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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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One in 10 Brits are fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party, new survey finds

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

We’re in peak office Christmas party season right about now.

With just under two weeks to go until the big day itself is here, many businesses across the UK are treating their staff to night out to celebrate both the festive season and all of the hard work they have been putting in throughout the year… and as you can expect, these are usually quite eventful gatherings, shall we say.

But now, a survey by has shed light on just how ‘eventful’ they actually are, as a new survey has revealed that, apparently, one in ten Brits face some sort of disciplinary action or dismissal due to their behaviour at Christmas parties.⁠

The study was conducted by After Drink, and included more than 2,000 participants.

During the research, it was highlighted that 89% of employees admitted to drinking alcohol at these events, Lad Bible reports – with 65% of these confessing that they drank “excessively”.

One in 10 Brits get fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party / Credit: Kraken Images | Mimi Thian (via Unsplash)

There are a multitude of incidents which could lead to disciplinary action in the workplace nowadays, but according to the survey, some of the common reasons following festive celebrations with colleagues included inappropriate comments (23%) and even getting into fights (21%).

16% of these incidents were because of drug use during the event, while inappropriate interactions with colleagues accounted for 14%.

Some of the legal reasons you can be fired from your place of work after a Christmas party include gross misconduct, drunken behaviour, and fighting of any kind.

Despite all these risks, however, Christmas parties still remain as popular as always, and a whopping 79% of respondents said they are planning to attend theirs this year.⁠

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Clearly, the moral of the story here is , enjoy yourself… but just not too much.

Featured Image – The OurWhiskey Company (via Pexels)

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Half of Mancs don’t know how to cook Christmas dinner, new survey reveals

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Christmas dinner is one of the key parts of any festive celebration.

No matter whether you choose to tuck into a traditional roast with all the trimmings and lashings of gravy, or you prefer to go for something a little different like a curry or a Chinese instead, your Christmas dinner is a chance to gather round with your loved ones and enjoy one of the heartiest meals you’ll likely have all year.

However, some shocking new figures have revealed that half of Manchester residents have no clue how to even cook a Christmas dinner.

Through a major study by the UK’s leading electrical retailer, AO.com, it was revealed that the majority of our city’s residents are “losing confidence” in preparing even the simplest of British dishes – with a traditional roast or Christmas dinner being one of them.

A new survey has revealed that half of Mancs don’t know how to cook Christmas dinner / Credit: Freepik | GoodFon

As part of its new campaign to get Brits back into the kitchen, AO found that just 57% of respondents reckon they would be able to make a roast dinner, 52% could whip up a classic shepherd’s pie, 58% could cook bangers and mash, merely 61% could prepare a full English breakfast, and again, only 57% could tackle fish and chips.

Classic desserts are clearly a struggle for us Mancs too, according to the survey, as only 19% of respondents said they’d feel confident cooking a Christmas pudding.

The survey also found that nationwide, it was Gen Z – those between the age of 16 and 27 – that are the least confident in their ability to cook great British classics, while on the other end of the spectrum, Baby Boomers are the most capable, proving that culinary confidence increases with age.

Our region’s residents are apparently ‘losing confidence’ at cooking simple British classics / Credit: Freepik

Commenting on the results, Jay Lockton, oven expert at AO.com, said: “Kitchens should be a place of creativity and joy, but our data shows that a lot of people in Manchester are losing confidence in preparing even the simplest of British dishes.

“Based on our findings, many younger people may be opting for convenience foods or takeaways due to their busy schedules and the perception that cooking from scratch is time-consuming or difficult.

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“But with simple guidance and the right tools, we believe everyone can rediscover the joy and simplicity of homemade meals.”

Featured Image – gpointstudio (via Freepik)

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