This isn't about whether there's a case to be answered by Mercedes or not, but about VBH selling herself for an 'ambulance chaser' type campaign.

 

I've always respected VBH for her journalistic insight, honesty and entertainment value, and it saddens me that she has to lower herself to such roles.

 

The nearest current motoring journo (as opposed to a 'celeb') I can think of is Chris Harris, although his style (and appearance, naturally) are very different

 

 

I've not seen that one but there are a couple of ads currently screening featuring Lord Ian Botham which have a similar negative impact on me.

I'll be honest, I had to go Google to see who 'VBH' even was, though I vaguely recognised her thereafter.

Certainly I've never heard her on the radio or read enough of her work to remember her, which to me suggests that she wouldn't have that much of an impact on the campaign... Ian Botham, though, is a name I recognise and I think most people would. Last I heard, he drives a Jag though, so probably not a Merc fan anyway!

 

 

She was a big name back when we had 5 tv channels and 'Old Style' Top Gear was still on the telly. She's have been top Gear 'totty' then but got put out to channel 5 when TG was first refreshed with Jezza et al.

It'll have been hard for her tbh, she lost her USP of being a female car 'reviewer' to the YouTube crowd a long time ago and she wasn't (as far as I know) a motoring journo, car racer proper or love island model as something to fall back on.

 

Being a 'telly person' I guess doesn;t leave you with much choices other than to front daytime tv ads if everything else has dried up. Unless you're going to retrain as a plumber.

 

Ray Quinn (x factor runner up) is apaprently working as a delivery driver inbetween singing jobs. Couldn't stand the boy on the telly but he's doign what he's got to do so that's due a bit of respect.

 

 

Edited 25 November, 20205 yr by Aspman

She was a Fifth Gear TV presenter for 14 years from 2002 to 2016, and comes from a racing family background. I preferred Fifth Gear to Top Gear, as it was a motoring show about the cars, whereas Top Gear became more a show about the presenters.

 

1 hour ago, Aspman said:

She was a big name back when we had 5 tv channels and 'Old Style' Top Gear was still on the telly.

 

 

That must be why I've not heard of her - I last owned a TV back in 1996 and haven't really watched it since.

@Ttaskmaster

There must be lots of people you have never heard of or seen unless they are in printed publications you look at or are on the radio. or you have seen them in real life or they cropped up in conversations.

 

VBH has been mentioned from time to time on this very forum.

Edited 25 November, 20205 yr by e-Roottoot

16 hours ago, e-Roottoot said:

@Ttaskmaster

There must be lots of people you have never heard of or seen unless they are in printed publications you look at or are on the radio. or you have seen them in real life or they cropped up in conversations.

 

VBH has been mentioned from time to time on this very forum.

 

There are, yes. For example, I've no idea who the chart-topping artists are, who is who on Neighbours and Eastenders, or who won X Factor and Strictly.

 

Most of the 'I'm A Celebrity' types are complete unknowns to me, and that's where I'd have put VBH. I may have seen her mentioned here (Search returned very few results), but still wouldn't have associated the name with anyone 'big' in the motoring world... and that was my point - Surely a campaign like this would want names that everyone immediately recognises, even if they don't follow the thing for which they're famous... like Ian Botham.

 

It may be that VBH genuinely believes in all this, in which case it's up to her what she puts her name and reputation to, though.

 

 

Edited 26 November, 20205 yr by Ttaskmaster

I like watching 'Car Years' because of her and Alex Riley but mostly for the cars..   

4 hours ago, Ttaskmaster said:

 

Most of the 'I'm A Celebrity' types are complete unknowns to me.

 

 

I've got to the point now where not only do I not know who half of those people are, I don't even know the program they've come from.

I know there are various "made in" programs but I can say (not without some smugness) I have never watched an episode of any of them, nor Love Isaland nor any celebrity version of them either.

 

TBH I've not had a working TV signal for 5yr and I don't really miss it. channel 4 is probably the only streaming service I tolerate ads on.

 

I suspect VBH has a mortgage to pay and kids to put through school. If the TV jobs have dried up then I don't doubt she'd lend her voice to a pile ointment ad if there was a bill to cover.

Edited 26 November, 20205 yr by Aspman

I share your ignorance and smugness.