Best Celebrity Cameos in TV Ads
It’s often the case that the TV ads that capture the nation’s imagination best are those with a familiar famous face. A bit of name recognition goes a long way on TV, of course, and brands have been cashing in on star quality for as long as TV adverts have been a thing. Having celebrities in adverts is nothing new, though some have been more well-suited than others.
Where stars like Gary Lineker have become almost literally synonymous with the brands they are the face of, other famous TV adverts stars have become distant memories. Some are funny, some just flaunting their celebrity, and some are downright weird. So, without further ado, we’ve pulled out some of our favourite appearances of celebrities in TV adverts for your viewing pleasure…
Peter Andre, Iceland, 2014
Over the years, Iceland has claimed some of the best celebrity TV ads, appearing from UK household names including Kerry Katona, Coleen Nolan, Jason Donovan and Christopher Biggins. However, one of the frozen food giant’s most memorable and stand-out adverts starred singer/reality TV star Peter Andre.
Coming a few years on from his infamous stint on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! – during which he met his famous ex-wife Katie Price – Andre’s guest star turn first aired in 2014. The series of ads poke fun at Andre’s heartthrob status, as the Mysterious Girl star is so stunned by the astonishing value of Iceland’s frozen peas that he is completely oblivious to how starstruck all his fellow shoppers are. From a dazzled delivery driver to selfie-hunters at the bus stop, in the Iceland celebrity ad world, Andre has fans everywhere.
Cindy Crawford, Pepsi, 1992
You know an ad is iconic when it’s remade – and Cindy Crawford’s early 90s spot for Pepsi has been re-done twice! The ad was rebooted in 2002 and then again in 2018, starring Crawford’s own son. Like many of the most memorable celebrity TV ads, it was originally part of US sports’ biggest weekends, and is arguably one of the best Super Bowl adverts.
The famous ad sees supermodel Crawford get out of her car at a petrol station, clad in an all-American uniform of white tank top and denim shorts. She then stops at a vending machine and takes a swig from a perfectly-angled can of Pepsi, catching the attention of two young boys watching on.
Kobe Bryant, Simone Biles, Sadie Sink, Kevin Hart & more, Nike, 2018
What’s better than one celebrity cameo? Nike’s 2018 advert sets up a supergroup of celebrity famous faces, plucking A-listers from TV, comedy, sports and more. In the TV advert, the world is greeted with the news that Earth has stopped turning, and one woman dons her Nike trainers and heads out on a run to get the planet back spinning again.
Before long, she’s joined by a veritable who’s who of famous faces from around the world – including Kobe Bryant, Simone Biles, Sadie Sink, Kevin Hart, Odell Beckham Jr, Bill Nye, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani.
Betty White, Snickers, 2011
Over the years, Snickers TV adverts have featured a few celebrity cameos – from Mr Bean to Mr T. However, acting legend Betty White’s 2011 spot ranks amongst the most beloved celebrity TV ads sporting their recognisable slogan “you’re not you when you’re hungry”.
The advert shows an American football game in the park, with a tracksuit-wearing White striking an odd figure amongst the men tossing the ball. After being unceremoniously tackled into a puddle, the Golden Girls icon is accused of playing like, well, Betty White. “That’s not what your girlfriend says,” deadpans the treasured comedian, before it’s revealed she’s actually just the hangry personality of a young man who needed a mid-game snack.
Kevin Bacon and Britney Spears, EE, 2016
Supposedly the most well-connected celebrity out there, Kevin Bacon has become a fixture on British television in recent years thanks to his EE adverts.
Adding another step to the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game and one of the most memorable Bacon EE spots, the 2016 advert promoted the network’s partnership with Apple Music. As the Footloose star danced down the street wearing the iconic red leather jumpsuit from the Oops… I Did it Again! Video, he’s accosted by Britney Spears herself, who berates him for stealing her look.
Did we miss any of your favourites? Let us know your favourite appearances from famous actors in adverts below.
If you know a thing or two about famous faces or are simply looking for a way to liven up your next quiz night, head to our TV ad Celebrity Cameos quiz to try your luck!