"Barbie" television commercial

Television commercial (40 seconds) promoting Sainsbury’s barbecue foods. It was filmed on 13th and 14th May 1996 at a house in Putney and was first aired during the week commencing 20th May 1996.

The commercial shows a man and woman in their garden having a barbecue. The man (played by Christopher Rowe) claims to be ‘a bit of a barbie expert’ and shows the products he cooked while the woman (played by Fiona Gillies) explains that everything was actually made possible by Sainsbury’s. The commercial finishes with the “Sainsbury’s. Special food at everyday prices.” slogan.

The background music is a theme used in several Sainsbury’s 1990s commercials entitled “Thirty Something”.

An early 'roughcut' version is also included (this is almost the same as the finished version except the text caption at the end is missing). A video which appears to contain an animatic of this commercial is also included, but this has not been digitized.

Advertising agency reference AMV/SABB365/040. Copywriter: P. Souter. Director: John O'Driscoll. Production company: Paul Weiland Film Company.