Norwich Union – Norwich Union Life Insurance with Ross Kemp
16 August 2007 by SilkyI love Ross Kemp.
He’s my favourite cardboard cut-out on the box. He’s rightly become a highly regarded televisual acting personality (despite looking like a slightly retarded baked potato – albeit an adorable one).
I loved him on Eastenders where he played Grant an ex-soldier. I sat open-jawed as I watched Kemp with all the emotions at his beck and call: angry, sad, and er, well that was enough for the part really.
Oh and he was brilliant in Ultimate Force where he stretched himself by playing Henno a serving soldier. His mastery of the craft was stretched too, he did: angry, sad and, that was it too.
I love him in the new Norwich Union advert too:
He’s managed to get a new acting facial expression – neither “angry” nor “sad” – I think it’s “smug”. But I could be mistaken, it might just be a bit of wind.
Anyways, I love the bit where you think your prayers are going to be answered and he is finally going to run down by a bus.
“Come on… Come on… Come on… NOOOOO!!!”
Getting my hopes up then dashing them so cruelly. Damn you, Norwich Union! Damn you!
The pay off of after the near miss with the bus is a piece of pure, unadulterated TV advertising genius – well written, well directed, well acted.
And it all hinges on Kemp’s natural comic timing as he delivers the final killer line:
“What. Are. You. Waiting. For. A. Bus.”
It always makes me wish I did have life insurance too, as I nearly die laughing each time I see it.
More, please Norwich Union. More.



(8 votes, average: 3.38 out of 5)




5Responses:
Steve
Said on the 16 August 2007
I’ve not seen this ad, but does Ross Kemp really need the money? He would’ve earned a six figure salary during all the years he was on EastEnders and he wouldn’t have moved to ITV for buttons. I’m reminded of one of the great Tony Hancock’s radio shows (The Impersonator) where he talks about “actors who do tatty adverts losing their dignity”. You never said a truer word, Tone.
Home Loan Master
Said on the 21 April 2008
Bwahahahah, horriblE!
TV’s Worst Adverts » Sky+ - Utter Simplicity » Some of UK TVs Worst Adverts
Said on the 26 May 2008
[...] charges only to find yourself watching re-runs of the Good Life on UKTVGold – then the fact that Ross Kemp’s nan has [...]
Bobdog12
Said on the 30 August 2008
Ross doesn’t need the money. He’s doing it for us!
flood damage alhambra
Said on the 6 January 2011
Intriguing tactic. I’m suprised I couldnt notice this on your large news sites first. Nicely played!