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Best TV Ads of 2007

Cadbury Dairy Milk

Let's get the obvious one out of the way. I loved this ad, along with most of the population of the UK, and it should come as no surprise it was also a favourite within the industry, winning a slew of awards.

The Cadbury Dairy Milk Gorilla ad may be getting tiresome through over-viewing, but just think back to the first time you saw the drums kick in. Awesome.

PG Tips

I'm not overly fond of Johnny Vegas, but he's spot on in this PG Tips ad. It's great to see the monkey back, albeit in cuddly toy form (dressing up real monkeys is not cool these days, apparently). The reference to the ITV Digital ads, in which the same cuddly monkey also appeared, is a nice touch.

Skoda Fabia

I feel sick every time I see this (look at the treacle being poured into the radiator... ugh), but there's no denying the brilliance of this advert for Skoda's Fabia. Another industry award winner, and deservedly so.

Guinness Rugby World Cup

It's common knowledge that every single Guinness advert is genius (and I won't hear otherwise). The set of animated Guinness adverts aired during the Rugby World Cup particularly stand out for me. There's something different about them compared to the usual Guinness affair. The characters themselves are great - especially their expressions - and I do like the pan at the end, up and out of a pint of Guinness.

Lloyds Bank

I love this Lloyds Bank advert, in spite of the annoyingly catchy and uplifting vocals. The animation is great (the slow-mo where a passer-by hands over some flowers in particular), and the characters themselves are quirky yet likable.

Unfortunately, it in no way makes me wish to use Lloyds' banking services, but I do enjoy watching this advert.

Snickers

Anything with Mr T in it has a better than average shot at being cool, and this advert for Snickers takes full advantage of its larger than life star. It manages to pack in more of Mr T's catch-phrases than a bar of Snickers has nuts (I should really work in advertising...), coupled with a subject of national importance in the UK (drama-queen footballers) and a tank. The only thing better is the way Mr T hurls that bar. Priceless™.

Smirnoff Vodka

If I had to pick a favourite, Smirnoff Vodka's Purified advert would come close to taking it. The idea is great and the execution is nigh on sublime. Fantastic choice of items to be cleared from the sea bed (WWII planes in particular) and an appropriately rousing soundtrack.

Worst TV Ads of 2007

Let's be honest, most of the commercials that plague our screens are utter detritus. Ill thought-out and/or poorly executed garbage that makes you wonder who precisely the advert is aimed at, and how on Earth it is going to convince anyone to part with their money.

These are my picks for the worst ads of 2007.

Picture Loans

Not only is the nauseating couple in this advert happy they'll be repaying almost double the amount they borrowed, but we're led to believe arranging a loan of £25,000 is as simple as arranging to meet some mates for a pint. One of whom is probably the Picture Loans representative, given how chummy they seem to be on the phone. Solely on the strength of this advert, I'd see myself declared bankrupt before talking to Picture about a loan. Utter, utter crap.

PC World

If their adverts are to be believed, PC World's customers are all ill-informed, technology illiterate buffoons, who should be grateful to be sold the overpriced, inferior crap forced upon them by contemptuous staff who don't really have a clue what they're talking about. And what's the deal with the over-sized, pixelated pointing hand? Awful premise and awful execution.

Apple

I'm a Mac. I'm a PC. No matter what anyone says about these adverts, there's no denying the success they've had. I particularly like the anecdote regarding the Advertising Standards Authority clearing Apple when 14 people complained about the ad stating Macs are more secure than Windows PCs. Apparently, this makes it official.

That aside, the I'm a Mac, I'm a PC adverts managed to outstay their welcome, even to the point of irritating even the most ferverent of Apple evangelists. Even worse, in the UK Mitchell and Webb (of Peep Show fame) were drafted in to re-shoot the adverts in place of the original, far superior, American actors. We have to suffer enough terrible American advertising here in the UK - why oh why do they have to then localise one of the few good examples?

Marks & Spencer

I hate the Marks & Spencer this isn't just food adverts for two reasons. First, the woman narrating sounds like she is being pleasured, or is otherwise far too excited, which isn't a good thing. Second, and most heinously, they've coupled this with Groove Armada's excellent At the River, forever ruining the song for me. This isn't just food? Yes it bloody is.