The History of Advertising Podcast

Chariots of Fire director Hugh Hudson recounts some of the most visually stunning campaigns he developed, and Sir Frank Lowe recalls what it was like filming an ad for Fiat in Italy during 'The Years of Bullets.'

Bring me sunshine, bring me love, and bring me comedians to star in my ad. In this episode, the History of Advertising Podcast speaks with Dave Trott, Sir Frank Lowe and Sir Alan Parker about the value that comedians can bring to a campaign. 

Do celebrities really add all that much to an ad? After all, many of the most definitive campaigns have featured people who were barely better known than a dead hermit.In this episode, the History of Advertising Podcast tries to get to the bottom of the issue by looking at campaigns from Birds Eye (one of the first to use ‘real’, regional actors) and Holsten Pills (featuring Griff Rhys Jones and the revived digital corpse of John Wayne).

What happened to political advertising following the fall of Thatcher? And which anti-Blair ad was banned by the censors following complaints from the Bishop of Oxford? The History of Advertising Podcast looks at pivotal political campaigns from the end of the twentieth century. 

What role did the Labour isn't Working campaign play in Margaret Thatcher's rise to power? And how did Chariots of Fire director Hugh Hudson come to work on  Neil Kinnock's campaign film? The History of Advertising Podcasts looks at the role advertising has played in politics. 

This Christmas, Iceland’s Christmas ad never made into our screens. The budget retailer’s decision to partner with Greenpeace to present an ad condemning the destruction of rainforest habitat was banned by censors for being too political. However, thanks to its banned status, it became one of the most viewed adverts on social media over the festive season. Censors have been accused of curtailing creativity ever since they came into existence. In this episode the History of Advertising Podcast looks at two very different campaigns, one from Cosmpolitan and another from Benson and Hedges, who creatively navigated the censors to deliver provocative adverts. 

What does it take to write a killer line? It’s a question which makes half the population of adland tear their hair out. In this episode, the History of Advertising Podcast looks at one of the most enduring slogans of all time: 'Every Little Helps'. 

This podcast explores the art of spoofing in advertising and focuses on the successful parody of Martini by Cinzano. It also discusses the power of improvisation in the advertising industry and a unused spoof ad idea for After Eight. The enduring success of After Eight's dinner party ad campaign is also explored.

The golden age of British advertising was more than just Mad Men and liquid lunches. Every week, the History of Advertising podcast reveals the stories behind the nation’s most celebrated adverts.

Learn how Toshiba differentiated themselves and gained popularity through creative brand integration. Discover the successful advertising strategies used by London Docklands to change their reputation and attract businesses.