Barclaycard Retains Comedy Stars For New Advertising Campaign

PRLog (Press Release) - May 23, 2007 -
Barclaycard has announced that it has extended its contract with comedy actors Stephen Mangan and Julian Rhind-Tutt, and is in early stages of creating new TV advertising featuring the stars.

The stars, who feature in the Channel 4 comedy show Green Wing, signed to Barclaycard (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/products/apply/card_range.html ) in 2006 to promote Flexi-Rate (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/products/apply/flexirate.html ), a product which rewards customers with a lower interest rate if they opt to repay a higher proportion of their balance each month.  Stephen and Julian appeared in two adverts for Flexi-Rate.

The adverts were based on two friends taking a road trip across America and proved hugely successful at reinforcing the message that Barclaycard helps customers take control of their borrowing.  During the adverts, Mangan’s character is hapless and often winds up in sticky situations where Rhind-Tutt plays the more sensible, in-control character, always producing his Barclaycard Flexi-Rate card (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/products/apply/flexirate.html ) in the midst of sticky situations, reminding his friend about the control the credit card (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/products/apply/card_range.html ) gives him.

Speaking about the extended contract, Gary Twelvetree, Barclaycard’s Advertising Director said “It’s great news that we’ve extended Stephen and Julian’s contract. Customer feedback shows that they loved the ads and really helped to communicate our key messages about the product and I’m excited by extending this relationship.”

Mangan and Rhind-Tutt follow in the footsteps of a string of celebrities that have fronted memorable Barclaycard campaigns, including Rowan Atkinson, Alan Whicker, Jennifer Aniston and most recently Jennifer Saunders.

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For further information please contact the Barclaycard Press Office on 01604 251229

Notes to editors
- Stephen and Julian originally appeared in two Barclaycard adverts from October 2006 (called Rodeo and Speedboat)

- Copyright free photographs of the actors on set can be downloaded from http://www.newsroom.barclays.co.uk/imagelibrary/default.asp?SubjectID=120

- Further information about Flexi-Rate or any other Barclaycard products is available from the Barclaycard website at www.barclaycard.co.uk/products/apply/card_range.html

About Barclaycard
Barclaycard is a multi-brand credit card and consumer loans business which also processes card payments for retailers and merchants and issues credit and charge cards to corporate customers and the UK Government. It is one of Europe’s leading credit card businesses and has an increasing presence in the United States.

In the UK, Barclaycard comprises Barclaycard, Sky Card and FIRSTPLUS secured lending. Barclaycard also manages card operations on behalf of Solution Personal Finance.
Outside the UK, Barclaycard provides credit cards in the United States, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Africa. In the Nordic region, Barclaycard operates through Entercard, a joint venture with ForeningsSparbanken (Swedbank).

Key facts:
Number of UK card customers: 9.8m
Barclaycard International cards in issue: 6.4m
Number of Barclaycard Business retailer relationships: 93,000  


Barclaycard PR contact:
Andrew Bond
Barclaycard Press Office
Barclaycard
1234 Pavilion Drive
Northampton
NN4 7SG
01604 251229
Andrew.Bond@barclaycard.co.uk
http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/products/apply/card_range.html