TV really is eating itself.

No sooner have we had to sit through Moving Wallpaper and Echo Beach - a show about a show and then the show that the first show about a show was about - that we’re put through Rock Rivals - a show about the X-Factor but without the charm of Simon Cowell.

Now there’s this:

It’s the first in a series of adverts about making an advert for GetMinted.com but without the charm of Martine McCutcheon’s arse.

Set in the GetMinted.com offices it features one of the ugliest Elvis look-a-likes I’ve seen in a long time. Jack from Will and Grace. And an English version of the obnoxious bloke from the Phones 4 U adverts.

What a motley crew they are at GetMinted.com.

Alright, an ad about an ad is a cheap trick but then it doesn’t try to hide it. And yes, it’s “product placement” has all the subtlety of a kick in the nuts but it works OK for me.

I just hope the real GetMinted.com employees aren’t quite as big a bunch of sadsacks as this lot in the advert - or their online casino is going down faster than a set menu for 4 on Martine’s night off.