Alan Carr back for a bigger Channel 4 Comedy Gala ad break takeover

Channel 4 and Open Mike have partnered for a bigger ad break takeover than ever before for this year’s Channel 4 Comedy Gala, now in its fifth year. Viewers will see Alan Carr disrupt the ad breaks to hijack more big brand ads across the Channel 4 Comedy Gala show broadcast on Thursday 5th June from 9pm.

New brands set to get Alan Carr’s distinctive comedy treatment this year include evian, Marmite and BT – alongside established Channel 4 Comedy Gala brand partners Specsavers and SNICKERS®. Alan will perform comedy sketches based on the five successful brands’ ads which will each occupy the first break position of the initial five ad breaks in the show for the first time.  

Viewers’ will see Alan attempt his own version of evian’s 2013 global viral smash ‘Baby&Me’ ad – and Marmite surrender their latest ‘End Marmite Neglect’ ad for an Alan comedy makeover. Both ads will run for an extended 80’ – the longest ad hijacks to date.  

BT’s current student ad featuring the irksome Wi-Fi-borrowing student will see Alan stage his unique interpretation for BT’s first Comedy Gala exploit.    

Specsavers returns to the annual comedy event for its third year which this time sees Alan take on its recent ‘short-sighted vet’ ad.  

There will also be another opportunity for viewers’ to see Alan’s hilarious take on SNICKERS® Joan Collins ad previously broadcast in 2012.

The ad break take-over is produced by Open Mike and managed by Alexandra Bird, Group Partnerships Manager at Channel 4 Sales, working with agency partners Manning Gottlieb OMD, MEC, Mindshare and ZenithOptimedia.  

Rob Ramsey, Partnership Leader at Channel 4 said: “Channel 4’s Comedy Gala ad break takeover has become a popular annual advertising event with up for it brands keen to put their established ads at Alan Carr’s comedy mercy. Working with Open Mike, we’re able to deliver our advertising partners an innovative commercial partnership to create an exciting ad moment that really engages our viewers.”

This year’s Channel 4 Comedy Gala is dedicated to the memory of Addison Cresswell who died last year. Addison created and initiated the Comedy Gala format in 2010 to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Over the past four years the Comedy Gala events have raised £2.5 million. Great Ormond Street Hospital will name an operating theatre within the new wing of the hospital after Addison in his memory.

Ends


Notes to Editors

About Channel 4’s Comedy Gala 2014
Channel 4's Comedy Gala, in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, returns for a fifth year to London's O2 Arena. The amazing all-star line-up for the annual comedy spectacular this year includes: Adam Hills, Aisling Bea, Alan Carr, Jack Dee, Jason Byrne, James Corden, Jo Brand, Jon Richardson, John Bishop, Jonathan Ross, Josh Widdicombe, Kerry Godliman, Kevin Bridges, Lee Evans, Michael McIntyre, Paddy McGuinness, Paul Chowdhry, Sean Lock, Seann Walsh, Warwick Davis – plus many more.
Director, Tom Poole / Producer, Anthony Caveney / Executive Producers, Andrew Beint and Joe Norris
Open Mike Productions