Scalextric was invented by engineer Fred Francis in 1956, who put small electric motors into model Scalex cars. "Scalextric" appealed to adults as much as children. Fast forward to 1998 and LHS created some fabulous ads for the brand, based on that simple insight. #advertising

Today is International Women's Day, an annual event that originated in 1909 when a "Women's Day" was organised by the Socialist Party of America. In 2017, State Street Global Advisors commissioned ‘Fearless Girl’, a bronze statue facing the iconic Wall Street Charging Bull. #advertising #IWD

This 2016 ad for Philips is a lovely bit of storytelling. Largely because it’s based on the real-life story of a window cleaner at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota who famously dressed as Spider-Man to lift the spirits of sick children. #advertising

The 2026 Winter Paralympics kick off today in Milan. I’m reminded of this 2018 Super Bowl ad. It features legendary Canadian 🇨🇦 para-alpine skier Lauren Woolstencroft who beat 1 billion to 1 odds to win eight Paralympic gold medals. #advertising

The new F1 season starts this weekend, and with 24 races, the teams can’t rest from now until the final race in Abu Dhabi. This insight fuelled the idea of a never-ending track when I ran the UBS account, and led to this animated film, dramatising a multi-track lap in all its glory. #advertising

In a fabulous parody of BA’s ‘Red Eye’ ad, Gold Greenlees Trott created this fabulous ad for Britain’s Petite toy typewriters. Must have been 1988/89. #advertising

“Pleasant trip?” British Airways' 1988 ‘Red Eye’ ad accurately captured the macho corporate one-upmanship of the 80s. Created by Saatchi & Saatchi, and directed by Richard Loncraine, the ad promoted the newly launched Club World (Business Class). #advertising

No one outside the US has heard of the Jack in the Box restaurant chain, which has over 2,000 restaurants and 80% brand awareness. The company's advertising features a no-nonsense CEO who just happens to have an enormous round clown head. #advertising

Happy 82nd birthday to the legendary Sir Roger Daltrey. Born in London during a German bombing raid, he helped make The Who one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. I always remember his appearance in this 1985 ad for American Express: "Don't Leave home without It!" #advertising

“Labour Isn’t Working” was voted by ad title Campaign in 1999 as "the greatest poster of the previous century" (in Andrew Rutherford’s obituary). The year after that, election ad content became unregulated 25 years on, what’s happened to election ads? www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...

Here’s a lesser-known ad (1980) from one of the greatest campaigns in British advertising history. The Cinzano ads, which ran from 1978 to 1983, paired comedy genius Leonard Rossiter with actress Joan Collins. #advertising

Here’s an ad you won’t forget in a hurry. It’s from India, for Steadfast money counting machines, and it’s called ‘Dirty Money’ for a reason. Created in 2025, it proved that advertising for a mundane B2B product doesn’t have to be mundane. Just don’t watch this on a full stomach. #advertising

Five years after CDP/Ridley Scott’s famous Hovis ad, Ronnie Barker shot this parody in the same location, carrying his loaf to the top of Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, Dorset. Happy Friday! #advertising

I see that the US House Oversight Committee is hearing testimony from the Clintons. I won’t comment on the politics, but it certainly seems reminiscent of the 1954 McCarthy hearings. It reminded me of this fabulous 1995 ad for Carlsberg, created (I think) by Saatchi & Saatchi. #advertising

This fabulous IKEA ad from 2016 is a social comment on people's obsession with posting pictures of their food on Instagram. Imagine how that would play out in pre-revolutionary France. #advertising

In 2009, a Seattle-based seafood restaurant chain called Ivar's aired the shortest Super Bowl TV commercial ever. It was half a second. The half-second regional spot was inspired by news that Miller High Life were planning a one-second ad. Ready? Don’t blink! #advertising

In 2012, James Gandolfini surprised everyone by stepping back into his Tony Soprano character in a promotional film for the airing of The Sopranos on HBO-owned cable channel ‘yes Oh’ in Israel. It was, however, regularly misidentified as an ad for a life insurance company. #advertising

How about a "Sack o'sauce in a can o'meat"?

This 1999 ad for Hyundai Sweden, titled ‘Toy Boy’, often pops up on social media. It's a lot of fun, created by Leo Burnett Stockholm, filmed in Majorca. A 'Toy Girl' version was also made in case of criticism, but research quickly showed that the public much preferred the original. #advertising

Ribs in a can anyone?

"Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me!" Happy birthday to the wonderful Kenneth Williams, who would have been 100 today. Famous for his roles in 26 Carry On films and many British TV and radio shows and ads. Here he is in a 1983 ad for Dylon fabric dye. #advertising #KennethWilliams

At a recent event I heard some great insights from a recruitment specialist. The first thing he said was to “scrap the CV” as most skills are obsolete within 2.5 years, so the majority of your CV is probably irrelevant. So when I came across this fabulous Dilbert cartoon… #advertising

I always loved these 2006 ads for Virgin Trains, part of a campaign created by Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R that highlights the "valuable thinking time" passengers gain while traveling by rail. #advertising

Back in the 1960s and 70s, Heinz Pickles ran a successful campaign based on the insight that people like their pickles crisp and crunchy, not soft and mushy. "The Proud, Loud Pickle" summed it up perfectly. This ad is from 1971. Btw, my Canadian wife insists that Bick’s is best! #advertising

In 2023, to support its sponsorship of the Clermont Short Film Festival, French TV channel Canal+ released a short film of its own, ‘Papa’, which was shown at the festival and subsequently (deservedly) won a Cannes Gold Lion and D&AD pencil. Happy Friday! #advertising

I previously shared a 2005 ad for Bud Light. It’s strikingly close to this ad, shot in the early 1990s for Swedish bank Handelsbanken by director Roy Andersson. That ad promotes the bank's pension plans and won a Gold Lion at Cannes. #advertising

I’ve always loved this 2005 ad for Bud Light, created by DDB Chicago, that aired during Super Bowl XXXIX. It’s very funny. #advertising

The March of the Emperor was created in 2005 for French channel Canal+. Inspired by the nature documentary March of the Penguins, it turns a simple misunderstanding into a glorious piece of filmic storytelling and won a sledload of awards incl. a Cannes Gold Lion and D&AD pencils. #advertising

It’s Pancake Day in the UK. Jif Lemon juice in its distinctive plastic pack was launched in 1956, exactly 70 years ago, and became a staple in many households. The brand focused on marketing around Pancake Day with the slogan "Don't forget the pancakes on Jif Lemon Day". #advertising #pancakeday

A classic TV ad for Electronic Data Systems (EDS) from 2000. It features largely real cowboys herding thousands of cats across the Montana prairie - their faces made up to look cat-scratched. Horses and cats were filmed separately in order to prevent ‘accidental tramplings’. #advertising

I read that more people will see your post if you include cats. It’s a perfect excuse to share this 1984 ad for Ambi Pur air freshener. Back in my GGT days it always appeared on Dave Trott's Favourite Ads reel, used to emphasise the importance of showing, not telling. Agency was Grey. #advertising

Here’s a lovely Spanish ad for IKEA. Created in 2013 by SCPF Barcelona, ‘Start Something New’ is a beautiful bit of storytelling, showing how the smallest of decisions, like buying a chair, can be life-changing. Shot by multi-award-winning director Pep Bosch. #advertising

Last one for Valentine’s Day. In 1989 Publicis created a cheeky parody of the Nescafe Gold Blend series with this beauty for Harp Lager. #advertising #valentines

A classic ad to help celebrate Valentine's Day. Created by CDP, it's from 1990, a year after that famous Only Fools and Horses episode. #advertising #valentines

As the joke goes, “90% of being married is just shouting ‘what?!’ from other rooms”. Happy Valentine’s Day to all you lovers out there. I’m loving this topical Specsavers ad, promoting an “exciting innovation in couples’ connection and intimacy”. #advertising #valentines

Remember those CAPS!

I see that Trump yesterday revoked the Obama-era scientific ruling that greenhouse gases endanger public health, calling climate change a "hoax" and a "con job". Takes us right back to the early days of climate denial. This ad for Humble Oil (now ExxonMobil) appeared in 1962. #advertising

An interesting ad from Greenpeace, that was released in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Created by Hallelujah Amsterdam, Netherlands. #advertising

If you knew how seriously Canadians take hockey, you’d appreciate just how much fun this ad is. Created for Dutch insurer Delta Lloyd in 1999, you can’t help but love it. Complete with Shirley Bassey belting out "This is my life". (Sorry about the poor quality). #advertising

If you knew how seriously Canadians take hockey, you’d appreciate just how much fun this ad is. Created for Dutch insurer Delta Lloyd in 1999, you can’t help but love it. Complete with Shirley Bassey belting out "This is my life". (Sorry about the poor quality). #advertising

Not recommended for children under six.

Here’s a fun ad from 2004 for "La chaîne du crime" (The Crime Channel) in France. Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Originally known as Military Patrol, it was one of the events in the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympic Games. Switzerland won the Gold. #advertising

I just watched ast night’s Super Bowl LX ads and one stood out. It was for Instacart, and it’s ridiculously entertaining. Directed by Spike Jonze and starring actor Ben Stiller and Benson Boone, who play a moustachioed, bickering disco-pop duo. #advertising #SuperBowl

The cartoon that appeared this week on the front page of France’s most influential national newspaper, Le Monde Brilliant work by the cartoonist, Guffo.

With the Winter Olympics very much in mind, here's a glorious Martini spoof from 1988, part of the famous campaign by Dutch insurance company Centraal Beheer. The premise is simple - no matter the crisis, just call us (“Even Apeldoorn bellen”). #advertising

Anyone who grew up in the 1970s will remember the Martini ads and the glamour that they evoked. Martini didn’t just sell vermouth, it sold the sun-drenched sophistication of European après-ski culture, with all of us singing along to its "Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere" jingle. #advertising

With the Winter Olympics kicking off today, let’s remember this wonderful 1979 ad for Cinzano, created by CDP and directed by Hugh Hudson. The Cinzano campaign ran from 1978 to '83 and paired comedy genius Leonard Rossiter with actress Joan Collins. #advertising

The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially the XXV Winter Olympic Games, starts today. The very first Winter Games took place in 1924, held in Chamonix, France. This was the official poster, painted by Auguste Matisse, depicting an eagle soaring above the bobsleigh track. #advertising

You know that feeling when you’ve just binge-watched a show? In 2018, Droga 5 captured that exact feeling with their brilliant ‘Great Shows Stay With You’ campaign to promote the Amazon Prime Video streaming service. It's a lot of fun - the scene in the elevator is pure gold. #advertising

The Milkybar Kid is strong and tough… In 1961 an advertising legend was born when the Milkybar Kid first appeared in TV ads. He was a blond, bespectacled kid, dressed as a cowboy who saves the day before shouting "The Milkybars are on me!" The McCann Erickson campaign ran for decades. #advertising