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Compare the Market pulls its cartoon meerkats from TV news, stressing ‘they have no association with Russia’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 1st March 2022

Compare the Market has pulled its series of television adverts that feature animated Russian meerkats from news bulletins and content around the Ukraine invasion.

The price comparison company has stressed that the characters used in their adverts have ‘no association with Russia’.

It says it has reviewed its media strategy in the light of the Russian invasion and escalating crisis in Ukraine, and wishes to be ‘sensitive to the current situation’.

The Compare the Meerkat campaign launched way back in 2009, starring Aleksandr Orlov, a meerkat portrayed as being a wealthy creature of aristocratic stock from a fictional town in Russia.

Oleksandr the Russian meetkat in the Compare the Market adverts. Credit: Compare the Market

As the years have gone on, Aleksandr has been joined by characters like his sidekick Sergei and meer-pup Oleg, as well as celebrity cameos from the likes of Nicole Kidman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Macaulay Culkin.

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The creatures were also turned into a range of stuffed toys, which were sent out as promotional gifts for every policy bought through Compare the Market’s website.

The adverts’ catchphrase of ‘Simples’ was even added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2019.

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Read more: The Greater Manchester restaurant where you’re served by robots

Compare the Market, which is owned by financial company BGL, said in a statement: “The Comparethemarket meerkats are fictional characters. They have no association with Russia and the current situation.

“We are continually reviewing our advertising to ensure we’re being sensitive to the current situation.”

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Many companies are disassociating themselves with any Russian companies or products following the conflict in Ukraine.

Over the weekend, leading northern bar group Arc Inspirations announced it would no longer serve Russian vodkas in its bars.

Featured image: Compare the Market

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Salford Red Devils granted another adjournment over unpaid debts

Danny Jones Danny Jones Salford Red Devils given 2 more weeks by HMRC unpaid debts

Salford Red Devils have been given one more adjournment and yet another stay of execution, being given another two weeks to find the money to cover their unpaid debts.

The local rugby league side, which has been wrapped in all manner of struggles both on and off-pitch over the past year or so, reportedly needs to pay around £700,000 to HMRC alone and still owes roughly £5 million in total to various creditors.

Earlier this month, the Red Devils were officially relegated from the Betfred Super League, leaving Salford supporters not only even more furious but also dropped by the top tier themselves, despite having one of the best fan bases in the country.

To no surprise, regular matchgoers, neutrals and even rivals alike have expressed their continued disappointment with the club, mainly at the lack of transparency and clarity from the organisation throughout this long, drawn-out process.

Updating fans on social media, this is all the information they have communicated at this time: “Salford Red Devils can confirm that HMRC have granted the club a two-week adjournment, providing additional time in which to secure the necessary funds.

“We would like to reassure supporters that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a positive resolution. Further updates will be shared as soon as possible.”

It’s worth noting that the current owners have reiterated that they inheited around £3m in existing debt before they took over the club, but assurances over their own investments have still come to nothing; meanwhile, with many still waiting on wages, players and staff alike have now left.

Having been propped up by loan players and emergency loans, the team is now closer to a skeleton crew than it is an outfit capable of competing in the premier division.

Either way, the outrage remains and is only growing stronger. One user wrote on X: “A good approach by them if they was legit would be to engage and bring in The 1873 to bridge the communication black hole (they created).

“The problem with that is if they did it would expose them for what they are… Extortionists using the club as a vehicle.”

More alarm bells were raised recently when assistant coach and Krisnan Inu – who was also director of the company set up to take over the business – withdrew himself from a key position behind the scenes.

Eyebrows raised as key coach and director of the company set up to buy Salford Red Devils resigns

Speaking of The 1873, the outspoken supporters trust took no time at all in issuing a response of their own, adding: “The judge presiding over today’s case has adjourned by 14 days. This adjournment has dragged the uncertainty on even longer.

“Every delay makes planning for 2026 harder and keeps the club stuck in limbo when it desperately needs clarity and direction.

“The fans, the players and the future all deserve better — The 1873.”

You can see the rest of their statement in full down below, but for now, what do you make of this seemingly neverending saga, Salfordians?

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Featured Images — Anthony Parkes (via Geograph)

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Andy Aspinall issues update on Tom’s eye poke injury and calls for changes in the UFC

Danny Jones Danny Jones Tom Aspinall dad Andy shares update on eye poke injury

Andy Aspinall – father of Manc martial artist Tom Aspinall – has shared a lengthy video interview on his son’s YouTube channel discussing the latest regarding his son’s eye injury.

More importantly, as a concerned parent, he’s also called for better safeguarding and/or tighter rules in the UFC regarding fouls and, in particular, eye poking.

In case you missed it, this past weekend, the Greater Manchester MMA star took on French fighter Ciryl Gane in his first title defence since being named the undisputed heavyweight champion. Unfortunately, the main event match had to be cut short after Aspinall was left unable to see following an eye poke.

Although this is an illegal move in the sport, not only could it not be proved whether it was accidental or perhaps even intentional, as some have speculated on social media, but the only outcome was for the bout to end in a no-contest. Updating fans online, Andy reiterated priorities, dubbing this “just a job”.

As you can see in the main clip above, Andy says that the Atherton-born fighter still “can’t see anything” out of his right eye, describing his sight as little more than “just grey”; meanwhile, his left eye is said to be at roughly 50% vision, having struggled to get more than a few rows down on a Snellen chart.

Essentially, the short version is that after the pain of the controversial eye poke, the muscles in his eye still aren’t healed and will be going for even more eye tests, including an eye test.

However, arguably the most salient points to take away from the video were those regarding his son’s overall welfare and the safety of the sport, as it is clear that Andy was talking chiefly as an understandably worried father rather than his coach.

“For me, everything is about his health. It’s not about the fighting – that’s just what he chose to do as a job”, he says, also clarifying that he isn’t accusing Gane of any ill intent, personally, and that the referees need to have more powers when it comes to fouling.

He also reminded those watching that the Wigan native has a wife and three kids to think about, stating, “This is just a job that he’s doing at this period in time, and he’ll do another job”, before going on to add, “What [will] it take?” for the UFC to get stricter around fouls like these.

You can watch the most recent update on Tom Aspinall from his dad, Andy, in full down below.

Andy Aspinall also had plenty to say in terms of what the UFC can do to better protect fighters/improve the rules.

Andy also made a point of suggesting once again that Tom should maybe turn to boxing instead of MMA, not only because of the added safety measures but because of the bigger paydays.

Do you think the UFC needs to be more stringent when it comes to not only protecting its fighters but also the rules and punishments surrounding serious fouls, such as eye pokes?

AND, alternatively, do you think Tom Aspinall would be well-suited to a boxing ring?

In the immediate aftermath of the injury, he was the first to admit that “this is a dangerous f***ing sport”; whether or not coming this close to permanent damage has made him reconsider, only time will tell.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Official Tom Aspinall (screenshots via YouTube)

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