British Airways’ new video ad, produced as a love letter to Britain for the airline’s centennial anniversary, may help Britons set aside their anxieties about Brexit.
Because for the minute-and-a-half-long video, BA tapped everyone from actors Gary Oldman and Riz Ahmed to anthropologist Jane Goodall and Helen Sharman, the first ever British astronaut to leave earth, to extol the virtues of Britain.
Chosen as members of the BA 100, they are “people who represent the values we want to celebrate and make Britain the creative, open-minded, pioneering and welcoming place it is today,” says the airline.
In the video, the colourful cast of spokespeople throw out some of the things that make Britain great: diversity, sense of style, sense of adventure, big heart, resilience, trailblazers, frankness and modesty.
Then there are the gifts Britain gave to the world: Yorkshire pudding, David Bowie, and “rather a lot of tea.”
Heavyweight boxing world champion Anthony Joshua, singer Paloma Faith, contemporary artist Grayson Perry and The Kingdom Choir, famous for having sung at Meghan Markle’s wedding, also make appearances.
Throughout the year leading up to the airline’s 100th anniversary August 25, the BA 100 — ambassadors for the brand and for the UK — will star in more promotional ads. The BA 100 are chosen from industries like business, environment, fashion, film, entertainment, food and drink, music, art and design, philanthropy, science and technology and sport.