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Sexism complaints over Marks and Spencer's Christmas ad

Thursday, 19 November 2009

Ashes To Ashes actor Philip Glenister's role in Marks and Spencer's new Christmas TV advert has been hit by complaints of sexism.

The Advertising Standards Authority confirmed it was looking into six complaints, which generally say they find that part of the ad offensive.

The star-studded campaign also includes Joanna Lumley, Stephen Fry, Jennifer Saunders and Myleene Klass discussing what they could not do without at Christmas.

Glenister (above right), shown propping up a bar, says towards the end of the advert: “Oh, come on, it's Christmas. That girl prancing around in her underwear.”

The ad cuts to French model and M&S campaign regular Noemie Lenoir, wearing a bra and knickers, who asks: “Moi?” before twirling round in a winter scene.

The watchdog will assess the complaints before deciding whether or not to launch an investigation.

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33 Comments

This is just stupid come on it makes sense for a company like M&S to advertise their underwear when they make so much money from selling it? Yes they chose a beautiful woman to model it makes sense women who are stunning and have attractive bodies look better in these items and thus make the product sell better, known fact in the advertising buisness and interestingly M&S saw a huge increase in underwaer sales after braodcasting their first adverts feacturing her and the rest of the girls. The reason they did not have a man in his underwear is because the M&S male underwear is not seen to give men sex appeal. The truth is the majority of us do not and very seldom admit that they are not influenced by unattractive or average looking models. This ad is not sexist he shows male appreciation of the female form similar to the reaction of women who lusted at ads feacturing david Beckham in his CK Boxers. People just need to wise up and face the facts who said life is fair? xxxxx

Posted by Harley | 06.01.10, 17:03 GMT

We could be missing an opportunity here! Let's make a programme about the whingers who actually use thie own time purely to complain. I just want to see what these people look like!
Come on BBC, make it an extension to your popular - 'Grumpy old men/women' series.

Posted by Shane | 14.12.09, 14:20 GMT

Men were men a long time before Christmas was thought up...........

Posted by Roy | 12.12.09, 12:28 GMT

I hate the way this pathetic country is going, Its just mean't to be a little fun. Its the first M&S advert to make me smile.

Posted by Adam Whitmore | 10.12.09, 20:49 GMT

its a really good ad and lots of fun...and meant to be taken that way get a life!

Posted by brett | 03.12.09, 14:48 GMT

Come on you stupid persons, the advert is advertising all sorts of clothing so why not lingerie, get a life.

Posted by C Rawson | 28.11.09, 21:27 GMT

i happen to think the world needs to get a grip of itself an this whole pc thing is a load of crap.
wat is wrong with a good looking girl in her underwear. if i looked like that i would live in mine...lol its an advert get over yourselves. if you dont like it watch something else

Posted by sheila | 20.11.09, 17:19 GMT

Surely he's doing it in character as Gene Hunt from 'Life on Mars' a 70's detective from a time when such comments were 'de rigueur'. Personally, I find it very funny, but then I am handicapped by this thing they call a sense of humour (and oh yes, I fancy Philip Glenister something rotten!!!)

Posted by donegore | 19.11.09, 21:06 GMT

Speaking of prancing girls in their unmentionables, has the Belfast Telegraph received complaints about the Girls of Lingerie Football feature that has graced the online edition for weeks. Just curious. 8>)

Posted by Eoin Kenny | 19.11.09, 20:49 GMT

“Oh, come on, it's Christmas. Get a life!"

Posted by Eoin Kenny | 19.11.09, 20:45 GMT

You've got to ask how many millions of people have seen this advert and not been offended! It frightens me to think what else might be too much for the delicate morals of these six "individuals". The fact that the ASA is even looking into these complaints is the only offensive thing about this story - what a galactic waste of time and money!

Posted by Stu | 19.11.09, 17:27 GMT

There's so much more going on in the world to be offended about. To the asinine 6 who complained...
%*&$#B(N@UVJ%^%*)
GET A LIFE!

Posted by JJ | 19.11.09, 16:34 GMT

Why exactly is this offensive? Id like to see the people who complained about this ad

Lisa Chudrow - what are you on about???
"It real nice to see normal shaped woman who dont fill themselves with Birth Control tabs and high sugared alcopops and chippies to have lovely saddlebags. Its some of them that the ad tarnishes shape wise"

Posted by Pauline | 19.11.09, 16:31 GMT

throw a couple of well toned half dressed men into the add then the 'women' who only dream of a body as in the add might be happy ..might be i said maybe chocolate might help too....

Posted by kate | 19.11.09, 15:43 GMT

As another poster stated, it would be worse if Stephen Fry was in his bra and pants.
If I had a complaint it would be the number of sad celebs in the ad! I'm tired seeing these overrated people.

Posted by robbo | 19.11.09, 14:05 GMT

Hang on. Doesn't Noemie Lenoir, an underwear model no less, prance around in her underwear in all the M&S adverts she is in?

Posted by Ulysses32 | 19.11.09, 13:36 GMT

i find the advert totally disgracefull. having a scantally clad pretty woman prancing around for 10 seconds was bang out of order........she should have been on screen for the whole advert. chin chin.

Posted by terry onreee | 19.11.09, 13:01 GMT