Sipsmith Gin's quirky 'Mr. Swan' character takes on Wimbledon

Charming ad from Ogilvy highlights the brand's sponsorship, with a twist

Published On
Jun 17, 2021

Editor's Pick

Beam Suntory-owned craft gin brand Sipsmith Gin is the official gin partner of Wimbledon this year, but in the brand’s fun new TV ad, its “Mr Swan” character mistakenly flips that on its head, calling everything about the tennis championship “the official partner of Sipsmith.”

Created via Ogilvy U.K. and veteran comedy director Jeff Low of Biscuit, the spot sees the stop motion animated character (voiced by "The Mighty Boosh" actor Julian Barrett) on a tour of the All England Lawn Tennis Club with an increasingly exasperated official as he declares that the manicured grass, ball machine, lawnmower and even rain are all official partners of the brand. It's charming fun, with some snappy copywriting. 

The campaign is running on U.K. TV in the run-up to Wimbledon, accompanied by social assets featuring Mr Swan commenting on Wimbledon traditions. The original "Mr Swan" ad launched in 2019 as the biggest campaign in the brand's history. 

In a statement, Shelley Macintyre, senior global marketing director, Gin, Beam Suntory, described the ad as "a delightful celebration of two quintessential brands that go to extraordinary lengths to delight their clientele. A shared attention to detail, combined with Mr Swan's idiosyncratic quirks make this not only the perfect partnership, but a lot of fun too, which is what we’ve tried to capture with Mr Swan and his partner, Ani."

Low added: “It was a privilege to get to make another film for Sipsmith with our misguided friend, Mr Swan.  I hope audiences enjoy it so we can make it a trilogy.”

Credits

Date
Jun 17, 2021
Client :
Sipsmith Gin
Agency :
Ogilvy-U.K.
Head of Account Management :
Victoria Day
Business Director :
Kerry Capps
Account Manager :
Marissa Jade Whittle
Senior Global Brand Director :
Shelley Macintyre
Global Marketing Director :
Annabel Keech
Head of Digital Content & Design :
James Mills
Head of UK Marketing :
Joel Hughes
International Marketing Manager :
Fleur Maguet
Chief Executive Creative Director :
Jules Chalkley
Chief Creative Officer :
Andre Dede Laurentino
Senior Art Director :
Tom Webber
Senior Copywriter :
Nick Sheppard
Head of Strategy :
Sandie Dilger
Senior Strategist :
Emma Banks
Deputy ECD of Design :
Luke Ridgeway
Head of Moving Image :
James Brook-Partridge
TV Producer :
Christopher Eeles
Media Agency :
Zenith
Business Director :
Ingrid Leddin
Planning Director :
Alice Hadley
Group Strategy Director :
James Marlowe
Investment Manager :
Andy Oldham
Production Company :
Biscuit Films
Director :
Jeff Low
Producer :
Kowk Yau
Managing Director :
Rupert Reynolds-MacLean
Exec Producer :
Hanna Bayatti
Production Manager :
Adam Oyejobi
Production Coordinator :
Michael Scanlon
Animator :
Andy Biddle
Director of Photography :
Matthew Day
Production Designer :
Gordon Allen
Model Maker :
Sarah Crombie
Editor :
Saam Hodivala
Audio Post Production :
Gramercy Park Studios
Senior Sound Designer :
Zak Kartha
Post Production :
Gramercy Park Studios
Post Producer :
Roger Lairisa
Head of 3D :
Mark Beardall

Need a credit fix? Contact the Creativity Editors

Industry
Project Type