August 22, 2008 (InfoPowa News) — Liverpudlians were treated to something a little different this week as their streets were invaded with giant human-propelled "zorbing" balls presented as bingo balls. The colourful event was part of a three-day film shoot for a GBP 3 million advertising campaign planned for UK television by the online bingo website LadbrokesBingo.com.
The Liverpool Daily Post reported that the campaign, devised by the M&C Saatchi agency, will air from mid to late-September this year, and will feature the giant bingo balls rolling past iconic Liverpool landmarks such as the Liver Building, the Steble Fountain, St George's Hall and Museum Steps and the terraced streets of Badminton Avenue and Lark Lane.
The high energy sport of zorbing — internally man-powered, 13 ft.-transparent spheres — is an apt counterpoint to the dynamics of online bingo, an Internet pastime which is growing by leaps and bounds with a younger demographic in the United Kingdom.
Directed by Ben Quinn, the ad features over 180 extras in nods to bingo slang including two "fat ladies", two "little ducks" and a real life "legs eleven".
LadbrokesBingo marketing manager, Charles Goodenough, said: "This is a really exciting project for Ladbrokes Bingo and we are delighted to be bringing bingo on such a big scale to the streets of Liverpool. We wanted to represent the fun, exciting nature of the game and we're sure the giant bingo balls will make an impact on both Merseyside and across the country."