Old Lions open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

When you can't shampoo... MINIPOO.

Love Football. This classic ad for Carling may be 20 years old but it remains one of the most popular football-themed ads of all time. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Are you ready for it? Taylor Swift is getting married today. This is BIG NEWS!. She's appeared in a lot of ads over the years. One of her most memorable ads was this 2017 campaign for Taylor Swift NOW, a video-on-demand service on AT&T/DIRECTV, featuring her sixth studio album, Reputation.

RIP Mrs Merton. Ten years after her early death, we remember comedy legend Caroline Aherne, who starred as Mrs Merton is this 1996 campaign for British Gas. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Now this would be useful!

When dreams go up in smoke. This famous 1970s ad for Hamlet Cigars brings us the ecstasy and the agony of the UK Football Pools. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Only football. The 1998 campaign for Umbro that won the awards and lost the account. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

"I am Canadian!" Two ads, 25 years apart, one patriotic message. There's no denying the power of this campaign for Molson. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

In 1977, CDP made this brilliant ad for Parker Pens featuring comedy legend Leonard Rossiter. As director Alan Parker later said: "There was a period of time when the commercials were far and away the most interesting thing you could see that evening on television." substack.com/profile/1523...

Hand of God. The Hoopy McHula campaign was a memorable (and very silly) trilogy of TV ads from 2000 promoting KP Hula Hoops. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

"Spending Daddy's lovely money" RIP Penelope Keith, star of this iconic 1970s ad for the Parker 'Lady Pen'. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Labour pains. How a tactical opportunity was turned into one of the best press ads of the decade. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

The 100-year old comedy genius. As Mel Brooks celebrates his 100th birthday, here's a look at a 1970s ad campaign that proves he was totally bananas. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Till kick-off do us part. The dark humour of this Football Italia ad has travelled the world but will never not be funny. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Take it to the next level. Considered one of the best professional football ads of all time, this 2008 Nike film captures the pain and the glory of the sport. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

“Alas, poor Yorick!” This 1986 ad for Carling Black Label brings The Beautiful Game to Shakespeare's famous tragedy. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Free kick. Terrific football-themed ad from the multi-award-winning and long-running Hamlet Cigars campaign. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

"Two World Wars and one World Cup" MTN's 2010 World Cup ad pokes fun at the historical rivalry between English and German supporters. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Circus Lion. This 1954 animated film for a German toothpaste brand was the very first winner of a Cannes Lion. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Happy Father's Day.

Style tips.

Protect yourself. This 2013 ad for Durex may convince you to postpone starting a family. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

My Dad's Car. What better way to enjoy Father's Day than to watch this emotive 2011 ad for Chevy. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

"This, ball. This, net" This 2002 Jaffa Cakes ad was a lot of fun, though sadly fell foul of complaints for fat-shaming. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Juneteenth. Patagonia shows that acting on principles rather than promotions can be good for business. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Sticky fingers. How a simple Brazilian ad for a superglue became a global award winner. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

The Switch. Nike's current World Cup ad can't compete with its brilliant film from ten years earlier. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Watergate. 54 years since the Watergate break-in reminds me of another crime gone wrong, the subject of this brilliant ad for Philips. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Team talk. Carlsberg's England "Team talk", which ran ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals, motivated beer drinkers, if not the team players. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Allez Les Bleus! This 2023 ad from French telecoms company Orange tackles prejudice in sport by involving the viewer in a clever deceit. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

“Spanish Passion” As Spain kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign, let's remember this campaign for language-learning app Babbel. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

“Typisch Deutsch” This 2024 ad for Adidas successfully challenged old-fashioned stereotypes of what it means to be German. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

I have mixed feelings about this.

C’mon the lads! As Scotland kick off their World Cup campaign, let's remember one of the most groundbreaking Scottish ads ever made. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Fowl behaviour. This 2018 ad for KFC went viral for seeming to mock the theatrics of Brazilian star Neymar. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

I was very sad to hear that David Hockney has died just shy of his 89th birthday. substack.com/@simeyd/note...

“’Ave it!” This ad for John Smith's, featuring comedian Peter Kay, was launched to coincide with the 2002 World Cup. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Time for kick-off! As the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals kick off, here's a classic Carling ad that imagines England before football. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

“We’re made in Scotland from girders”. Irn-Bru's joyously self-deprecating ad plays up Scotland's chances of winning the upcoming FIFA World Cup. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Totally Real Virtual Reality. This fun marketing stunt shows what happens when your virtual reality isn’t quite so virtual. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

World Oceans Day. How the Co-operative Bank's 'ethical banking' stance made a powerful statement against companies that pollute. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Make your children love you…with sausages?

Unconditional love. This award-winning campaign for a local New Jersey animal shelter gained massive international recognition. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Love Over Gold. RIP Anthony Head, the British actor who was one half of the famous Nescafe Gold Blend couple. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

The original Shockvertisment. This legendary 1970 public health poster caused a whole generation to become hyper-aware of food hygiene. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

The fire's still burning. Burger King Brazil's 70th anniversary campaign celebrates some serious senior sizzle. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

Leica’s forbidden film. How a 5 minute promotional film for German camera brand Leica sparked a massive backlash in China. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...

A business's worst nightmare? This 2026 ad for Peruvian IT company ON Negocios shows how creativity can cut through the driest subject matter. open.substack.com/pub/simeyd/p...