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Wombles in Carphone Warehouse adverts

Carphone Warehouse advert with Tomsk

The Wombles and Bernard Cribbins are appearing in the latest advertising campaign for mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse.

Press, radio and billboard adverts were launched on 13 April, on a theme of ‘waste’. The printed adverts are illustrated by Nick Price in the same style as the current Wombles books published by Bloomsbury: one image shows Tomsk pushing a wheelbarrow overflowing with banknotes, while another shows Tobermory vacuuming up banknotes.

In the radio adverts, The Wombling Song plays in the background with a voiceover by Bernard Cribbins. One advert says:

“Nothing bothers a Womble more than waste. Did you know you could be wasting £194 a year on the wrong phone tariff? With over 7 million options, how could you possibly know if you’re on the right one? The networks will only show you theirs. But Carphone Warehouse compares a range of networks, tariffs and phones to find the perfect combination for you. For independent advice, talk to Carphone Warehouse.”

Carphone Warehouse radio advert - wrong phone tariff (MP3)

Another advert says: “We’re on Wimbledon Common, and the Wombles have never seen so much waste. In fact, Britain’s wasting a staggering £173 million pounds a year, just by going over phone data limits. But with more unlimited data packages than anyone else, Carphone Warehouse can help. Their T-Mobile, Three and Talkmobile tariffs start at an incredible £12 a month. For independent advice, talk to Carphone Warehouse.”

Carphone Warehouse radio advert - phone data limits (MP3)

Carphone Warehouse says that £5 billion is being wasted by mobile phone users each year as a result of people not being on the deal that’s best for them. On average, being on the wrong tariff costs each person £194 a year, according to independent research.

Andrew Harrison, CEO of Carphone Warehouse Europe, said: “When the UK is facing one of the hardest financial times in living memory, it seems crazy that £5 billion is being wasted on phone bills. At Carphone Warehouse, we want people to enjoy their smartphones without it costing them an arm and a leg. We’ll compare every network and phone combination and give independent advice on which deal is best.”

The public reaction has been mixed…

https://twitter.com/MollyMMerrygold/status/190817521878835200 https://twitter.com/baggynall/status/191823501320130560 https://twitter.com/carolinebarnes8/status/191959224270594048 https://twitter.com/jackldavies/status/191982958708662273 https://twitter.com/David_A_OHara/status/192305335736860672 https://twitter.com/LiadanR/status/192329114110271490 https://twitter.com/thereal_Yoda/status/192556089563295744 https://twitter.com/CatherineBella_/status/192676837963472896 https://twitter.com/Jill_Adams_/status/192695163674574848 https://twitter.com/Almighty_faye/status/193020373829296128 https://twitter.com/sohanlon07/status/193077508659363842 https://twitter.com/Craigster_90/status/193298813404987394 https://twitter.com/sophicocker/status/193685878911152128 https://twitter.com/LauraBroadberry/status/193721629526855680 https://twitter.com/HannahHudson93/status/194063249006804993 https://twitter.com/evecatterz_1D/status/194154006547935233 https://twitter.com/xstephaniedean/status/194745133391020033 https://twitter.com/brunoriddy/status/194803174601793536 https://twitter.com/scjgreen/status/195160438198124545 https://twitter.com/InkMaiden/status/195172577017212928 https://twitter.com/benptooey/status/195909969068036098 https://twitter.com/V_ArjuneZaver/status/195970649540411392 https://twitter.com/kevinellisblog/status/196548942698258432 https://twitter.com/KirstyJayTWP/status/196570043876782081 https://twitter.com/EmilyHD26/status/196580582799572992 https://twitter.com/hayleydreamer/status/198316839082786816 https://twitter.com/mann_sophie/status/199430881847418880 https://twitter.com/calbobs/status/200465380769153024 https://twitter.com/soph_mcnamara/status/200585780828188673 https://twitter.com/LoisGlenn/status/200655996434132993 https://twitter.com/markrobbo/status/201280345709101056 https://twitter.com/NeuroticButNice/status/201683171908128769 https://twitter.com/Luke_SFR/status/202666606969630720 https://twitter.com/iamcreative/status/203414958644543489 https://twitter.com/ChaseLioness/status/203805438167355392 https://twitter.com/steveveleigh91/status/203890173434531840 https://twitter.com/meganbonner/status/204592619689488384 https://twitter.com/georgeowers/status/204615861733036032 https://twitter.com/HudsonJenny/status/204825827840495617 https://twitter.com/StaceyCreedy12/status/204990857789706240 https://twitter.com/sohebsoheb/status/205568978234519554 https://twitter.com/LucyHerring93/status/205750066147897345 https://twitter.com/daisygleek24/status/206818594649149440 https://twitter.com/Wolves_Eat_Dogs/status/209624300502790144 https://twitter.com/tasha_clarke95/status/211473562240950272

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