Huge Hollywood A-lister follows George Clooney & Robert De Niro to star in TV ads for bread firm Warburtons
A HOST of stars have appeared in TV ads for Warburtons – and now the British bread firm has signed Hollywood A-lister Samuel L Jackson.
The actor — famous for his “bad mutha” line in Pulp Fiction — will soon be on our screens after signing a six-figure deal with the family-owned bakery.
Its previous ads featured Hollywood big-hitters Sly Stallone, Robert De Niro and George Clooney.
A TV insider said: “Shelling out serious cash for huge names is now par for the course for Warburtons, as its ads have proved such a success. Bagging Samuel is another coup.
“Watching celebs popping up in the company’s HQ in drizzly Lancashire when you normally imagine them in Tinseltown captures shoppers’ imaginations. And the ads are funny and imaginative so the stars keep credibility.”
Jackson — spy Nick Fury in the Marvel movies — turned heads when he was spotted in London recently filming his bread ad and appearing to drive a Warburtons lorry.
As with the other adverts for the Bolton-based firm over the past eight years, its boss Jonathan Warburton will also take a starring role.
He featured in a 2021 ad for the brand in which he shunned a Zoom call with Ocean’s Eleven star Clooney so he could enjoy a toastie loaf in peace.
In 2019, Jonathan appeared alongside De Niro, who played a Mafia figure — and in 2015 with Rocky icon Stallone, who played an action hero delivery driver.
Celebs don’t mind people taking the rise out of them if there’s dough involved.
SPLAT’S A JOY FOR PACKHAM
GETTING pooed on by a bird would probably ruin filming for most TV presenters – but not Chris Packham.
The Springwatch star revealed the messy incident kept him humble as he celebrated a career milestone.
He’s following Sir David Attenborough’s path with a cinematic natural-history documentary spanning centuries on Earth. It starts on BBC Two on July 17.
Chris said of the bird mishap: “There was an Andean condor flying around.
“I saw it empty its bowels and was showered.
“I was elated to be pooed upon by such a magnificent creature.”
But it was not the only challenge Chris had to contend with – as he was asked not to capture footage of a rodent invasion.
He said: “We were told we couldn’t film the rats, but they were there.”
'Plain-sailing' for Beyond Paradise
HE was a huge part of Beyond Paradise’s ratings success, as DI Humphrey Goodman’s love rival Archie Hughes.
But Jamie Bamber has revealed he won’t be back as the businessman in series two – meaning smoother sailing for Humphrey and Martha’s relationship.
The Death In Paradise spin-off centres on Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton’s characters as they try to make a life in Devon.
Jamie said: “I think my job is done there. Archie made it as difficult as possible for Humphrey and Martha to enjoy a settled relationship, so it’s only fair they enjoy a little plain-sailing.”
Shopping With Keith Lemon’s star-studded return
AHEAD of Big Brother’s return in a few months, hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best, the pair are also to star in the latest series of Shopping With Keith Lemon.
With the BB house in mind, they shop for homeware in the first episode of the ITV2 chat series on July 19.
Keith then visits a pet store with Love Islander Olivia Attwood.
The series also features singers Olly Murs, Zara Larsson, Fleur East and Myleene Klass, radio DJ Melvin Odoom, Love Island narrator Iain Stirling, Strictly’s Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood, ex-Towie star Joey Essex, chat show hosts Chris & Rosie Ramsey, presenter Denise van Outen, former Big Brother winner Josie Gibson and Dancing On Ice drag queen The Vivienne.