118 118 Parts company with VCCP

Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest is understood to have been dropped from The Number 118 118’s roster just three months after it was appointed.

It is believed that the relationship with the directories company broke down after the agency failed to secure the rights to a piece of music that formed an integral part of its planned campaign.

The fall-out follows a similar debacle in July that led to the agency losing the £1.5m Health Lottery ad account after just two months.

VCCP had pitched comedian Harry Hill to star in its advertising campaign, but Hill’s representatives declined to participate when they were informed that he would be endorsing a lottery. The account was subsequently handed to Delaney Lund Knox Warren & Partners.

VCCP founding partner Ian Priest maintains that the project it had been working on has been scrapped due to “international reasons”. “We maintain our position as a roster agency,” he adds.

In October, VCCP joined the 118 118 roster, which includes WCRS, BLM Quantum, Naked Communications and OMD.

The loss comes as VCCP scoops the £8m Müller Corners advertising account following a pitch against incumbent TBWA/London and The Red Brick Road.118 118 was unavailable for comment at the time Marketing Week went to press.