Grey Serves Up Some Brilliantly British Ads for Old Speckled Hen

Grey London has launched its first major campaign for Greene King beer Old Speckled Hen, celebrating the brand’s slightly different, witty and quintessentially British character Old Speckled Henry.

The campaign comprises four TVCs (the first for the brand from Grey), four radio spots and four print executions, each focused around a different event in the calendar.

Each TV ad will feature popular mascot Old Speckled Henry and his quirky, irreverent take on life, with the strapline ‘Seek out something different’. Henry will be voiced by the comedian Simon Evans.  The print executions will take the form of beautiful, eye-catching hand-painted images, with witticisms such as ‘Visiting the mother-in-law this Easter?  Perhaps a bottle of something scented will help keep things amicable’.

Additionally, Henry will be ‘writing’ a newspaper column for the Independent, The Times and The Guardian from May 2014 to May 2015.  The columns will be topical, offering a slightly different take and the tone of voice that of the ‘British Eccentric’. The copy will be written throughout the year by Grey in collaboration with Simon Evans.

Dom South, Marketing Director at Greene King says: “Old Speckled Hen is an iconic brand with a distinctive personality. Research shows it continues to be the ale most drinkers want to see on the shelf in the supermarkets.  Henry the fox is the ideal symbol of both the beer’s rich past and its bright future, with an eccentricity and humour that appeals to beer drinkers.”

Simon Brotherson, Creative Director at Grey London adds: “With our new work on Old Speckled Hen we hope to have made the already popular brand spokesman Henry even closer to the ale drinker. We've sharpened his wit, and offered his wry take on key drinking occasions. The brands future is certainly looking bright eyed and bushy tailed”

The campaign was created by Sander Vos and Tom Reas and Creatively Directed by Simon Brotherson. It was directed by Jon Riche through Love Productions.

Credits

Project name: Old Speckled Henry

Client: Dom South - Marketing Director, Katie Harrison - Marketing Controller

Creative Director: Simon Brotherson

Copywriter: Tom Reas

Art director: Sander Vos

Agency producer: Thea Howard

Creative producer: Serena Hodgson

Planner: Thom Dinsdale

Account management: Ian Maybank, Oliver Lester

Media agency: Nick Stewart Media

Media planner: Nick Stewart

Production Company: Love Productions

Director:  Jon Riche

Editor: Mark Aarons

Producer: Finn James

DOP:  George Steel

Post-production: Envy

Audio post-production: Envy

Exposure: TV, radio, print