British Arrows Celebrates 50 Years of TV Adverts at Outernet
The first major retrospective of British TV advertising is coming to Outernet London celebrating the best advertising from the last 50 years. The Ads of the Years exhibition features the top adverts from 1976 to the present day, which have been selected from the archives of the British Arrows as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. 68 iconic commercials displayed as a 360-degree immersive experience lets visitors get close to the very best of British advertising.
Classic TV spots including Parker Pens “Finishing School” (1976), directed by Sir Alan Parker and starring Penelope Keith, Courage Best “Gercha” (1980), soundtracked by Chas and Dave, and LEGO “Kipper” (1981), narrated by Tommy Cooper, will feature alongside modern hits including Levi’s “Swimmer” (1994), which helped created a chart-topper for indie band Stiltskin, Cadbury’s Phil Collins-inspired drumming “Gorilla” (2008) and Nike’s internet-breaking “Nothing Beats a Londoner” with cameos from Giggs, Skepta, Harry Kane, Mo Farah and Dina Asher-Smith, to name just a few.
The Ads of the Years exhibition features the top adverts from 1976 to the present day.
Visitors will also be able to vote for their favourite advert of the last 50 years, which will be announced as the first People’s Arrow award in March.
Vote for the Favourite TV Commercial on the British Arrows website
The adverts are also available to view on the British Arrows YouTube channel
Simon Cooper, Chairman of British Arrows and owner and managing director of Academy Films said:
“British television advertising is recognised as the best in the world, offering a compelling and entertaining reflection of popular culture, and creating pieces of film that can define an era and stay with you forever. This remarkable collection of iconic Arrow-winning adverts from the past 50 years provides a vivid snapshot of British society and a joyful reminder of why beer-drinking, cartwheeling dogs, drumming gorillas, bouncing balls, bear-fighting fishermen, happiness-inducing cigars and patient surfers, among many others, hold such a lasting place in our collective consciousness. It also demonstrates the power of contemporary public-awareness campaigns to challenge taboos around menstruation and to save lives by opening conversations around suicide. With the sector now more culturally and economically important to the UK than ever, we hope this retrospective, exhibited on Outernet’s extraordinary screens, not only celebrates its legacy, but inspires a new generation of creatives, craftspeople and innovators.”
Jessica Dracup-Holland CMO Outernet said:
“British advertising is one of our most powerful creative forces – shaping culture, sparking conversation, and delivering real-world impact far beyond the screen. This curated experience celebrates an industry that not only drives the UK economy, but uses creativity for good, from changing behaviours to saving lives. We’re incredibly proud to elevate our long-standing partnership with the British Arrows as they mark this milestone moment, and to bring these iconic, unmistakably British adverts to life on Outernet’s immersive canvas. It’s a showcase the advertising community will revel in, and one our audiences will love, taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane.”
