Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-77-british-airways/

Sorry for the brief delay, but It’s finally landed ✈️

The story behind the Cannes Grand Prix winning British Airways work is here.

A few weeks ago we sat with Nils and some of the BA team (Nick Stanley, Benny Everett, Ellie & Elisa and ‘Chips’ Pomfret) and discovered the story behind one of the most iconic OOH campaigns in recent times.

It was an enthralling chat. We heard how the pitch was won, how 500 executions came to be, why ‘A British Original’ was only half the story, and how - with virtually no time left - the agency turned to a tick box idea buried at the bottom of a layout pad which eventually became the all conquering idea.

It’s genuinely one of the most intriguing episodes we’ve ever done.

We also squeezed in some chat about the Windows campaign too. Bonus content!

Thank you Nils and all at Uncommon for your incredible generosity in sharing your story. It was business, leisure and much more.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-76-brian-connolly

Episode #76 features Brian Connolly.

Brian is brilliant on many levels. His billboards are amazing, some of them very close to art. The level of purity and craft is second to none.

He is also a United fan, which is also brilliant (for Hugh at least).

And on top of all that, he’s just a really decent human being who - after many years smashing it in the UK - is now smashing it stateside in New York.

We started with Eurostar and found out how the photographer went to the Eiffel Tower and shot at slightly the wrong angle … meaning a mini re-shoot to get it exactly right. These days it would no doubt be done in a matter of seconds with AI. But there’s something gritty and real about the process back then. The rail tracks merging perfectly into the Eiffel Tower is one of the iconic OOH images of the past 30 years and rightly won all the awards going.

Brian also created the Classic FM campaign which used instruments to portray power, exhilaration, peace and more in another wonderfully minimalist campaign shot by Nadav Kander that won yet more awards and plaudits. The use of white space letting the visuals sing is a lesson to all … less is more. Or as we recently coined … even less is even more.

Army … Harrods … 18-30 … Empire City Casino, the great work continued as did the chat. The ‘bust up’ fight in the Harrods designer room another (black) eye-opening story behind the work.

Thanks again Brian for sharing your work and stories. We really enjoyed it.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-67-matt-lever

We’re back folks. Dry BtB Jan is over. And we’re starting the year with a belter in Matt Lever.

Multi talented.
Multi awarded.
Funny.
Charming.
Loves a big idea.
Loves a gag.
And loves the in-house BtB flapjacks.

We spent a leisurely hour with Matt chatting billboards, from his very first one for Macallan that he bizarrely spotted while on holiday in New York…to DOH anti-smoking, Tfl, Trident Gum, Gym Box and closing on Breast Cancer Now and the perfectly pitched topical work that ran during the Women’s World Cup.

Listen out too for Matt talking about The Chat - the UK’s first drama series to play out on a messaging app group chat on WhatsApp. An audacious idea which not only garnered many awards and much PR, but more importantly has helped women cope with the disease.

Matt, thanks so much again for coming in and sharing, it was a real pleasure.

And for those after extra content, we’re also posting on the website Matt’s good copywriting doc, which is basically a reminder of what great work looks like. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-best-of-2023

Best of 2023

We’re nearly there folks. 2023 just about done. How was it for you?

For us it was a year of amazing guests, incredible stories, home-made cake, some lovely beards (esp our Dan’s) and best of all, broadcasting from our new home at Soho Radio. Thank you Rachel and Adrian for putting up with us. You guys are the best.

So in episode #66 @hughtodd and @mymatedan look back over the year in outdoor…any and everything ooh, billboards projections, adshels, stunts, special builds, enormous shopping bags, musical posters, massive microwaves, spider’s webs and more.

This year we’ve gone for a slightly new format. Without giving anything away, it was a battle of the billboards, each of us bringing our fave campaigns to the table in an effort to find the winner(s)of 2023. It was feisty. Some strong debate, explosive cracker pulling and scoffing mince pies (off-mic)

Who won? Who nearly won? Was it all UK? Or did a Global campaign win?

We also launched a new award. The People’s Poster, for the work that garnered the most likes right here on Instagram. Another tight contest with quite a bit of drama ;-)

Huge thanks as ever to our sponsor Talon
To Soho Radio. To all our guests who gave their time so generously. And of course thank you to all our listeners. We love the feedback, the DM’s, the requests, the very faint praise and more. Keep it coming.

And we are eternally grateful to the legend that is Jon Jones aka JJ. Quietly keeping us afloat as the loudmouths wang on into the microphones.

And also Jordan for his endless help on design and last minute mock up favours.

We hope you all have a great festive break and we’ll no doubt see you on the other side.

Take care and thanks again for all your support.

Hugh & Dan & JJ

x

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-65-dan-fisher

Podcast episode #65 features Dan Fisher, Global ECD at Ogilvy and WPP, the man behind a vast portfolio of award-winning billboards and the owner of a classy beard.

With Christmas nearly upon us, it was most apt we discussed the brilliant “I spent it on myself” Harvey Nichols campaign which on its own could’ve filled an entire episode. Listen out for how Dan had to haggle on the price of gravel to get the campaign through. A real lesson in the lengths you have to go to for great work. We also covered The Sunday Times Rich List and another great anecdote involving a dragon and a gold Lion on a yacht in Cannes. And of course we spent plenty of time on Dove and the incredible work Dan has presided over these past few years. Some of the stories behind the work are humbling and inspiring in equal measure. Thanks so much again Dan. Please come back again when you’ve snaffled a few more Grands Prix 🦁 🤓

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-64-neil-dawson

Episode #64 features Neil A Dawson.

We spent a lovely couple of hours discussing his career which has featured many iconic billboards, notably the VW surprisingly ordinary prices campaign. Classic VW. Classic DDB. Every one of them a cracker with Weddings still the most awarded print ad of all time. Neil drew us a billboard live in the studio, recreating his first ever billboard for Sanyo. We also discovered what the ‘A’ stands for, if he is related to our Dan Dawson and of course Clive Pickering, Neil’s partner for many years on many amazing campaigns.

Thanks again Neil. It was a total pleasure. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-63-guy-murphy

Episode #63 features our first ever planner, which seems a bit overdue considering the best planners are often the best creatives and vice versa. And we’ve haven’t got just any old planner, but one who’s been round the block with tread to spare. Guy Murphy many things: award-winning strategist, big creative thinker, agency leader, but also someone who just loves ideas and the chat about strat and tech and how they’re all joined up. Plus he’s a footy fan. All of which makes him perfect for the pod.

Guy started his career at the home of planning BMP, before moving to BBH for a successful 16 year tenure where he first met and worked with Hugh. Guy rose through the ranks to become Deputy Chairman, before heading off to Knightsbridge and the global reach of JWT. But he couldn’t shake Hugh, whom he worked with again on the Baileys pitch, winning with a strategy of lusciousness and a campaign of a thousand lips shot by @rankinarchive @rankincreative (BtB episode #17)

One of Guy’s BBH high points was for Levi’s Japan, ‘The original jeans for original people’ featuring the world’s largest photocopier - so big you could lay down on it - shipped in from Korea for the shoot. A great idea that could work on any platform, but especially well for billboards. We also discussed the Audi design / jewellery campaign which was a huge change in strategy, but still resulted in award winning iconic work.

We ended with Dan and Guy having a spod-off, debating AI and the future of OOH and Guy’s current position as Co-Founder of AdTech start-up OSSA. (OSSA is a self-service advertising platform using GenAI to help small business do digital advertising)

Thanks so much Guy for coming on. It was a a real pleasure getting behind the strategy behind the billboard 🤓

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-62-peter-souter

Rarely have we had such a talented, humble and unanimously respected guest as Peter Souter. Our teaser earlier this week had an amazing response with many waxing lyrical about his creative talent and what a great person he is. So we’re hoping this episode lives up to the hype.

We talked about any and everything. And managed to fit in some OOH along the way 🤓 The story behind the shredded ‘Industrial secrets’ poster he wrote with Paul Brazier is a belter, esp when you hear the final execution didn’t actually involve a shredder.

Peter’s first ever poster is another great tale - a piece of cardboard with a hand written message he held hopefully outside the house of the great David Abbott in an effort to get a job at AMV. We won’t say anymore but it’s a pretty audacious way to apply for a job.

We also chatted Guinness - both the Extra Cold posters and Surfer - and Peter recreated the moment of Surfer inception with a scarily accurate impression of Walter Campbell, quietly offering the thought ‘Good things come to those who wait’.

Nelson Mandela, Richard Curtis, Paul Belford and a gold fish bowl, The Vicar of Dibley, screenplays, films, advice for Hugh’s debut novel…it was a tour de force.

Thank you so much again Peter.

Total pleasure. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-61-shish-patel

Podcast episode #61 features one of the industry’s good guys, Shish Patel. Talented, funny, charming, thoughtful and extremely humble, it was a great hour with Shish, who regaled us with brilliant stories behind brilliant billboards.

The baby in the marmite poster is a cracker. A story that involved another DDB creative Pete Hayes and a photo of his child never intended for a Marmite billboard, but ended up being the actual shot in the ad.

There’s also the Comfort poster that appeared outside Shish’s parents shop which helped them finally understand what it was that he did for a living.

There’s more Marmite involving The Love Party and The Hate Party. Iconic work for FT. And the ‘Night drive’ campaign for VW where we discussed the entire campaign - TV print billboards - which was a seminal moment in the VW oeuvre.

Shish thanks so much for coming on and talking art and commerce in equal measure. And sampling Hugh’s madierra cake.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-60-specsavers-part-1

Podcast #60 is part 1 of our Specsavers Special, featuring the brilliant outdoor campaign from creative team Jon Morgan & Bertie Rapkin.

We explore the background to the work, how the craft played a huge part in making these such a success (kudos to GSA and Lee Bofkin from episode #59) and we hear about the (equally brilliant) executions that never made it. The busker covered in billboard paper a true delight. Please get it to run!

There’s also a very funny story involving Leeds Art University and one of the posters going up opposite the college shortly after a Specsavers brief.

Jon & Bertie thanks so much. It was a real pleasure hearing how you work. As were the pints after. Maybe that’s a new feature for the show 🤓

Look out for part 2 later in the year when we will be talking to Graham Daldry  - the man behind the original line ‘Should’ve gone to Specsavers’, and current Specsavers ECD Richard James, who is doing an amazing job continuing the legacy. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-59-lee-bofkin/

Murals special with Lee Bofkin

If you’ve seen an amazing mural lately, there’s a pretty good chance Lee Bofkin was involved. Lee is Co Founder and CEO at Global Street Art who are the go-to agency for creating big messages on big walls.

Peaky Blinders, Valentino, Oatly,
Invesco, Beats, FIFA, VW, Baileys, Glenfiddich and many others have had their moment on bricks and mortar thanks to Lee and his crew at GSA.

We spoke with Lee about murals. Their history. Their resurgence. The way they’re now interacting with the digital landscape. Why they’re different from any other piece of OOH. And much more, including a fascinating chat about ‘pouncing’, a technique used by Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel and still in use today. We enjoyed Lee’s infectious energy and incredible knowledge of the Street Art scene. And also his wonderful orange glasses. Thanks so much for coming on Lee. It was an education and a pleasure.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-58-nils-leonard

AI / Elderflower cordial  / B&Q / Inflatable cushions / Cannes / Air conditioning / Awards

It went pretty much in that order on a warm day earlier this week, where the air con and Hugh’s home brew kept us cool.

Episode #58 features a fascinating chat with Nils Leonard, co-founder of Uncommon, who became our first ever returning guest.

We first spoke to Nils back in Feb 2021 when we were remote, stuck in various houses and offices trying to have spontaneous conversations on Zoom. So it was wonderful to meet irl and we can report Nils is even better in the flesh 😘

The focus was mostly on B&Q, which is now into its fourth year and remains wonderfully fresh. We talked about it’s inception, how the strategy had surprisingly never been done before, sheds, masturbation, teenagers, a favourite billboard site in Glasgow, Covid, flowers, James Day, floating hammers and more.

We also got into an interesting chat on AI, which seems to be on everyone’s list at the moment.

And with Cannes next week, we discussed Lions and awards. And asked the key question, does a Pencil beat a Lion? Tune in and find out!

Nils thanks again. Not just for this chat but this wonderful mantra:

“Print the posters you wish you could steal”

Let’s do it again at Christmas and have some of Dan’s mulled wine 🤓

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-75-phil-and-graham

Episode #75 features Phil Cockrell & Graham Storey.

Humble, funny, gracious and massively talented, Phil & Graham have quietly created some of the most iconic billboards of the past 30 years.

In that time they have won most major awards including 4 Cannes Golds, 5 BTA arrows, 7 Campaign Poster awards and 26 D&AD in book entries.

It seems a bit of a crime that we haven’t had them on the show before. But due to various circumstances / holidays / other guests taking their slot, we’ve only just got them on.

It’s worth listening for the Nike work alone. Phil flying to the south of France to meet Eric Cantona as ‘research’ for the redemption poster is a classic ‘someone’s got to do it’ story. But it was nothing compared to how the team met Peter Hull the Paralympian who’d run the marathon and became the inspiration behind one of Nike’s greatest posters ever.

Then there was Yellow pages, Toblerone, Virgin Atlantic, The Times and more.

Every campaign oozing simplicity, craft and class.

Thanks gents for coming on and sharing your incredible history. Long may it continue.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-57-alex-abrantes/

Ever seen a billboard used as a music stage? Or a vodka ad invade a beer ad? Or John McEnroe of today play John McEnroe of 1979?

Podcast #57 features Alex Abrantes, who epitomises the belief that if you can think it, you can do it. And if you surround yourself with the right people even the most audacious ideas are possible.

We could have dedicated the entire show to the McEnroe vs McEnroe campaign alone:

• The first ever Real vs Virtual Tennis Match.
• 6 pieces of tech combined for the first time:
• Motion capture, A.I. Learning, UNREAL ENGINE, a High-Resolution Mist + Industrial Robots…all on a custom-built Tennis Court.
• 52 countries
• $20m earned media
• 3bn impressions.

Alex seems to revel in ‘never seen before moments’ which we previously talked about with Graham Fink on episodes #39 and #40.  Seemingly impossible stunts or uses of the outdoor never attempted before. And yet when it’s done - the latest for Budweiser using a billboard as a music stage for female artists snubbed by the Brits - it seems completely effortless, as if it was always going to happen.

We spent just over an hour hearing how he and his amazing team - including writer Chloe Bayhack - bring these ideas to life.

Thanks again Alex for your time and work. It was a pleasure having you on the show. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-56-james-day/

Podcast episode #56 features one of the sharpest snappers in the business. And one of the nicest and most charming guests we’ve had on the show.

It’s James Day on Good Friday folks. Settle down with a cuppa and a hot cross bun. This is a belter.

James has had his name attached to some of the most iconic billboards of the past 30 years.

He’s come a long way since picking up his first camera, which was a foggy affair:

“I spent quite a lot of time in the photography room at school. Well I say photography room, it was more like a smoking room. Everyone used taking photos as an excuse to smoke a sneaky cigarette.”

Thank God for those sneaky fags and that dark room, because amongst all the smoke and teenage angst, a light was switched on in James mind and made him the brilliant photographer he is today.

Most recent and most brilliant work has been for Uncommon for B&Q. Clean, sharp, beautifully crafted images, they’ve won plaudits and awards across the board and rightly so. The image of the mobile phone is sensational - worthy of an album cover.

We discussed the formative years when James worked with JustinTindall & AdamTucker on numerous projects, including the Harvey Nichols calendar campaign which features the stuffed cat and the 31 plates of baked beans stories. But the absolute winner was behind he Guardian and how they achieved the imprint of the rattan furniture on the model’s bottom. This is honestly one of the funniest stories we’ve ever heard on the pod.

We finished with XXXX Extra Cold posters and heard how the legendary Mark Reddy, Head of Art at BBH at the time, sprinkled gold dust on the idea, involving spiders and gloves and hair, taking the craft of the work to another level (we’re hoping to have Mark on the show at some point soon).

Thanks again James for being so generous with your time and the stories behind the work. It was a real pleasure. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-55-jo-moore

Episode #55 has a bit of everything.

Mostly it has the charming, humble and uber talented Jo Moore, ECD at House 337, discussing her OOH work.

In particular we chatted about the domestic violence campaign for Women’s Aid that ran during last year’s World Cup.

“He’s coming home” was a chilling reminder of the domestic abuse suffered by women during major tournaments. The poster (and film which is equally brilliant) gained huge publicity and awareness on virtually no budget.

It led us to a wider debate on how small but important clients like Women’s Aid can get their message across with great creative work.

This in turn led us to discuss the spoof fashion campaign ‘Not model’s own’ for the same client, highlighting the issue of Coercive Control, executed with tact and skill - gaining column inches galore and huge awareness.

Next was something completely different: Ant & Dec. And Kraftwerk.

Surreal, hilarious, with a lot of red.

And then we heard how Jo met Anthony Burrell and got him designing the wonderfully graphic campaign for The Corinthia Hotel.

Amidst all this, after about 10 minutes, Dan had to leave the room for a phone call. Jo and Hugh carried on chatting…and chatting…and chatting…Dan never returned until the final credits.

We thought he was on an important business call, but it was more important than that - it was a family emergency, which thankfully was resolved.

Quite a morning. Quite the episode!

Thank you Jo for coming in and taking us behind your billboards. As well as inside your VW van and outdoor swimming. A woman of many parts who barely batted an eyelid as half the Behind the Billboard team left the building ;-)

And well done Dan for keeping a cool head in a difficult moment. All in a day’s work for my mate Dan. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-54-emma-brooke

For episode #54 we spoke to Emma Brooke, Writer and Creative Director at Leo Burnett and originator of some of the very best OOH work in recent years for the BBC.

We started with her campaign for Peaky Blinders which featured fan art from devotees of the show. This big bucket of UGC resulted in over a dozen brilliant pieces of outdoor that stood out from your everyday air brushed advertising image thanks to their gritty hand crafted style. Whether it was Tommy, Polly or Arthur - the image always appeared fresh and unique.

The final selects ran on poster sites local to where the artist lived. So not only did they have their moment of fame, but they could go down - with their Mum if need be - and see their art writ large in the great outdoors. What’s more all the work was then exhibited in an online fan art gallery.

This was followed by a brilliant set of billboards for Killing Eve, which didn’t mention the show, or the BBC or any details other than a series of personal messages and a hashtag #CRAZY4EVE

Super brave work that caught the tone of the show exactly right. A private squabble played out across the most public platform.

We also discussed Emma’s life before BBC, her other agencies, life in NYC and most fascinating of all, how she met the love of her life on a plane.

Thanks Emma for coming on and being so open and charming with your stories. Esp that grinding billboard ;-)

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-53-david-masterman/

Episode #53 of the podcast features the super talented ever ebullient Dave Masterman.  

It was a great session that encompassed Dave’s incredible collection of OOH work both as creative and CD.

Many highlights: VW, Marmite, Kit Kat, Mr Kipling and esp Ben & Jerry’s - the homemade look ‘n feel still fresh today.

More up to date work included the audio mnemonic led Domin-oh-hoo-hoo campaign which works surprisingly well on murals and special builds.

We finished on ‘I Spy Maynard’s’ (Wine Gums) which is possibly the ultimate in outdoor campaigns and why we do the podcast. So good hearing the story behind this campaign that ended up subverting the Euros and Number 10 Downing Street among other events of last year.

Thanks Dave for not only being a fun and charming guest, but for your incredibly thorough preparation for this episode. We have never had a more organised session!

See you (and James McAvoy) in Waitrose in December 🤓

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-52-mark-tutssel-part-2/

Part 2 of our conversation with Tuts took us to the very heart the world’s most famous fast food brand. We spoke at length about McDonald’s and Tuts incredible time at the helm of the account, first in London, then Chicago, then around the world.

There was so much work it would’ve been impossible to cover it all. But we’re pretty sure we got the best bits:

Golf, Mouse-holes, Hot dog, 20p, Fresh Salads, Milkshake and our absolute favourite, Sundial (featured on Episode 5 with creative team Vince Cook & Gary Fox-Robinson).

And as if that wasn’t enough, we squeezed in the audacious Allstate Insurance stunt that featured a car dangling off the 17th floor of the landmark Marina Towers apartment building in Chicago, seemingly about to plummet to the ground below, accompanied by the tagline ‘Are you in good hands?’

This was followed by Samsung Safety Truck, Coke’s Small World Machines that epitomised Tuts ‘creativity without borders’ ethos before finishing on two monster award winning campaigns - ‘My blood is red and black’ and Airbnb Van Gough ‘The Bedroom’.

Thanks again Mark for giving your time and stories - judging by the response we’ve had for part 1, you have once again smashed it.

Shoutout again to Soho Radio, our new home for the podcast and to our brilliant sponsors Talon

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-51-mark-tutssel-part-1/

Mark Tutssel aka ’Tuts’

Part 1

To say we’re excited about our latest guest on the podcast is somewhat of an understatement.

Mark Tutssel aka ’Tuts’, is one of the biggest names in the business.

And when it comes to billboards and OOH, he has few rivals.

His overall award record is staggering - 600 Cannes Lions, inc 10 Grand Prix, two D&AD Black Pencils, the first ever White Pencil, 25 D&AD Yellow Pencils, Grand Clios and many more - you name, he’s won it.

And he’s won just about all these gongs at one agency, Leo Burnett. So in a way these two episodes (so much to cover we decided to make it a 2 parter) are as much about Leo Burnett as they are Mark Tutssel.

In part one, Mark talks about his time in London, an incredible tenure alongside partner Nick Bell, creating iconic billboards for Mercedes-Benz, United Airlines, John West, Heinz and more. This body of work alone would be enough to fill several careers, but not for Tutssel.

This is just part one of an amazing career spanning nearly 4 decades across all 4 corners of the globe, rewarded during many successful summers in the South of a France with all those Lions 🦁

Part two features the amazing portfolio of McDonald’s work, both here in London, Chicago and around the globe and more iconic work for Samsung and Coke that epitomised ‘creativity without borders’.

We discussed the internal awards system Tuts instigated to locate and support the great work within the LB network. And most inspiring of all,we talked about his ‘theatre of the streets’ ethos.

“Think of the streets as your stage and your goal is to earn a standing ovation.” 

Amen to that.

Thanks Tuts for your time, your stories and your work.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-50-david-kolbusz/

BtB in 2023.

And who better to kick off the year and podcast #50 than David Kolbusz, CCO of Orchard New York. A man of many talents and looks. And a blast of fresh air to blow away the January blues.

We actually spoke before Christmas on a crisp winters day in New York. In fact it was Thanksgiving as we recall, so we’re hugely appreciative of DK’s time on such a big day Stateside.

The sun was out and through his bedroom window we could hear birdsong from Central Park and sirens from downtown Manhattan (it’s a very big window).

And most importantly of all, we heard the dulcet tones of DK talking us through his billboards and OOH work from both sides of The Pond.

Axe, The Guardian, Equinox Gyms, Coal Drops Yard. Every one of them iconic pieces of work with fantastic stories. Including a bit of background Wiggle Jiggle from the brilliant Ocean Spray campaign.

DK thanks so much. It was a total pleasure.

Thanks for waking up with us and talking billboards in your pyjamas.

A first for the show 🤣

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2022/12/31/episode-49-best-of-2022/

Of all the end of year lists, this is obv the one you’ve been waiting for.

Yes, it’s Behind the Billboard’s Best of 2022.

And what a year it’s been.

So much great work to choose from.

Digital posters, traditional posters, fly posters, posters made from fruit juice, posters towed by horse drawn carriages, posters of cute cats and dogs, posters with 500 different executions in the campaign. Posters that had been put up wrong. Posters that came alive at night. And then there’s posters for yoghurt. Yes amazing ooh work for yoghurt! Surely that is this years headline!

But what was number one? Which billboard was most talked about? Which agency had the most entries? And how many mince pies did Hugh and Dan eat live on air?

As it’s the end of the year we also wanted to say a huge thanks to you our listeners for supporting us this year, liking us, saying nice things about us as well as spreading the word. We’ve been downloaded now over 30,000 times so we’re obv doing something right. But if you have any suggestions for the show or guests you’d like to hear from, please do let us know. 

And obv a huge hank to our sponsor Talon, without whom none of this would happen.

See you in January when we’ll be hearing from some amazing guests including David Kolbusz, Mark Tutssel and Dave Masterman.

Until then “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” - surely one of the best headlines of all time ;-)

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-48-scott-silvey/

You wait for a D&AD black pencil winner for nearly 50 episodes…then two come along at once.

Shelley Smoler for The Zimbabwean last time and now Scott Silvey for Hopeline 19.

We talked about the work in depth and discovered how the campaign actually put Scott and the creative team Darren Beresford & Richard Gayton at the forefront of the pandemic, talking and listening to nurses and doctors trying to cope with Covid. A brilliant campaign that shone the spotlight on these amazing people who keep this country on its feet.

We also chatted about another recent award-winning project from Adam&EveDDB for CALM ‘The last photo’. An equally emotively charged subject from creative team Andy Clough and Richard McGrann, highlighting how ‘Suicide doesn’t always look suicidal’. The work comprised posters, press ads and most heart-breaking of all, an exhibition on the South Bank.

This campaign, like Hopeline 19, looks destined for gongs galore also. On the day we spoke it won big at Campaign BIG awards and we wouldn’t be surprised if it too got a black pencil. Obv it’s nice to get awards, but we agreed really the point of the work is to raise awareness and hopefully save lives.

And then along came Colman’s Mustard! We talked about how Scott designed a few billboards and ended up with his work appearing on the actual jars of mustard. Next time you’re in the cupboard looking at a jar of Colemans, chances are it’s got Scott's work on it.

Towards the end we discussed 1830 and NSPCC. Huge pieces of work which Scott paid a massive part. Credit also to Ant & Mike (BtB episode #12) who work with Scott on many projects and all the incredibly talented peeps at Adam&EveDDB.

Thank you again Scott for being so kind and generous with the stories behind the work. It felt quite an emotional session but a very important one.

A multi-talented humble craftsman. It was a real pleasure.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-74-kate-congreve

We love firsts on the podcast. So episode #74 is a treat for Dan and Huge who hosted Kate Congreve our first ever producer. And not just any producer, but a producer at Mother, Campaign’s current agency of the year.

Kate shared many brilliant stories from her career to date, having worked both agency and production side.

We talked Snickers and skateboarding and how she helped put together the shoot for Paul Belford while at AMV. Shot by James Dimmock it’s a beautiful campaign with some eye-opening stories about casting.

Next was another fascinating shoot, this time for Hovis at JWT, working with brilliant creative team Claudia & Verity and photographer Kelvin Murray, managing to shoot everything in camera.

And then the Mother years, packed full of more amazing work. IKEA, Stella Artois. KFC, Uber. Four monster campaigns. Everyone an award winner, crafted to perfection.

The KFC story is particularly interesting. Try promoting a finger lickin’ brand during a time when the last thing you should do was lick your fingers. Hear how the work still ran during the pandemic.

Thanks Kate for coming in and sharing your stories. We loved it. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-47-shelley-smoler/

Our first South African.

Our first D&AD black pencil winner.

Our first guest with a sparkly (possibility pitch winning) top.

Shelly Smoler, thank you so much for taking the Behind the Billboard podcast to new heights.

The Zimbabwean campaign is one of the most famous in history and one we’ve been longing to discuss. Such was the parlous state of the Zimbabwean economy back in 2009, money was literally not worth the paper it was printed on, with people paying for goods with barrow loads of notes. From this crisis came the idea of billboards made entirely from bank notes. The campaign was lauded and awarded around the globe and is now part of the permanent collection at the British Museum and the Design Museum. Listen to how one of the most famous campaigns of all time came to be. And how it lead to Shelley nearly being banned from the country for her efforts. It’s an amazing story.

And an approach that has permeated Shelley’s work ever since. Be it for Vestiaire Collective or Amazon Prime Video or Diet Coke, her work has a cool, effortless, subversive nature, always going beyond the conventional.

Thanks so much for coming on Shelley. Fingers crossed for the pitch.

(Thanks also to the ex-BBH crew Bill Scott, and in particular, the legend that is Peter Wardle, who helped make this episode happen)

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-46-russell-ramsey

We’re back!

Series 4 is here and first up is Russell Ramsey, ECD of Pulse Creative and the brains behind some of the most famous OOH from the past 30 years.

Audi, Paddy Power, Toohey’s, Levi’s, Polo, Kit Kat, Kleenex, The Times - the list of clients that have benefited from Russell’s craft is long and impressive.

And yet he remains incredibly humble and hungry for more. The Times Queen’s Platinum Jubilee billboard was shortlisted at last night’s prestigious Campaign BIG awards.

Russ is man of many parts - consummate art director, CD, ECD, semi-professional gardener, professional Geordie, fashion guru “No one ever got anywhere wearing trainers Hughey” and owner of a lot of blue jumpers.

For a man who says ‘No’ a lot (but only in the pursuit of creative excellence) we were chuffed he said ‘Yes’ to coming into our billboard world for an hour or so and we revelled in his joy and passion for the great outdoors.

Thanks again Russ. You were immense.

Watch that bookshelf on the way out. 

NB: The final slide is when Russell defaced Hugh’s Man Utd book, replacing the word ‘Champions’ with the word ‘Wankers’, but in such a beautifully crafted manner Hugh didn’t notice for 2 years.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-45-guy-moore/

We’re back.

And most appropriately we’re back with a Cannes man.

None other than Guy Moore, who amidst many career highlights, won the Cannes OOH Grand Prix in 2018 with McDonalds ‘Signs’ campaign, which has a brilliant back story.

And coming in a close second is Guy’s British Heart Foundation campaign which involved calling Saul Bass - yes the legendary Saul Bass - in the middle of the night in New York for a little art direction chat.

Smart, funny, wise (and wearing a cracking shirt) Guy it was a total pleasure hearing, in your dulcet tones, the stories behind your billboards.

Thank you so much for coming on - an hour felt way too short - maybe a part 2 sometime?

Until then, enjoy this one.

See pictures and watch a video of the panel here: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-44-behind-the-billboard-cannes/

C’est ici!

Yes, podcast #44 is here and it’s unlike anything we’ve ever done before.

It was live in the South of France and despite a few technical glitches, it was tres bon.

A lovely hour at LBB beach chatting with our esteemed panel of Daniel Fisher, Keka Morelle and Sanjiv Mistry about all things OOH @Cannes 2022.

Sanjiv was our man in the judging room, giving a real insight into this year’s winners, esp how and why the Adidas ‘Liquid Billboard’ swept the board. It’s a great story.

As well as discussing this year’s winners, we chatted about how to win at Cannes (Daniel tip: “Don’t try to win at Cannes”) and the panel nominated their fave Lion winning billboards and most memorable Cannes stories.

It was a brilliant experience. Thank you to everyone who’s supported us along the way.

Huge thanks of course to our sponsors @TalonOOH without whom none of this would’ve happened. The T-shirts were epic, nicely modelled by BtB’s very own human billboard, Dan Dawson.

And of course thanks to the man behind the men behind the microphones, tech legend Jon Jones.

Special mention also to ‘Birdy’ aka Andy Bird Le Truc @Publicis (BtB ep22 and ep23) who was vocal in the audience offering his favourite Lion winner. He also came to lunch, wore our sponsors hat and laughed a lot.

We’re very much hoping to be podding and laughing in the sun again next year.

Auvoir!

Ps. The key image here is a homage to the great Expedia campaign from Jon Morgan & Mike Watson. Cheers chaps. 

Beady eyed followers will know we’ve already posted about our #CopySafari with Vikki Ross.

But today we’re pleased to say the podcast episode is available.

During the trek through the wilds of Shoreditch, there were a few technical problems which slowed down the editing process - we think the issue was extreme humidity in Dan’s trouser pocket.

But thankfully the recording has been rescued by intrepid IT pioneer Mr Jon Jones, who has not only salvaged the audio file, but edited it into a fully fledged episode.

And it’s quite a detour from our regular studio recording - proper front line stuff - real billboards in the real world with real punters walking past, occasionally glancing up and taking in the hard work of the creatives responsible.

Some campaigns really stuck out - Minor Figures is brilliant on many levels - ditto Spiritualised - and some cool shit from Calvin Klein x Palace.

‘Bring on the sun’ from Ace & Tate was perfectly timed and a neat follow on from the previous teaser campaign of people squinting their eyes in readiness for summer.  Most apt as the sun warmed us.

Thanks again Vikki. A great experience. Essential for both creatives and clients alike to appreciate what it’s like out there.

Next stop The Wild West End?

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-42-ewan-paterson/

‘How about Carl Lewis in his running gear, but instead of wearing spikes that normally propel him to 100m in 9.86 seconds, we put him in a pair of size 12 red stilettos with the headline ’Power is nothing without control’. Oh and let’s insist on getting legendary photographer Annie Liebvitz to shoot it. What do you reckon?’

This is why we love advertising. The dreamers. The moon shooters. The creatives who think nothing of putting the most famous athlete in the world in a pair of shiny red high heels.

And it’s why BtB love Ewan Paterson who in 1985 with then partner Graham Norways, created the seminal poster for Pirelli.

Lewis wasn’t even an ambassador for the brand at the time. He was an unsuspecting ten-time Olympian minding his own business until someone asked if he was up for it.

Thank you Carl, from all us spoddy billboard nerds, for saying yes.

In our eyes, it’s your greatest moment 🤓

Episode 42 features the charming, humble and passionate Ewan Paterson who told us the story behind this and many of his other billboards.

VW, Tfl, The Times, The Sunday Times Rich List, Robinson’s and more. It’s an incredible line-up of work which Ewan talked us through.

Thanks again Ewan for coming on and bring so generous with your stories. And a special thanks also to your strepsils, that kept your voice going til the very end. You’re a pro sir.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-41-ed-morris/

Podcast 41 features one of the industry’s greatest talents - Ed Morris.

Ed has flexed his creative muscles across just about every discipline you can think of.

Art direction, writing, typography, creative direction, photography, commercials direction and most recently turning his hand to film, directing his brilliant debut movie ‘How to stop a recurring dream’.

There’s no end to his talent. He even plays the ukulele. But thankfully he can’t do the Rubik’s cube ;-)

We spent a wonderful hour hearing how these talents have helped shape his billboards, which have won at every major award show.

And every one of them is a cracker. From the beautifully judged b&w portraits for Tfl to the utterly joyful Red Stripe, the iconic Kew Gardens 96 sheet, the graphic Sta Prest and our favourite - Quality Street - which in Ed’s own words are ‘like stills from a film’.

Every campaign has utter simplicity at its heart, executed with fantastic craft.

And when Ed is the client the standard doesn’t drop - the poster for his movie is a belter - courtesy of another BtB guest Paul Belford (Episode 2).

Ed epitomises what creativity is all about. Passionate. Restless. Honest. Hard working. Collaborative. Always with a point of view. And always with a ton of energy.

Thanks for coming on Ed. We loved it. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-40-graham-fink-pt2/

Is the sequel ever as good as the original? For Graham Fink Part 2, think Godfather Part 2 (but without all the killing).

More brilliant cigarette billboards. This time for Silk Cut and the iconic Shower Curtain and Birds executions.

Then Dixons….’the last place you want to go’ which started life on the radio but thankfully ended up on billboards, winning at every award show around the world.

Graham then literally gave blood for the (billboard) cause with the seminal ‘Blood’ poster (and film) for Playstation when he and Trevor Beattie formed advertising’s first ever SuperTeam at TBWA.

And then a move out of the comfort zone. All the way to Ogilvy Shanghai where Graham offered a regional Coke brief to a student who wasn’t working at O&M. Or even in the same country.

Enter Jonathan Mak who changed the face of ad history with his Coke ‘Hands’ poster - China’s first ever Cannes Grand Prix.

And we end on ELEPHant. A suitably audacious bonkers final act.

Graham, what can we say.

Epic.
Audacious.
Funny.
And just f***ing great to hear your stories.

You and your billboards did us proud.
Thanks so much again.

Secretly hoping there may be a Part 3 one day :-)

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2022/03/04/episode-39-graham-fink-pt1/

Episode 39 features an icon of the industry, Graham Fink.

It feels a bit strange to think we got this far without talking to Graham who was D&AD’s youngest ever president and winner of China’s first ever Cannes Grand Prix.

But as you can imagine for someone who is now a multi-media artist, agent to Sophia the world’s first humanoid robot and finktank founder, his time is limited.

So we felt especially lucky to have him on to talk billboards.

And boy did we talk…so much so that we had to make it a 2 parter.

Part 1 is about his early career, how he got his first job at CDP dressing up as an old man and his iconic Benson & Hedges (B&H) billboards.

We covered wolves who refused to howl at a pack of fags, photographers who took 2 weeks to shoot an image and heard about the Fink family and what an amazingly talented bunch they are. Special mention for Dad @masterforger who like his son, is an accomplished artist…and a butler no less.

We also did ‘the yukka plant incident’ wonderfully acted out by Graham. And heard about a surreal interview with the legendary Paul Arden, which led to Graham’s tenure at Saatchi & Saatchi, where he produced the Shower Curtain Silk Cut billboard - all that to come in part 2.

Graham, it was amazing to hear the stories and feel your undying passion for great work. Thanks again for being so generous with your time.

Ep38 features Jo Arscott - a true creative pioneer, who mastered the art of the ’Integrated’ campaign long before everyone else jumped on the bandwagon and called it ‘360’.

Her billboard for the National Asthma Campaign in 1996 was a great example of this, being more like an event than a piece of OOH. Painted in clear glue, the poster was pure white when it went up at Vauxhall Roundabout for the press launch. When the journalists came back 14 days later; they were amazed. The pollution had stuck to the glue revealing the headline.

Hear the full story behind this ‘The world’s first ever glue poster’ and more of Jo’s creative work from her time at agencies all over the world.

We also talked about her work as a speaker on issues of diversity and education at D&AD, Cannes and The Design Council to name but a few.

And of course we heard about her Mum’s cat (cat’s are becoming a thing on this podcast).

Thanks Jo for coming on, it was a blast. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-73-nicola-wood

Podcast episode #73 features Nicola Wood, Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy London, winner of many shiny prizes and someone with a liking for a farty Valentine’s Day card.

Strap in folks. This is an absolute belter of an episode.

The farty card was a good start. But the story behind the Relate campaign shot by Rankin is something we’d never heard before. And we’ve heard quite a bit in the past five years.

We don’t want to reveal too much but let’s just say Nicola’s Nan features quite prominently. And some of the conversations Nicola had to have to persuade Nan to appear naked on billboards up and down the country are quite something.

We also discussed the incredible craft that went into the British Airways ‘New York We’re back’ billboard which rightly won awards on both sides of the pond. Instead of choosing the easy AI / post production route to recreate workers sat on a girder atop a New York skyscraper, Nicola and long term partner Andy Forrest decided to do it for real. Or as ‘real’ as you can as the nation was emerging from Covid. Another brilliant story involving previous guest photographer Adam Hinton (episode #18) a real life girder and a lot of wardrobing.

We also found out how gardening and sex can help reduce STI’s in the over 65’s in another raunchy campaign for Relate ‘The Hornicultural Society’.

Cannes, flapjacks, you people voting, Maaate, Araldite Glue, Tony Cullingham, Nike … we packed a lot in.

Everything Nichola does seems to have a story, an edge, a relevance to popular culture. We may need a part two soon. Maybe with special guest Nan?!

Thank you again Nicola for coming on and lighting up the studio with your incredible stories. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2022/02/04/episode-37-vikki-ross/

Writing copy about Vikki Ross - the Queen of Copy - is a daunting task.

Was that really a proper sentence? Could it have been a bit pithier? How about the grammar? Were those dashes really necessary? And how about the tone? Is this copy on brand? Is it Behind the Billboardy enough?

So many questions about so much copy.

Vikki has the answers.

Copy is her thang, having written many brilliant words for many global brands for the past 24 years.

Sky, Sony Music, Expedia, Adidas and The Body Shop have all benefitted from the words of Ross.

But she doesn’t just write it. She teaches too - at the SCA, judges at international industry award competitions and mentors young female creatives.

And she has a huge online following for #copywritersunite and #copysafari.

That’s quite a lot.

And yet she still found time to come and chat to us.

Thanks so much Vikki. It was a real pleasure. And please let us know if this copy needs a massive rewrite 🤓

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2022/01/21/episode-36-justin-tindall/

Dead cats, sharing a flat with Damien Hirst, painting your toenails purple in Cannes…just when you thought’d you’d heard it all, along comes podcast number 36 with Justin Tindall.

Amazing stories…some of which were actually about billboards ;-)

Of course Justin is much more than dead moggys, friend of YBA’s and dodgy pedicures.

He is one of the world’s most awarded creatives and ECD’s - winning big at every show in the world during tenures at FCA!, DDB, Red Brick Road, Leo Burnett and M&C Saatchi.

This success can be put down to many things (working in a creative team with Adam Tucker for one), but his level of craft is astounding. Justin is up there with another obsessive we spoke to on episode 13, Alexander Taylor - rivalling her casting of 33 scissors for Silk Cut with his own exhaustive search for the perfect beans on toast for Harvey Nichols, shooting (with @James Day) 30 different plates for the calendar campaign. 

God and Justin are in the details.

Thanks again for coming mate. It was brilliant to see you again looking so fresh and ready for all that 2022 has in store for your exciting new agency @Platform.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2022/01/07/episode-35-malcolm-venville

Podcast episode #35 features one of adland’s most brilliant and loved photographers, Malcolm Venville, who’s portfolio is bulging with great billboards.

• Nike
• Wrangler
• Silk Cut
• Levi’s
• Lynx
• VW
• Guinness

Every one of them shot through with wit and style and every one shot by the same wonderful man.

We spent an absorbing hour with Malc discussing the work that teamed him up with the the cream of British agencies.

So many great stories behind so many billboards.

We barely got to mention his other creative outlets - directing Hollywood films and TV mini series. Maybe more of that next time 🤓

Thanks again Malcolm. It was a real pleasure. 

So the question on everybody’s lips this Friday…what will be the number 1 billboard of 2021?

Last week the pod counted down from 21 to 11. Now we’re in with the big guns. Who’s your money on?

Marmite? Everyone seems to love (not hate!) their exploding special builds from earlier this year. Or McDonalds Delivery - classic adshels - a campaign of beauty and simplicity.

How about BBC Creative and the billboard they set on fire for The Perfect Planet season? Or maybe switch channels to C4 and see that enormous special build cake sweep the board.

Tune in, find out and hear us get a little giddy on Guinness. Thanks again for following, liking and commenting - we love doing this and esp when we hear from you our listeners.

2022 is going to be epic!

https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2021/12/17/episode-34-best-of-2021-part-2/

2021 - VISUALS: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2021/12/10/episode-33-bestof21pt1/

How was it for you?

At Behind the Billboard we were genuinely surprised at the quality of this year’s output. And ended up conveniently🤔

with 21 pieces from 2021 worthy of discussion in our end of year pod.

The chat went fairly deep and crisp and even, aided by some chilled beers and delicious pigs in blanket flavoured crisps (cheers Jon).

We went on a bit like you do…and ended up with a two-parter. So if you’re needing a break over the festive period, you know where to come.

For those wanting to know our process of how we get to the list…there isn’t one. Well nothing you could actively call a process. We just ask our esteemed guests and listeners what caught their eye this year when they’ve been out n about. Or merely scrolling through Instagram. And then we chuck in some of our BtB favourites too.

We have a bit of everything - special builds, murals, projections, digital and of course classic 6, 48 and 96 sheets.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did. It’s great to be back in the studio and chatting with the great and the good of the OOH community. Thanks again to Talon our sponsors, Jon for basically doing everything behind the scenes, Jordan for his continued good-looks and to all our brilliant guests. And most importantly thanks to you our listeners.

Have a great Christmas and stick with us in 2022 we have an amazing line-up.

FOLLOW WITH VISUALS: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2021/11/26/episode-32-mike-nicholson

We’d heard so many good things about Mike over the years and seen his work at all the award shows, but our paths had never crossed.

Until now.

The pod was the perfect opportunity for Hugh and Dan to find out more about one of adlands most talented and nicest blokes.

And he didn’t disappoint (esp in the wardrobe department, the signature Hawaiian shirt setting a bright positive mood from the get-go)

Mike’s billboards are a masterclass in how to do great ooh.

Brilliantly simple ideas distilled down to the absolute minimum (Heg would approve) art directed with craft and wit. There’s not an inch of fat on his work. This is why it’s so awarded and still looks so fresh today.

Quick example - The Tunes 6 sheet:

No headline, no endline, no website, no logo, no hashtag bollocks.

No need.

Just a plunger - made from 3 pack shots (3 packs!!! A client’s dream!)

That’s it.

The bare minimum.

Written on placement, it’s no surprise this was the work that got Mike hired at AMV.

And set a theme of simplicity and graphic brilliance that coursed through his work ever since - either with initial partner Daryl Corps or later with Paul Pateman.

As well as billboards we discussed Mike’s various ECD jobs in the UK and abroad, his teaching work at the SCA and his bedroom wallpaper, which was up there with his Hawaiian Shirts.

Thanks again Mike. Dan and Hugh loved it.

#behindthebillboard #btb #posters #billboards #ooh #outdoor #amv #tbwa #museumofchildhood #tunes #dunloptyres #theeconomist #sca #johnsmiths 

We’re back. Behind the Billboard is back.

Amazing guests are back

Hugh’s heavy breathing

Dan’s crap jokes

Jon’s off-mic eye rolls.

Overly long social posts.…they’re all back.

And we’re starting Series 3 where we left off…with Tiger Savage, talking us through her time at Leagas Delaney and M&C Saatchi. Full disclosure we recorded this earlier in the year but we've held it back to launch series 3!

Hear the stories behind billboard brilliance for Adidas, Vogue.com, Becks, British Airways and more. Tiger is right up there when it comes to iconic famous billboard work and it was a total pleasure having her on the show - twice ;-)

Hope you enjoy it and stay with us - we’ve got some amazing guests coming up.

IMAGES: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2021/11/12/episode-31-tiger-savage-part-2/

Cheers!

Dan and Hugh finally sit down with Tiger Savage, having talked about much of her work on previous shows with her peers. It was so good to talk through her incredible body of work for some of the best agencies in the country.  

Visuals :  https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-30-tiger-savage-part-1/

Also - buy some SHUGS: www.shugs.co.uk

Also -  keep checking this link out for some lip balms: www.aandb.world

Dan and Hugh talk with Michael [or Mike] Lee, Creative Director at Oatly who has presided over some of the most iconic outdoor ads our industry has seen in the last few years. Polarising the creative community and prompting complaints and legal action from the dairy lobbyists... we get behind it all. visuals:  https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2021/04/01/episode-29-micheal-lee/

Dan and Hugh talk with Copywriter extraordinaire Sue Higgs, going through her amazing body of billboards and posters for Vauxhall, Smirnoff, Regal and BA... among many others. Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2021/03/26/episode-28-sue-higgs/

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-72-rachel-miles

Episode #72 features Rachel Miles, BAFTA award-winning creative and Creative Director at Meanwhile Campaign Start-up Agency of the Year 2024.

Rachel not only brought stories from behind her billboards but also some sensational pies from Great North Pie which usurped Hugh’s ‘tiny flapjacks’ as Dan calls them.

Dan and Hugh discussed many things with Rachel. We covered her six year tenure at BBC Creative where, along with creative partner Michael Tsim she created many iconic campaigns, including setting a billboard on fire for the Perfect Planet series, which made the national news and won just about every award going.

We also featured the wonderfully graphic OOH campaign for This is Our BBC. And a campaign of virtual billboards that appeared in the BAFTA winning Tokyo Olympics trail. Adam Peaty, Laura Kenny, Jason Kenny et al getting the Manga treatment.

We even squeezed in her first OOH work of note at Meanwhile for Lifeshare - a clothing charity - that ran during fashion week just before Christmas. And we had a brief chat on the special build for TravelSupermarket featuring a heavily stacked supermarket trolley. So good.

Rachel, thank you so much for coming on and being your wonderful charming talented self. We loved it (and the pies!).

Hugh and Dan talk with Dave Buonaguidi AKA @RealHackneyDave about his time in Adland and about what he's up to now... still making posters for walls... but in galleries and homes around the world!  Visuals here: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/?p=942

Dan and Hugh virtually meet up with the legend that is Sir John Hegarty. I'm not sure what else to add in this intro as... well.... its John Hegarty. He's a frikkin' legend. Just listen in..... it's a proper belter this one. Visuals [as if you need them for this one] - https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2021/02/11/episode-26-sir-john-hegarty/

Dan and Hugh meet with founder of Uncommon London Nils Leonard, covering Outdoor work for Volvo, Tate, Habito, Brewdog and the 2020 Outdoor hall of fame campaign for B&Q.  Follow the visuals here:  https://getbehindthebillboard.com/?p=820

Hugh and Dan chat to Rich Denney, ECD @ St Lukes London about his billboard work for Carlsberg, NSPCC, Morrisons and of course last years impressive NHS/SHN proactive concept that took the world by storm. Visuals here: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2021/01/28/episode-24-rich-denney/