Whilst I was on my extended sabbatical it seems it’s become accepted fact that the Yeo Valley advert – Come on, you must have seen it! The one with the Yeo Boyz and featuring Lil Massey. No? Really? – is the “Bestest advert on tele, yeah, since the one with, like, the drumming monkey in it, innit”.

But I’m not so convinced.

No, what bothers me about this ad is the feeling it – and the whole Rapping Farmers campaign – is based solely on “Yeo” being pronounced “Yo”. And rappists like to say “Yo”. Quite a lot. As funny ideas go, it’s so flimsy that even Armstrong & Miller would think twice about turning it into a 2 minute routine – 2 minutes!

Note to reader: Of course, I’m no stranger to basing work on flimsy ideas, it’s true. But the big difference being that a terrible TV’s Worst Advert entry only costs me the time it takes to write, 300 pissed of subscribers and the 2 crates of Babycham to wash down the shame.

No, for me, this advert isn’t just in a different flimsy league, it’s playing a whole different flimsy sport. And it’s forgotten its flimsy kit.

That’s not to say it isn’t well made – some hip-hop producer or other was involved, I seem to remember reading… somewhere – and as I said before it’s already being hailed as the “greatest advert ever” – even by some of the more sentient of YouTube commenters.

But for all the coverage it’s got Yeo Valley and all the online views, as a representation of the Yeo Valley and the organic farming community it’s so cringe-worthy it’s little more than a really long and expensive updating of the “Young Farmers Do It With Their Wellies On” bumper sticker. But not as funny. Because its combination of premium brand organic yoghurt and chav-hop just makes it so completely unpalatable. As unpalatable as a pot of organic yoghurt that’s been left on a radiator for a fortnight.

Only it’s slightly cheesier. Huh. And more stomach churning. Huh, huh. And more blood curdling. Huh, huh, huh. And it turns your phlegm pro-biotic. Huh… Erm, I’ve got carried away with dairy puns, haven’t I?

Anyway, big up your chest and watch the cow’s mess:

So after the ads overwhelming positive response, I’m sure this wont be the most popular entry on TWS but I’ve got a message for the dissenters : “AYHSMW” – that’s “All You Haterz Suck My Wurzels” obviously:

Bumpkin ‘Till I Dies.

Just How Bad is this Ad?

(21 votes, average: 2.90 out of 5)