The
British milk company
Unigate produced a series of TV advertisements in the 1970s featuring characters called the Humphreys. The Humphreys were milk thieves whose only visible presence was a red-and-white striped straw with which to suck up the milk. TV personalities of the time, including
Barbara Windsor,
Arthur Mullard,
Rod Hull and
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (16 April 1918 – 27 February 2002) was an Irish actor, comedian, writer, musician, poet, and playwright. The son of an English mother and Irish father, he was born in British Raj, British Colonial India, where h ...
, featured in the adverts; but the campaign is best known for the slogan: "Watch out, watch out—there's a Humphrey about!" written and sung by Mike Batt.
A merchandising campaign accompanied the adverts; and the Humphrey-themed mugs, milk bottles, and straws are now collectors' items. The campaign was devised by John Webster of the
Boase Massimi Pollitt advertising agency.
Celebrities featuring in the ''Humphrey'' ads
*
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, a ...
*
Benny Hill
*
Rod Hull
*
Sid James
*
Henry McGee
*
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (16 April 1918 – 27 February 2002) was an Irish actor, comedian, writer, musician, poet, and playwright. The son of an English mother and Irish father, he was born in British Raj, British Colonial India, where h ...
*
Frank Muir
*
Arthur Mullard
*
Barbara Windsor
Several campaign stickers were produced, including:
* "Watch Out, Watch Out, There's a Humphrey About", featuring two red-and-white striped straws projecting from a pocket
* "Watch Out for the Humphrey Patrol", featuring a row of the tops of thirteen red and white striped straws
* "Drink it Quick, Humphreys are Slick", featuring a red-and-white striped straw projecting from a partially drunk glass of milk.
Three different full sticker sheets can be seen online.
References
External links
UK TV Commercials pagefeaturing the lyrics to the ''Humphrey'' song.
Food advertising characters
Male characters in advertising
Fictional thieves
1970s in the United Kingdom
Dairy marketing
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