TV comedy star signs up for People’s Phone ads

Only Fools And Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst has signed up with the People’s Phone retail chain to appear in its new TV commercials.

Lyndhurst, who plays hapless Rodney in the TV comedy series, will appear in ads from April 1 for People’s Phone. The push will run until Christmas. Ad spend is not known but last year the firm spent £5m on TV advertising.

This is the first time the 180-strong retail chain has used a celebrity for its TV advertising. The ads were created by Banks Hoggins O’Shea. According to founding partner Mark Wilson, the ads will help give the chain the brand recognition of rivals BT or Mercury.

Lyndhurst is appearing as himself, rather than as any of his on-screen characters. “As himself he has all the People’s Phone values. He is a loveable character,” adds Wilson.