Unidentified Pat Coombs commercial (lost unfinished advertisement for muesli product; 1973)
Pat Coombs.
Status: Lost
In 1973, British actress Pat Coombs was tasked to promote a cereal product for a television advertisement. After 28 takes, it became apparent that the commercial would never be finished, as Coombs was consistently unable to remember the muesli's name. It was labelled as "The Most Unsuccessful TV Commercial" by The Book of Heroic Failures.[1] No footage from these aborted takes has publicly resurfaced.
Background
Pat Coombs is frequently credited for her strong supporting roles in British radio and television comedy shows.[2][3][4] She typically portrayed down-and-out, shy and pea-brained women, who often caused issues for and got on the nerves of the main characters.[3][4] After appearing in Hancock's Half Hour, she soon featured in Carry On films and television shows like Dad's Army and On the Buses.[3][4] Coombs also enjoyed a successful partnership with Peggy Mount, with the pair having starred in several ITV sitcoms.[2] Their most notable programme was You're Only Young Twice, which ran for four series from 1977 to 1981.[5] It starred Mount and Coombs as Flora Petty and Cissie Lupin respectively, two residents involved in countless antics at the Paradise Lodge retirement home.[5][3] Following this, Coombs appeared in EastEnders as Marge Green,[3] who is noted for being one of the show's uncommon comedic characters.[6] Coombs was also praised as a very popular figure behind the scenes.[2]
Throughout her career, Coombs appeared in a number of television advertisements.[2] Some of the more notable (and publicly available) ones included an advert for Heinz Souperday in 1965;[7] a British Eggs commercial alongside Tony Hancock;[8] voiceover roles for Just Musk perfume and Vortex bleach;[9][10] a 1984 Typhoo commercial;[11] and, perhaps most famously, a "Naughty - but nice!" advert for Lyons cream cakes.[12] With this consistent track record, it is perhaps unsurprising that Coombs was invited to promote a breakfast cereal in 1973.[13][1] According to The Book of Heroic Failures, Coombs discussed the advert in 1978.[1] Exactly where she made said interview is unclear, though one possibility is that it arose during her 1978 This Is Your Life appearance.[14] Regardless, Coombs' attempts to record the commercial ended in complete disaster.[1][13]
According to Coombs, the advert was for a "practically unpronounceable" muesli product.[1] Whenever it came time for her to announce the product, she ultimately forgot its name.[1][13] The production crew were nevertheless friendly and patient, allowing her to try again for a further 27 times.[1][13] During these other takes, Coombs became increasingly overwhelmed with stage fright, making it impossible for her to promote the muesli on camera.[1] She jokingly remarked that the ordeal "put me off cereal for life".[1] In the end, filming for the commercial ceased without a viable recording being made, which likely hastened the product's swift discontinuation.[1] For this, The Book of Heroic Failures proclaimed the unaired advert as "The Most Unsuccessful TV Commercial".[1] Meanwhile, The Guinness Book of World Records recognised Coombs for requiring the "Most Takes for a TV Commercial" at 28.[13] Nevertheless, Coombs' later commercial appearances proved the faux pas had no real impact on her future employability.[2] Her career continued up until her death on 25th May 2002 from emphysema, aged 75.[15][3]
Availability
Information regarding Coombs' aborted muesli commercial is limited, with almost all of it originating from The Book of Heroic Failures.[1] The product's identity remains unknown but the fact it was discontinued sometime in the early 1970s may help to narrow the possible candidates.[1] No footage nor images from the 28 takes are known to have publicly resurfaced.
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See Also
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References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 The Book of Heroic Failures declaring Coombs' unfinished advert as "The Most Unsuccessful TV Commercial (p.g. 24-25). Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 British Comedy Guide reflecting on the career of Coombs. Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 The Guardian obituary for Coombs. Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 BBC News obituary for Coombs. Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 British Comedy Guide summarising You're Only Young Twice. Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ EastEnders: The First Ten Years: A Celebration summarising Coombs' character Marge Green as comic relief for the show (p.g. 90). Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ Heinz Souperday advert featuring Coombs. Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ British Eggs advert featuring Coombs. Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ Just Musk advert featuring Coombs' voiceover. Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ Vortex advert featuring Coombs' voiceover. Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ Typhoo advert featuring Coombs. Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ Lyons cream cakes advert featuring Coombs. Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Guinness Book of World Records 1984 awarding Coombs for having the "Most Takes for a TV Commercial" (p.g. 179). Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ Big Red Book summarising Coombs' appearance on This Is Your Life. Retrieved 15th May '24
- ↑ BBC News reporting on the death of Coombs. Retrieved 15th May '24