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| Billy Connolly's
British Gas 'Goldfish' Ads |
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In 1996, Billy Connolly was due to take over from Bob Hoskins in the long running "It's Good To Talk" series of ads for telecomms company BT. But at the last minute it was announced that Billy had been snatched up by British Gas to take the leading role as an old wizard in their series of commercials to lauch their new credit card Goldfish. The photo on the left appeared in the Scottish Daily Record newspaper - an obvious fake made up of a much older photo and someone else's hand! |
Billy was intended to buck up the image of British Gas, which had been
taking a pummelling from consumer groups. The initial fee was arounf £500,000
with a further £500,000 promised if it was felt that Billy had managed
to turn around British Gas' fortunes. Billy used his newly bearded look
to play a wizened old wizard who instructed a poor traveller in the best
ways to use a credit card. He had to wear purple contact lenses. |
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