Ads We Like: BA lands Michael Caine & Olivia Colman for comic inflight safety video
British Airways has bagged an array of British acting talent for the second iteration of its rib-tickling inflight safety video, created in partnership with Comic Relief.
A twist on the boring pre-flight instructional film, the 2018 spot stars the likes of Michael Caine, Olivia Colman, Naomie Harris, Joanna Lumley, David Walliams and Jourdan Dunn.
The thespians (and model) are filmed auditioning for the gig and subsequently being tortured by the ineptitude of ‘director’ Chabuddy G, aka Asim Chaudrey.
Lumley endures reading from a contrived 'Absolutely Fabulous' script, for instance, while the Bafta-winning Colman is mistaken for the tea lady.
Alongside informing travellers of crucial safety information, the film is also designed to boost fundraising for Flying Start – the charitable collaboration between BA and Comic Relief.
Originally conceived by BBH in 2017, this year’s ad was created by Ogilvy in collaboration with Comic Relief’s founder Richard Curtis. It was produced by MindsEye and directed by Benjamin Green.
The original ad featured British talent such as Rowan Atkinson, Ian McKellen and Thandie Newton and was estimated to be seen by 44 million passengers over the course of last year. It was the last work created by the Publicis agency before the integrated account was handed back WPP in May 2017.
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British Airways
British Airways is the largest airline in the United Kingdom based on fleet size, or the second largest, behind easyJet, when measured by passengers carried.
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