Adverts E

The privatisation of the UK's electric network happened in two phases in 1990 and 1991. In the first phase in 1990, the 12 regions of Central Electricity Generating Board was split off into 12 companies in England and Wales, with shares being offered in each by the UK Government. A campaign was launched to promote this, showing a collection of horror movie characters looking at how they could get into the share offer.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

A second advert to promote the new shares in the regional electricity companies. This time round, Frankenstein's Monster doubles up as a cigarette lighter.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Another advert promoting shares for the newly privatised regional electricity companies. This time Frankenstein's Monster is finding the £100 minimum that he needs to invest.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

HM Government continue to use the 'monsters' theme for their Electricity share campaign a few months later, as the deadline for applying looms in December 1990.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

In the second phase of the UK privatisation in 1991, shares were offered for the power generation companies National Power and Powergen by HM Government. This animated advert encourages investors to get their own prospectus for the share offer, reusing the same phone number as had been used in the 1990 share offer.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Electrolux in 1997 reminding us that devastating cyclones are actually caused by those in the heavens doing a bit of hoovering.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

In an attempt to stimulate businesses, the then Department for Trade and Industry promote their 'Enterprise Initiative' help, complete with some cheesy special effects and hammy acting.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Forgotten to feed your cat today? Well you'd better hope you don't own one of the latest Epson printers in 1997 with pictures so pin sharp you wouldn't know they weren't the real thing...

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Those super pin-sharp Epson printers work to everyone's advantage, as a second advert in the 'cat' series demonstrates...

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Antoine de Caunes, of Eurotrash fame, appears in an advert to promote Eurostar in 1996. Extolling the virtues of how quickly you could be enjoying yourself in Paris, rather than suffering in the UK. Watch out for the graphical glitch at 8 seconds, which would normally have been hidden on a TV's overscan area.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Part 1 of the tediously-long-running Ever Ready Forever Eddy story starts off with Eddy and a clown. As... all good stories do!

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

From 1992, and the now discontinued Ever Ready Gold Seal line is advertised in another part of the long-running Forever Eddy story. A series of commercials extolling the virtues of how long the brand lasts.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image
• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image