Fonejacker star mocks complaints in new ads

Fonejacker star Kayvan Novak has signed up to advertise much-criticised betting firm Paddy Power.

The bookie has the dubious honour of having the most complained-about ad in British history – for a campaign that offered punters money back if disabled actor Oscar Pistorius 'walked' following his murder trial.

Paddy Power's new TV ads make sly fun of complaints, as they feature Novak as a helpline worker as well as a series of characters with phoney gripes against the company.

The first features a posh horsey woman complaining that Paddy Power's offers are also open to the 'riff-raff'; in the second he plays a burger-van owner who complains that the bookies' deals make his look bad.

But some charges against the company are more serious.This week the Gambling Commission criticised Paddy Power for encouraging a problem gambler to keep betting until he lost five jobs, his home and access to his children. The watchdog also slammed the company and for not doing enough to ensure betting machines weren't laundering the proceeds of crime.

Paddy Power's advertising campaigns came under fire again last month when the company posted a jokey picture of Paul Daniels in only his underwear just hours after it was revealed he had diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.

The Guardian quotes the company saying: 'It's fair to say Paddy Power has attracted the odd complaint down the years so it feels right to be solving them now. Kind of…'

Published: 4 Mar 2016