Stunt Watch: Channel 4’s Fountain of Filth, Torres’ crisp Easter Egg and Foster’s 'sentimental' cans

Well hasn’t this week been an absolute avalanche of excellent options?! We’re warming up to this year, chaps, and Stuntwatchers are chomping at the bit to gush.

Channel 4’s utterly magnificent Fountain of Filth

What could we talk about before this beauty, built to promote the TV show ‘Dirty Business’, which exposes Britain’s sewage scandal — it had the industry Whatsapps ablaze.

With punch-you-in-the-face-level impact, the 3D printed bronze-like fountain featured the vomiting likenesses of real people (swimmers, surfers, beach visitors) featured in the show, that believe they were made ill from waste-filled water. They hurl brown water beneath the heft of a cheery faced, bloated exec — suit and briefcase bursting with bile money.

It combines sculptures and fountains — every CD has their favourite executions and these happen to be mine — but more than that, the media execution was impeccable.

An unveiling of the work and press conference on the southbank, digital ad vans deployed to both the people causing the scandal and to the places in which they’re causing it, high profile national media partnerships, social spend, influencers — even loo posters — this was no holds barred, full 360 campaign and none of us can take our eyes off it. It even landed a Guardian cartoon! The holy grail. If only Have I Got News For You was still on air.

The issue had been ignored for too long and now perhaps it can be ignored no longer. Coming after Joe Wicks’ killer bar stunt, whoever is coming up with this fabulous filth at Ch4’s own 4Creative, is killing it.

Torres Crisp (ish) Easter Egg

Now. Those who read all my industry witterings (I’m sure there are many), will know that I am a sucker for a classic seasonal moment. I want silly Valentine’s stunts, I want novelty Easter eggs, I want Christmas trees made from [insert festive campaign here].

Finally, Torres has almost created the egg we’ve all been waiting for; the crisp egg. Kind of! I was thrilled to see this headline, but like many an influencer unboxing more chocolate, I was if I’m honest sad that this isn’t an egg-shaped crisp. Or like, smushed together crisps in the shape of an egg? I don’t know, is that so impossible?

Instead, it ‘studded’ (is this word ever used except in food or fashion copy?) a standard milk choc egg with some salty crisps and sold it at Selfridges. I’m still happy they did it, and think £12.99 isn’t bad given what normal eggs are costing these days (looking at you, M&S). It’s the right brand to do it. So, fine.

Foster's does a Coca-Cola

Are we allowed to say that? Let’s see. Coca-cola did it in 2011. Cadbury have done versions of it. It’s time for the Aussie’s to step in — and boy did it take it a step further. A Publicis debut has certainly grabbed headlines.

Fosters has swapped its own brand name on cans (always brave) for affectionate ‘nicknames’ that men might call their friends. It’s based on research that rings very true — many men still show their affection to friends through insults. So, rather than have therapy, you can visit the campaign website to send a personalised can, with your favourite love-laden insult, to your friend and get two free cans to enjoy together.

What will you choose? Personally I think ‘w*nker’ is my favourite, but ‘b*llend’ has its charms. This is one of those that some in the London PR bubble might feel is slightly out of date, or for a much older generation of men — but those of us outside of that (or able to look outside of it) know will definitely still resonate.

Joemance with Sky Mobile

Finally, Joe (Marler) and Joe (Wilkinson) re-unite to ‘rekindle their bromance’ for a Sky Mobile outing. The research focuses on the calls and texts people send in a new relationship to stay connected. I love that idea, instead of doing the classic celeb couple content,Taylor Herring took it leftfield. In its way, the antithesis of the previous story, it went for a bromance couple in their first flushes of love.

The story in itself isn't based on a killer insight — what is for this category — so getting exactly the right pair, at the right moment, and executing the story with excellent content is brilliant. Joe Marler in particular really is worth every penny, isn’t he? A really fun piece of work.