Flexible Friend TV Adverts

Some of the first Flexible Friend adverts: traditionally drawn cartoons. The advertising agency was Geers Gross, the production company Wyatt Cattaneo, and the art director Wally Jex. The Access and Money adverts are probably the best remembered and best loved of all the Access adverts. Money was voiced by Peter Hawkins, who also created the voices of Bill and Ben, and the Daleks. He died on 8th July 2006, aged 82.

Cheque Book gets somewhat irate that he doesn’t have Cheque Card with him. By the time Cheque Card arrives, the suit shop has closed!

The first video was originally posted online by TV Ark. Money checks out of a hotel, with the receptionist played by Prunella “I kno-o-o-w” Scales. In the second, Money gets a shock at the price of a rail ticket – and of course, Access comes to help out. The art director on the 1982 adverts was Andy Wakefield.

The agency is still Geers Gross, but the production company has changed to Sky Films; the art director remains Andy Wakefield. In the first advert Access, Money, Cheque Book and Cheque Card are at the petrol station. Needless to say, Access has just paid, as none of the others were quite up to the job! In the second, Access, Money and Fat Wallet are at the gym.

The agency, production company and art director are as for 1985. Access warns Money about how restrictive and expensive store cards can be. Store Card is played by Mollie Sugden.

The first advert is a classic. Money calls “Ticket” at the booking office, wanting seats for tonight’s show. Over the phone, Money’s only option is to give Ticket Access’s name and number. Ticket is voiced by Frankie Howerd, and the voiceover at the end is Chris Tarrant.

In the second, Access, Money, Fat Wallet and Travellers Cheque are chilling out at a foreign hotel. They all want some refreshment but – you guessed it – Access is the only one who can come up with the goods. Fat Wallet got cleaned out hiring the car, and Travellers Cheque needs to get changed before paying… he is British, you know! The voiceover at the end is Chris Tarrant again.

The exact dates aren’t known, but the order is clear: at the end of the second video, the lower part of the card no longer has the pure white Access background.

In 1995 the last ever Access adverts were screened. In the first, Access, Money and Cheque Book are on a cross-channel ferry, and Money is proudly showing Access his purchases – including some skimpy underwear for his niece(!). Cheque Book is heaving over the side; he doesn’t travel well. Note that Access is now in his later green gradient guise, rather than the original green and white.

In the second, Money takes Access out on the town to reminisce about the good times, and even treats him to a meal. Except – when the bill comes, Money realises he can’t afford it. So Access pays!

Andy Wakefield was still art director, but the agency was now Publicis and the production company Denis Russo Associates.