Never Mind The Adverts

Never Mind The Adverts 2025 Review

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Jon and Orlando are back with a festive, fast-paced review of the biggest marketing stories and creative moments of 2025. Expect some interesting tipples, advertising wisdom (even some going back to 1928) and some laughs along the way.

What to expect:

00:00 - Start
00:41 - Starting with some festive cheer
02:04 - The big news stories from 2025
02:20 - The multiplier effect
03:51 - The creative dividend
05:05 - The Cost of Dull Media
07:17 - Les Binet Go Big or Go Home
09:22 - The Wild West of Influencer Measurement
13:00 - How the pause screen has become an advertising channel
14:30 - Sydney Sweeney, American Eagle and Jaguar - The Crisis
16:15 - Mergers and WPP
17:26 - Drinks Trolley Break
19:00 - Jon’s highlight - awards
20:12 - Orlando Wood’s highlight of 2025
21:46 - Rory Sutherland vs Scott Galloway
22:35 - Jon and Alix Earle in Cannes
23:52 - Jon cycles up a mountain with Zwift
25:12 - Becoming trustee for the History of Advertising Trust
26:42 - The History of Christmas Advertising with a special guest
33:10 - Who won Christmas in 2025?
34:27 - Aldi and Kevin the Carrot
35:18 - Waitrose’s strong Christmas showing
36:28 - The most viewed Christmas Ads on YouTube
37:25 - Amazon re-airing their Christmas ad this year
38:20 - The growth of Christmas Ads in 2025
39:47 - The right brained nature of the successful Christmas ads
40:51 - The Coca Cola AI Christmas Ad
43:23 - The Never Mind the Adverts Awards
44:02 - System1 Star of the Year
44:51 - System1 Turkey of the Year
45:32 - Name that ad

Stormzy's McDonald's campaign, the multiplier effect and consciousness

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0000

This episode Jon and Orlando are delving into "The Multiplier Effect" report from WARC and how McDonald's latest campaign with Stormzy exemplifies the findings from the report. It may also be the only time in history two people have discussed Stormzy, consciousness and Renault Clio's while drinking Cockburn's fortified wine.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
00:49 - The news - the multiplier effect
07:39 - Ad of the week
12:41 - Drinks trolley
16:06 - Break for the ads
23:05 - Name that ad

The "death" of Liquid Death in the UK and a belated Super Bowl ad review

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Jon and Orlando are back for a third "one-off special" in a row, this time talking about their favourite Super Bowl ads. With a dash of personal preference and a dusting of System1 testing scores, the duo pick the standout performers of this year's big game. Soft drinks veteran Jon gives his two cents on Liquid Death has exiting the UK market and is tested hard in the latest round of "Name that ad".

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:49 The news - Liquid Death exits UK market
05:25 The news - Nike comeback
11:14 Super Bowl ads
11:46 Liquid Death ad
14:42 Hellman's
15:49 WeatherTech
18:21 Stella Artois
20:32 NFL
22:52 Lays
25:05 Budweiser
26:18 Pfizer
30:26 Drinks Trolley
33:10 Break from the ads
39:16 Name that ad
43:00 Outro

TikTok Ban, Dubonnet and New Years Resolutions

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0000

The dynamic duo are back to discuss TikTok's recent Supreme Court ruling, analyze Yorkshire Tea's latest advertisement featuring Sarah Lancashire, and share their thoughts on vintage advertising while sampling the Queen's favorite cocktail, Dubonnet. The fan favourite "Name That Ad" segment makes a return, where Jon tries to guess an iconic commercial directed by Ridley Scott. The episode concludes with a discussion about New Year's resolutions and the importance of energy and consistency in creative work.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro
00:47 - The news
06:05 - Ad of the week: Yorkshire Tea
09:26 - Drinks trolley
16:18 - Break from the ads
23:12 - Name that Ad

The Christmas Special: festive ads, Orlando's stocking fillers and a challenging "name that ad"

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0000

Orlando and Jon are back for a one-off episode of Never Mind the Adverts. The duo talk festive ads (including that Coke AI one), Orlando's favourite (advertising themed) stocking fillers and he stumps Jon with a rather challenging "name that ad" segment. Be warned: festive alcoholic drinks were consumed in this episode.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
00:45 - The news
03:28 - Orlando’s Christmas Stocking Fillers
08:41 - Drinks trolley
12:13 - Review of the 2024 Christmas Ads
16:20 - A break from the ads
20:38 - Name that ad

Where does the marketing money go? Plus dancing ponies, Sambuca shots and Olympic advertising

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 01:00:00 +0100

This week Jon and Orlando look at the IPA's data on marketing spend this year. The good news is, it's increasing, but are we putting spend in the right places? Should we be spending for the short term or investing for the long term?

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:50 News
10:59 Ad of the week
13:54 Break from the commercials
18:18 Name that brand
24:41 Outro

Rory’s Man Bag, The Dirt on Persil, Michelle’s Mischief and some 17th Century career advice

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 04:15:12 +0100

Orlando and Jon are back from MAD//Fest, one of the biggest marketing festivals in the UK, where they discuss their key takeaways from industry legends such as Rory Sutherland and Sir John Hegarty.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:24 Madfest roundup
10:49 Break from the commercials - 17th Century Career Advice
17:05 Ad of the week - Adidas
20:06 Drinks Trolley
24:39 Name that brand

The real winners at Cannes and why humour is back

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 07:38:25 +0100

Jon and Orlando are back from a week at the Cannes Lions festival of creativity, where the advertising industry descend to celebrate the best work from the year. Using data from the System1 Test Your Ad database, they discuss what ads both scored big with the public and were admired by the industry, and why humour is at the core.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:29 Cannes Lions winners vs the data
16:25 Break from the commercials
20:27 Name that brand

A non dull car ad, Cicero inspired advertising and did Jon make the PMW Top 100?

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:58:10 +0100

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
09:44 - Ad of the week
12:20 - Name that brand
16:55 - Break from the commercials
20:34 - Merch

Cannes Lions Preview: The Cost of Dull and Advertising Principles Explained launched

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

In this episode Orlando talks about the launch of his new course, Advertising Principles Explained, and Jon shares his upcoming Cannes Lions talk "The Cost of Dull". Jon also recounts more stories from his time at Mateus Rose and meets his idol in the phone a friend segment.

IRN-BRU and Paddy Power new Euro's ads, podcast vs performance marketing and Nicola Wardell special appearance

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Orlando Wood and Jon Evans are back discussing the most important news in advertising this week. From the best ads for the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament to Rory Sutherland suggesting podcasting might be more effective than performance marketing...

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
00:28 - Grand fromage clarification
02:05 - The news
07:20 - Ad of the week - Irn Bru and Paddy Power
11:25 - Drinks trolley
12:27 - Break from the commercials
14:48 - Phone a friend - Nicola Wardell

Attention on attention, Cheetos makes us laugh and Orlando’s big milestone

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Thu, 30 May 2024 01:00:00 +0100

The reviews are in for the first episode of Never Mind the Adverts, including "two more grizzled old ad men" and "the ClassicFM of podcasts" on the way to knocking Uncensored CMO down the charts. In this episode, we talk about the new Ehrenberg-Bass report on attention in advertising, what a cookie-less world could look like and how Cheetos made such a funny ad. We also celebrate a big milestone as the grand fromage turns 50.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
00:46 - Reviews
02:42 - The news
08:32 - Break from the commercials
10:56 - Orlando’s drinks trolley
14:58 - Birthday Segment
16:22 - System1 Ad of the Week
21:30 - Phone a friend

Apple crushes creativity, Sir John Hegarty reveals Levi's success and a charming Ad of the Week

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Tue, 21 May 2024 01:07:30 +0100

In the first episode of Never Mind the Adverts, Jon and Orlando discuss if pre-testing is worth it following Mark Ritson's article, why Apple decided to crush every expression of creativity and Sir John Hegarty makes a cameo appearance to help answer a critical question. You also won't want to miss Jon's performance marketing tip of the week, or which advert Orlando liked most on the System1 database.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
00:40 - The News
06:43 - Apple Creating Waves
09:04 - Performance marketing tip of the week
14:19 - Drinks sponsor break
16:29 - A break from the ads
18:57 - System1 Ad of the Week
21:12 - Phone a friend (Sir John Hegarty)
24:54 - Launch of APE

Never Mind The Adverts Trailer

Jon Evans, Orlando Wood — Mon, 20 May 2024 22:23:02 +0100

Welcome to Nevermind the Adverts where we share our news and views each week on what makes advertising work and what's made us laugh. Each week, Jon Evans and Orlando Wood will be dissecting the latest ads, the biggest breaking news and the most controversial opinions about advertising.