Bradley Walsh dressed in Santa hat promotes the latest gift craze – livestock for third world countries. The ad’s showing at Visit 4 info – free to view in quicktime or WMV for 3 months after it was uploaded on 18 December 2005.
The spot begins with a house in darkness. In the lounge, by the Christmas tree and fireplace, is Brad writing out his Christmas gift cards and sealing them in envelopes.
Bradley begins with the first three lines from Clement Clarke Moore’s poem:
“Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the house
not a creature was stirring
except for a herd of goats, several chickens and a porky pig.
So that’s what I’m giving my lot as pressies.
Last year those scented drawer liners I gave my mother went down like a lead ballon.
The camera cuts to a close up of Bradley’s face as he sneaks into the room where his mother is sleeping and inserts the envelope in her Christmas stocking.
“This year she’s getting goats
to give to a poor family in Bangladesh.
And here… ah hah…
is the gift card to tell her.”
“And the porky pig” – the camera cuts to a man snoring in the other bed.
“And chickens for a family in Honduras…”
The sleeping wife wakes as he slips the card into her stocking.
“Hello Santa”, she says.
“Guess who rules the family around here!”, Bradley says.
The ad finishes with the explanation out in the living room.
“For as little as a fiver I get to give something amazing to everyone out of this. This is World Vision’s alternative gift catalogue”
The catalogue emits the sounds of bleating goats.
Next morning we see Bradley without Santa hat receiving a kiss from his ‘Mum’.
“Thanks son. Love the goats.”
“For your free catalogue go online or call 0800 50 10 10.”
The text: World Vision www.greatgifts.org
The ad finishes with Brad getting a kiss from his ‘Dad’.
Bradley is known in the UK for hosting Shoot the Messenger for Paramount, Sports Addicts on Challenge, Wheel of Fortune for ITV and National Lottery for BBC. He played Eric in Cash on Delivery (West End), Woody in Night and Day (ITV), Larry Harmless in Lock, Stock (TV) and continues as Danny Baldwin in Coronation Street. He was previously a professional footballer for Brentford.