Is the £200,000 Homecoming advert a turn-off?

By Talking Heads on Dec 11, 08 11:51 AM in

THE star-studded TV advert encouraging ex-pats to visit Scotland has become the proverbial Marmite - you either love it or hate it.

The one-minute film features Dougie MacLean's uplifting ballad 'Caledonia' being sung by a host of famous Scots including Glaswegian Lulu, Sir Sean Connery, Olympic hero Chris Hoy and Glasgow Warriors and Scotland rugby union internationals Thom Evans and Kelly Brown.

Released as part of Homecoming Scotland, a programme of events celebrating the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns' birth, the advert and the initiative are designed to encourage thousands of Scots abroad to visit home throughout next year.

Each of the 10 famous Scots sing a line from the song and are pictured in front of a Scottish landmark. Four-time Olympic gold medalist Hoy sings with the Glasgow Science Centre in the background.

But the s200,000 advert, which featured on stv over the last two weeks, isn't everyone's cup of tea.

We took to the streets to ask city residents if they liked or disliked the advert.

Here's what they had to say.

John Cassidy, 52, from Maryhill, said: "I think it's about time we had an advert promoting Scotland. It gives us a sense of identity.

"It's a great advert. There are a few bad singers, but it's still great."

Retired Richard Alcorn, 60 from Partick, has mixed feelings about it. He said: "It's okay except for two people - Sean Connery and Lulu. They don't live in the country and are kid-on Scots. Lulu's from the east end of Glasgow, but you wouldn't know it with her American/English accent and Sean Connery lives in Marbella."

Richard's wife Catriona, 58, agreed. She said: "They should have got The Proclaimers to star in it. At least they live in the country. People like Lulu and Sean Connery talk about Scotland fondly, but they don't do much for the country."

School pupil Lauren Murphy, 17, from Hillhead, thinks the advert needed more big names. She said: "It's alright, but the producers could have pulled out the stops.

"I would have liked Mike Myers in the advert. Iknowhe's not Scottish, but he has Scots roots and is really funny. I think that might have added a bit of fun."

Retired barmaid Isa Burke, 70, from Yorkhill, is a true patriot and loved the advert.

She said: "I think it's great. I love all things Scottish and I think the stars who featured in it did really well.

"The only person missing from it is Alex Salmond. I think he should have come in at the end."

Hairdresser Kirsty McGovern, 28, from the south side, isn't a fan. She said: "I don't think it's a fair representation of Scotland, but it was a good idea.

"Instead of the likes of Lulu and Sean Connery, I would have preferred to have seen Rab C Nesbitt.

"I also think it would have been much better to have normal, every day people singing along in the advert."