RSPCA: Simon Cowell and Fearne Cotton are voiceovers on new RSPCA TV Ad
RSPCA
The Countryside Alliance’s purpose is to campaign for the countryside, country sports and the rural way of life. |  |
Find more Opinion Formers in this category:
Thursday, 12, Jul 2007 12:00
“I’m An Animal Help Me Out”
-Simon Cowell And Fearne Cotton Are Voiceovers On New RSPCA TV AD -
Simon Cowell and Fearne Cotton star as voiceovers on a powerful new RSPCA television advert which aims to raise more funds to help the charity carry out its vital work rescuing and rehoming needy animals.
The 90 second ad - called “I’m An Animal Help Me Out” - hits screens on Monday 16 July. It has been created using inspiration from reality TV shows as a new way to grab viewers’ attention on a serious subject.
The ad plays on the popular voting feature of reality TV programmes where viewers are moved to text or phone vote for their favourite person or act. It features three stories of animals who need saving. They are:
1. Poppy the kitten who has been dumped in an alleyway and left to starve.
2. Honey the dog who has been beaten by his owner.
3. Tilly the puppy who has been used by her owner as an ashtray to stub cigarettes out.
After each story viewers are given a number and asked to phone or text to make a donation to help the animal they most want to save. But there is a catch - every phone/text number for each animal is in fact identical. This is to show that all the animals are equally important and need help. The ad concludes by featuring ‘happy ever after’ stories of animals who have already been helped by the RSPCA and now have new homes.
None of the stories used are real cases but are based on the typical sorts of situations the RSPCA faces day in day out.
Simon Cowell said: “When I was asked to get involved with this project for the RSPCA, I didn’t hesitate. I think the work they do is vitally important in protecting many thousands of animals from harm and neglect every single year.
“Inflicting any kind of suffering on a defenceless animal is one of the most deplorable acts a human being can do and we all have a responsibility to stop this from happening. The RSPCA doesn’t receive any Government funding whatsoever, so they are totally reliant on the generosity of the public.
“Put simply, the RSPCA cannot continue to rescue, treat and re-home over a thousand neglected, injured and sick animals every month without your help. So please show your support in any way you can.”
Louise Richmond, RSPCA marketing manager for donor recruitment, added: “The advert has been designed to be quirky and powerful, with a distinct reality TV feel and look that is familiar to viewers. In doing this we really hope to hold people’s attention, get them thinking about the importance of the RSPCA’s work in helping animals, and to make a donation to make this work possible.”
The advert will be shown on national and regional TV channels - including Living, UKTV, E4, Granada, and HTV Wales and West - from Monday 16 July. The ad can also be downloaded from a supporting microsite www.rspca.org.uk/animal
Simon Cowell will be judging a heat of the RSPCA Dog of the Year competition at the RSPCA animal centre in Patcham, Brighton this Sunday.
Notes to editors:
• Simon Cowell and Fearne Cotton gave their time for free to do the voiceover and received no payment from the RSPCA • The TV ad is supported by online marketing activity including banners, as well as a door drop to households in key viewing areas • There are two versions of the ad - one which asks viewers to text to make a donation and one which asks viewers to call • The ad was created by London-based marketing agency bright.