When was the first commercial on British TV

Q.� When was the first commercial shown on British TV

A. The first British commercial was shown in 1955 and advertised Gibbs SR toothpaste. It began... it's tingling fresh, it's as fresh as ice...The voiceover was done by Alex Mackintosh over a block of SR surrounded by 400 gallons of water syphoned from the gents at Pathe Studios in Wardour Street. London. The first commercial break took place during Variety, a star packed programme from the Guildhall which began at 8pm. The second advert was for Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate.

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Q. What other adverts became popular at this time

A.� British firms couldn't wait to follow the success of Gibbs, and within a short space of time, Batchelor's peas, Brillo, Crosse & Blackwell, Dunlop Rubber, Esso, Express Dairy and Summer County Margarine, had all shown commercials on British television. The peak time price of Association Rediffusion was �975 for one minute and a half minute cost �650.

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Q.� Are there are ads which survive from that time today

A.� In 1956 the tea-drinking chimps had their first screening promoting Brooke Bond PG Tips and they are still going strong today. In 1969 Birds Eye Peas became the first colour television advert, broadcast� by ATV in the Midlands during a break in Thunderbirds.

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Q.� When did Coca Cola start TV advertising

A. The first TV ad for Coca Cola�was produced in conjunction with Edgar Bergen on Thanksgiving Day 1950. This special ad was followed by Walt Disney's TV premiere on Christmas Day 1950 of One�Hour in Wonderland.

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Q.� What are some of our all-time favourite ads

A.� A poll carried our by Sunday Times readers and Channel 4 viewers voted for the following ads:

Guinness - Horses/surfers

Smash - Martians

Tango - Orange man

Electric Central Heating - Creature comforts

Boddingtons - Melanie Sykes with an ice cream

Levis - Nick Kamen in the launderette

R-Whites - Secret lemonade drinker

Hamlet - Baldy man in photo booth

Walkers - Gary Lineker

Impulse - Anything Goes...first gay ad

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By Katharine MacColl