Supercars of the 80s – Ferrari Testarossa
Step back into the 80s with the iconic Ferrari Testarossa, the symbol of style and speed that defined a decade
May 27, 2023
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Step back in time and prepare for a wave of warm nostalgia as we journey back to the 1980s – a time of iconic music, distinctive fashion, and unforgettable television.
One thing that truly encapsulates the spirit of this bold and vibrant era is its unique TV adverts.
A crucial part of the viewing experience, these memorable clips offered more than just product promotion; they captured our imaginations, made us laugh, and even tugged at our heartstrings. From catchy jingles to memorable mascots, these TV adverts are a time capsule of the cultural landscape of the UK in the 1980s.
So grab a cup of tea, settle in, and enjoy these handpicked videos of classic 1980s UK TV adverts for a delightful stroll down memory lane.
Let us begin…
Kia-Ora, a brand of orange squash and fruit beverages, had a memorable television advertisement in the UK that’s still fondly remembered by many.
The advert showcased cartoon-style animation and revolved around a friendly, anthropomorphic crow with a striking orange colour, reflective of the drink itself. The main character was usually seen in some sort of journey or adventure, accompanied by a variety of other characters. The most notable part of the advert was its catchy jingle, which went “Kia-Ora, we all adore a… Kia-Ora!”. This tune, along with the tagline “I’ll be your dog,” became ingrained in the minds of the viewers, making it a memorable piece of advertising history.
The Milk Tray advertisements from the 1980s in the UK are classic examples of a long-standing campaign that was both memorable and effective. The iconic ‘Milk Tray Man’ commercials helped to establish Cadbury’s Milk Tray chocolates as a symbol of secret admiration and romantic indulgence.
Each advert typically followed the same premise. A mysterious man, always dressed in a black turtleneck and trousers (a ‘James Bond’ type), would undertake a series of dangerous and exciting stunts – anything from parachuting out of a plane, diving into shark-infested waters, to crossing a ravine on a rope bridge – all to deliver a box of Milk Tray chocolates. However, the Milk Tray Man would always leave before the recipient of the chocolates discovered the gift, adding to his aura of mystery and intrigue.
Perhaps the most memorable part of each advertisement was the closing line, delivered in voice-over: “And all because the lady loves Milk Tray.” This tagline became ingrained in popular culture and is still recognisable to many people today.
The message was clear: Milk Tray chocolates weren’t just a sweet treat, they were worth going to extraordinary lengths for.
The OXO cube advertisements from the 1980s are quintessential parts of UK television history, well-remembered for their heartwarming depiction of family life.
The adverts revolved around the ‘OXO family’, led by actress Lynda Bellingham as the nurturing, resourceful mother and Michael Redfern as the affable father. They were depicted as a typical, middle-class UK family with three children.
The central narrative of these ads was often situated around a family meal, with the mother preparing a dish using OXO cubes to enhance the flavor. They successfully painted a picture of warm, familial domesticity, often featuring typical family scenarios, banter, and mild dilemmas, all ultimately solved by sitting down to a tasty, OXO-enhanced meal.
One of the most iconic elements of these ads was the ending, where the family would sit down to enjoy their meal together, always enhanced by OXO, reinforcing the brand’s association with family unity and wholesome, home-cooked meals.
The Trio chocolate bar advertisements from the 1980s were catchy, memorable, and very much a reflection of the decade’s bold style and sounds.
The advertisements centred on a rock band’s lead singer Suzy, who passionately sang about Trio bars with a raucous, infectious energy. The lyrics were straightforward and earworm-worthy: “Trio! Trio! I want a Trio and I want one now! Not one, not two, but three things in it! A chocolatey biscuit and a toffee taste too!”
The Tunes adverts from the 1980s were memorable for their distinctive, playful approach to marketing cough sweets.
They used a recurring, comedic narrative featuring a man suffering from a cold trying to communicate across a train station ticket booth. The punchline was the hilariously miscommunication due to the man’s blocked nose.
The Nescafé Gold Blend advertisements from the 1980s were unique and innovative, standing out in the realm of coffee marketing. They created a sophisticated, romantic drama starring Anthony Head and Sharon Maughan that unfolded over a series of advertisements.
The two played a couple whose romance unfolded over multiple commercials. Their on-screen chemistry captivated audiences and made the campaign a memorable part of 1980s UK advertising.
The adverts usually showcased the computer’s superior graphics and sound capabilities, highlighting its 64KB of memory as a major selling point. Alongside this, the commercial would also emphasize the extensive library of software available for the Commodore 64.
. In a time before advertising tobacco was banned, Hamlet Cigar ads were widely recognized for their distinctive style and memorable tagline, “Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet.”
These advertisements typically featured a series of comedic vignettes in which the protagonist would find themselves in a variety of absurd and frustrating situations. For example, one well-known ad depicted a man struggling to place a pool shot in a crowded and noisy bar, only for the cue ball to fly off the table when he finally makes his shot.
Invariably, the protagonist’s moment of disappointment or embarrassment would be soothed by lighting up a Hamlet cigar. The appearance of the cigar was often accompanied by the soothing strains of Bach’s “Air on the G String,” a stark contrast to the comedic chaos of the previous moments. The character would then be seen to visibly relax, taking comfort in the cigar amidst the surrounding misfortune.
The Yellow Pages advertisement featuring J.R. Hartley from the 1980s is one of the most iconic and well-remembered in UK TV ad history. It was a touching and humorous ad campaign that brilliantly captured a sentimental view of the past.
The advertisement begins with an elderly man, later revealed as J.R. Hartley, going from bookshop to bookshop in search of a book titled ‘Fly Fishing’. However, he is unsuccessful, as the book is out of print and can’t be found in any of the stores he visits.
Defeated, he returns home where his daughter suggests using the Yellow Pages to contact local book dealers. With the assistance of the directory, he calls several bookshops until he finds one that has the book he’s looking for. The climax of the ad is a heartwarming twist when he is asked his name for the reservation and he replies, “My name? Oh, yes, it’s J.R. Hartley.” This indicates that he is, in fact, the author of the out-of-print book, thus revealing a deeper layer to his quest to find the book.
The advertisement was hugely successful in showcasing the usefulness of the Yellow Pages while also telling a charming story that resonated with viewers. Even decades later, the name J.R. Hartley is still associated with the Yellow Pages in the UK. The advert even led to a real book being published under the pseudonym J.R. Hartley.
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1980 saw the first CND rallies, the Alton Towers theme park opening and the murder of John Lennon in New York. The Moscow Olympics was the sport highlight.
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