.

Away from the scary stuff, it’s strange what comes to mind - the first one was, “Ariston, and on, and Ariston” and “Alright Tosh, got a Toshiba?”. Also Scotch video tapes - “Re-record, don’t fade away”.

Also can’t hear the song It’s My Life without thinking of those Tampax adverts from the 90s.

Maybe they planned to but couldn't get permission?

I've seen a shocking Irish advert made to illustrate the number of children killed by speeding drivers. An entire class of young children on an outing are crushed by a speeding car when it overturns.

But the saddest road safety advert I've ever seen, because it was real, was one from the UK in the late 90s/early 2000s. Short home video clips were played of four children in turn, and the captions introduced each child by name. The text on the screen then revealed that they were all killed by speeding drivers near their homes and adds "sometimes we all drive a little too fast". I think I only saw that advert once, but the memory of it still brings tears to my eyes.

There's an advert on our local radio station for double glazing, the company is called Lochinvar. The jingle is 'you're better by far, with Lochinvar!'. It's been around forever. Apparently the owners are all millionaires, because the name is so ingrained.

I agree with this. I remember seeing their first ads and thinking wtf that’s such a shit advert. And then you realised how effective it was with the one with the car doors shutting with just the rhythm of the jingle and no words

Compare the meerkat. So stupid but so effective.

Also Irish and our road safety ads were just as brutal.

“‘Twas the lad without the seatbelt did the damage” four teens heading out for the night and one girl ends up with a brain injury as a boy in the back is flung forward on impact.

There was another awful one where a man has a few beers after playing football with the lads, as he’s driving home he swerves to avoid a tractor and the car rolls… over a hedge and into a back garden where a small boy was playing football a moment before. I always remember the look on the dad’s face as he came barrelling out the back door. Hope that actor was well paid, his face lives in my head forever!

Other favourites:
”Who’s taking the horse to France?”
“Wake up in the morning, lots of hot water, NightSaver Electricity been working all night! Ooh, ooh, the NightSaver”

And I am sure most know now that the Secret Lemonade Drinker was Elvis Cosltello's dad.
The advert that sticks in my mind most is a radio ad from Radio Luxembourg. I have no idea where Keynsham is, but I know how to spell it.

For those who have mentioned the Cadbury gorilla playing guitar, it was the drums! Phil Collins.

If you've ever heard "DoE supported by AXA" at the end of an ad chances are you drive a bit more carefully and there are some songs you just can't listen to. Fleetwood Mac's Man of the World for example. Those ads probably saved a few lives.

Lombard Direct 0800 215000

We still say 'that's handy, stick it in the oven' in our house - think it was a Birds Eye ad and they were all in the back of a van.

Also, Daddy or Chips and McCain we are family although never understood why they don't use sister sledge for that one!

Madness, madness, they call it madness. Buy a Sekonda, it'll fill you with gladness. It does the same job, but it'll save you a fair few bob

hamlet i agree,
i had a hamlet moment recently

i cant exactly remember what it was, probably something to do with my phone not working properly but i definitely said to myself. that was a hamlet moment and i remembered the panda advert,

Me ears are alight

I bet he drinks Carling Black Label...

Pint of Harp and a packet of dates please, Laurence!

• Accrington Stanley - who are they?
• Exactly!

There was another one maybe late 90,s early 00,s that started off with " Susan ( cant remember actual name) knew her killer ,and it was a mother driving her two teenage kids too school and she stopped suddenly making her son ( who wasent wearing a seat belt ) jolt forward from the back seat slamming into her and killing her instantly.

Hastings direct - name a single other company whose number you could sing!

The Maxell tape advert with Pete Murphy from Bauhaus 😍

Heineken: The Water in Majorca Don’t Taste Like What It Oughta

The jaffa cake ad was another memorable one.

'New, moon, quarter moon, Full moon'

“We want to be together” is another one that lives rent free in my head even today.