Gordon Ramsay, David Beckham and Harrison Ford play their celebrity roles in Creative Corner this week

Happy Friday! I can’t quite believe it is the end of January already.

Aside from celebrating my birthday, it’s been pretty bleak, what with ice, snow and storms, so here’s hoping things start to warm up from here on in. Talking of hotting up, this week has seen a slew of A-list talent-led food and drink campaigns launch to tickle our creative taste buds.

Our three courses in this week's creative feast include the ‘aFFable’ Mr Gordon Ramsay for starters, followed by his friend Mr David Beckham, finished off with a touch of class from Mr Harrison Ford.

Moove over butter

Is Flora good for baking? “Of course it is, look at this f***ing cake”, says Gordon Ramsay in a new 20-second spot for Flora.

The global TV spot is the continuation of Flora’s Skip The Cow campaign, which sings the virtues of plant-based butter versus its bovine cousins.

The campaign, which last year highlighted the irony of passing plants through a cow to make delicious tasting butter - which when you stop to think about it is a bit weird - has now moooved its focus to prooooving (last cheap cow gags, I promise) that it is great for cooking and baking too. A bold move, you may think, based on the thousands of cookbooks that cite butter as the perfect ingredient, which is why turning to Chef Ramsay (who once claimed he was “allergic to vegans”) to demonstrate just how brilliant Flora is to do just that is arguably a master stroke.

The comically shot content, in which Ramsay delivers his F-line sat astride a cow, could be seen as just a clever ad. But satisfyingly, the campaign goes deeper with a host of supporting recipe content from the world-famous chef who genuinely uses and advocates the versatility and taste of Flora. This dollop of authenticity is spreading into editorial coverage too.

Campaigns that seek to inspire food lovers to embrace plant-based alternatives can come across as virtuously preachy, but this one genuinely left me considering the logic of using a spread made from plants that has been passed through a cow.

And if Gordon Ramsay thinks it’s good, who the f%$k am I to disagree?

Beckham’s twin brother

In the first of what will be many teasers ahead of the climatic ad-fest around Super Bowl LIX, old Golden Balls is seen meeting his ‘mum and dad’ in the boozer (they’re not, but why let facts get in the way of a pay cheque?) to discover that he has a long lost brother in America or “the Other David’ as his on screen parents tell him.

This little on-screen charade heralds Stella Artois’ first return to the Super Bowl since 2019 and is Beckham’s second for them since he was made an ambassador for the brand last year.

It’s a novel take and, to his credit, Beckham plays his part convincingly as he is left clutching a picture of his long-lost sibling. It’s a shame his real parents didn’t play themselves because as we saw with Beckham’s last Super Bowl outing alongside wife Victoria for Just Eat, that candid play on reality can really be the cherry on the cake of a great creative.

We’ll await the twist to see who is unveiled as his long-lost brother come the Big Game to see if this chapter lives up to expectations.

Scotch on the lochs

Talking of authenticity, this week saw the launch of Glenmorangie’s series Once Upon a Time in Scotland starring Hollywood legend Harrison Ford. Harrison is known for his love of single malt, and you get the sense that the whole experience is a little window into the man himself. Rather than a one-off ad, this is a cinematic series of 12 short episodic films, directed by actor and filmmaker, Joel Edgerton.

The series takes us behind-the-scenes as Ford journeys to Glenmorangie’s Highland home, to discover the skill and craftsmanship that goes into making each bottle of the well-known whisky. The first six episodes have been released so far all shot in a deliberate ‘off script’ style and what stands out is how genuine it all feels. In fact, the actor himself has been quoted as saying, "The whole process of filming was full of unanticipated joys."

Episode 1 shows Ford receiving the campaign offer and preparing to travel to Scotland, where he tells someone on the phone that he won’t be doing "the action man s--- that they want, but I will sit by the fire and drink amazing, smooth Glenmorangie single malt whisky."

He reads, "Top of the mountain. Bagpipe players. Never in a million years." He crumbles the paper and tosses it in the fire.

Cut to Ford in a Scottish kilt matching knee-high socks and a black blazer as he walks down a mountain while bagpipe players perform around him.

The first six bite-sized episodes are filled with a natural wit, beautiful settings and, of course, whisky. 

The 12 episodes are complemented by still images shot by acclaimed fashion photographer Lachlan Bailey including that stylish Scottish kilt which evidently was designed by streetwear brand Palace. Cue more column inches.

Big budget, slick and stylised but it leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy, much like Glenmorangie (I suspect).