Camelot, operator of The National Lottery, has engaged Taylor Herring to help develop a seasonal PR campaign to support EuroMillions in the lead up to Christmas.

The Agency was appointed following a competitive pitch process and has been briefed to help amplify awareness around ‘Millionaires Month’, which guarantees to make 50 millionaires, all here in the UK, between 25 November and Christmas.

Taylor Herring, led by Managing Partner Peter Mountstevens, will be working with Camelot’s in-house publicity team to design and execute a multi-tiered campaign, encompassing both news creation and celebrity endorsement.

The campaign will roll out from the end of November and continue through the Christmas period with the key objective of driving awareness of the special EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle draws on 25 November and 23 December.

Jenny Dowden, Head of Publicity at Camelot said: ‘Taylor Herring’s energy and creativity make them a perfect fit for the EuroMillions brand and we’re looking forward to working with the team on this exciting campaign.’

The win for Taylor Herring’s new consumer division follows a series of campaigns in 2011 for high profile clients including Sainsbury’s, Cadburys and Sony PlayStation.

 ★ Ian Hislop celebrates 25 years at the helm

★ 50th book launch to mark historic milestone

★ V&A exhibition to celebrate landmark anniversary

LONDON, 8th September 2011: Private Eye is Britain’s first, most successful and indeed only fortnightly satirical magazine. Founded in 1961, it has somehow managed to survive for half a century during which it has consistently entertained, informed and irritated its readers.

Over five turbulent decades it has developed its unique mix of jokes and journalism, comedy and campaigning, gags and gossip, laughter and libel, to cover the public life of the nation.

From political plots to royal revelations, from City scandal to media manipulation, from legal lunacy to municipal madness. (That’s enough alliteration – Ed)

This year, Britain’s number one best-selling news and current affairs magazine marks its 50^th anniversary on 25^th October with a series of exciting events throughout the Autumn.

Ian Hislop comments: “I do not want anyone to think that this is all just a huge celebration of ourselves. Our 50^th year is a chance to look back and take a dispassionate view of how marvellous we are.”

Released on Tuesday 20^th September to kick off the anniversary year celebrations, Private Eye: The First 50 Years, an A-Z, is a lavishly illustrated, definitive history of the magazine, charting its rise from 300 copies of the first edition on 25^th October 1961, to a fortnightly readership of 700,000, steered at the helm by Editor of 25 years, Ian Hislop.

Written by Private Eye journalist Adam Macqueen, who has been with the magazine since 1997, Private Eye: The First 50 Years, an A-Z, is an unsurpassed, fascinating history of Private Eye over the past 50 years.

Forming an in-depth, witty and occasionally critical appraisal, Macqueen has created the long-awaited volume containing everything you ever wanted to know about the  nation’s favourite satirical organ. At last the origin of Ugandan discussions will be disclosed, along with the story behind that Andrew Neil photo, and the identity of Britain’s Biggest Pseud. Plus the inside story of the magazine’s many high-profile legal battles, scoops and staff bust-ups, told by those who were there.

In addition to a wealth of new material, the book features exclusive interviews with current editor, Ian Hislop, his predecessor Richard Ingrams and co-founder, Christopher Booker, plus a host of other key figures past and present.

The book also contains exclusive reminiscences and revelations about former contributors including Peter Cook, Auberon Waugh and Willie Rushton, in addition to rare archive material, unseen photographs and an abundance of cartoons from the likes of Nick Newman, Tony Husband and Michael Heath – many never before published.

Adam Macqueen comments: “I’ve been digging up stories for the Eye for fourteen years, but a lot of the stuff I found out about the mag surprised even me. When I discovered it surprised the editor too, I figured I must be doing something right.”

 With the phone hacking scandal, the superinjunction fiascos and the European financial meltdown it has been a quiet year for news. Luckily Private Eye was there to fill the gap.

Available from Wednesday 12^th October, the 2011 Private Eye Annual presents the very best of Private Eye’s unique blend of wit and humour,  jam-packed with pages of parody, the funniest spoofs, gags, cartoons, photo bubbles and topical humour.

Consistently found in the best seller chart and selling in excess of 78,000 copies last year alone, it is a must for every Christmas stocking.

Opening on Tuesday 18^th October and running for three months until 8^th January 2012, Private Eye at the V&A is on display in the V&A’s Studio Gallery in South Kensington, London.

Private Eye at the V&A is a free exhibition and will explore the wealth of artistic talent that the magazine has fostered by showcasing the original artwork for some of the finest and funniest Private Eye cartoons. Over its 50-year history, the Eye has published and promoted the work of more than 90 artists, many of whom started their careers at the magazine, including Gerald Scarfe, Ralph Steadman, Willie Rushton, Barry Fantoni, Nick Newman, Michael Heath, John Kent and Ed McLachlan. The illustrations will be shown in thematic sections on politics, royalty and social observation. They are richly varied in style and tone and take the form of single cartoons with captions, long-running strips and caricatures.

Ian Hislop has chosen 50 of the best trademark front covers, one from every year the magazine has been published. The front covers will be arranged in a timeline, offering a graphic satirical history of the news over five decades.

The exhibition will evoke the atmosphere of the magazine’s Soho office, with a recreation of the editor’s paper-strewn desk. There will also be seldom-seen ephemera from the magazine’s past campaigns and court cases, as well as a life-sized cutout of Tony Blair, a stuffed dog, a flying Robert Maxwell and a giant inflatable banana.

Notes to Editors:

Private Eye is the UK’s number one, best-selling news and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.

Richard Ingrams served as editor from the 10^th issue until 1986, and was then succeeded by Ian Hislop in 1986. It offers a unique blend of humour, social and political observations and investigative journalism. Published fortnightly, the magazine is read by over 700,000 readers.

Ian Hislop has edited Private Eye since 1986, and was absolutely thrilled to be voted the 97^th most powerful person in the media by the Guardian this year.

Commentating on “a stellar year for the man who celebrates 25 years in the editor’s chair in October – half the life of the magazine” The Guardian continued “The Private Eye editor has challenged privacy injunctions, led the way on important stories – and has also managed to boost sales.

Hislop’s work has put privacy injunctions firmly in the spotlight. But less glamorous campaigns have also succeeded at the magazine, where sales of more than 200,000 a fortnight are the best for nearly 20 years.

Even in recent months, the In the Back column has led the way on care homes, Southern Cross and the failings of the Care Quality Commission, and Rotten Boroughs broke an important story on South Tyneside council’s legal battle with Twitter. The magazine revealed problems at Doctor Who – and who would want to be a sleazy hack with Street of Shame on the lookout?

Hislop’s personal appearances on behalf of the magazine, whether on Radio 4′s Today programme or before Commons committees, have been impressive, which is perhaps not surprising given his lengthy TV career.

He continues to be a driving force of BBC1′s Have I Got News for You. And successes such as Ian Hislop’s Age of the Do-Gooders this year have also seen him identified as one of BBC2′s representative faces by controller Janice Hadlow.”

Ian has made countless television and radio appearances, as panellist, essayist and presenter. Credits range from Newsnight Review, Question Time and University Challenge (‘The Professionals’), to Radio 4 series on the history of tax, the Victorians and church architecture.

As a writer, Ian progressed from Spitting Image to write sketches for Harry Enfield and television plays for Maureen Lipman and Dawn French. Most recently he co-wrote the family sitcom, My Dad’s the Prime Minister.

Ian Hislop was honoured to receive the British Society of Magazine Editor’s highest award, The Editor’s Editor.

Adam Macqueen

Adam Macqueen joined the Eye on work experience in 1997, and has been there ever since, apart from two years when he ran away to become deputy editor of the Big Issue. He writes mostly for the Street of Shame and Media News pages, as well as compiling the Number Crunching Column.

He has also freelanced for a great many other newspapers and magazines, and had a weekly slot as co-presenter on the Sandi Toksvig show on LBC as well as regularly appearing on Sky News.

His previous book, The King of Sunlight: How William Lever Cleaned Up The World, was a chosen title on both Simon Mayo’s book club on Five Live and A Good Read on Radio 4.

www.private-eye.co.uk or via twitter – @PrivateEyeNews

The world’s first amphibious ice cream van set sail down the River Thames yesterday ahead of a UK tour.

The vessel reaches a top speed of five knots and chimes Rod Stewart’s classic ‘We Are Sailing’ as it ploughs through the waves.

The  ‘HMS Flake 99’ was specially commissioned by Fredericks, makers of Cadbury’s ice cream to mark National Ice Cream Week (30th May – 5th June).

The vehicle brought a smile to commuters’ faces as it passed Battersea Power Station, Westminster Bridge and the London Eye.

After a nationwide tour of Britain’s beaches, there are plans to take the vehicle across the English Channel and on to the canals of Venice next year.

Early morning strollers and boating enthusiasts enjoyed scoops by the surf in Blackpool on Monday when the customised craft completed a successful, secret maiden voyage.

The vehicle will now commence a tour of UK beaches – visiting thousands of sun seekers on Britain’s beaches as the staycation boom continues.

A growing number of councils ban vans from housing estates, parks and outside schools because of concerns about noise pollution. Others have created ice cream selling ­“exclusion zones” in town ­centres, hiked the cost of a van operator’s licence and limited how long vans can sound their chimes.

She’s captained by ice cream mad David Mounfield, a stand-up comedian from Brighton, who was chosen after winning an online competition.

Jenny Bostock, Consumer Marketing Manager for Fredericks in Skelmersdale, Lancashire comments: ” If you can’t make it to your local beach to see our van, you can always pick up a pack of four from your local supermarket. We are now considering taking the remarkable vehicle across the Channel and onto the canals of Venice to champion Britain’s beaches and give our continental cousins the ultimate taste of the British summertime.”

For more information, visit www.cadburyicecreamland.com

Become a Fan Of The Van on Facebook

Press Information and Pictures from Taylor Herring PR +(44) 208 206 5151

Following a competitive pitch Taylor Herring has joined Sainsbury’s roster of PR agencies.

We have a new brief to promote the tenth year of the supermarket’s involvement with Comic Relief, the agency will be raising awareness of the partnership and promoting exclusive merchandise.

Speaking to PR Week Mark Rigby, director of comms for Sainsbury’s, said: ‘We continue to invest in our business across all categories. The appointment of this roster of agencies is an important element of our commitment to ensure our customers understand the value and quality of our offering, as well as the values that make us differing as a retailer.’

Taylor Herring’s work in the consumer brand sector includes TKMaxx, Cadbury’s, Del Monte and Tyrrells crisps.

The Boy Does Nothing singer, often hailed for her ‘perfect pins’, is working with the health and fitness brand in a bid to make Britain aware of the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle.

The four year partnership will see Alesha work with LA Fitness’ team of fitness instructors to create two energy enhancing work out plans totally unique to the market, which will be unveiled in May and September respectively. One of the exclusive routines will draw on Alesha’s dance champion status.

LA Fitness’ new and existing members will be able to work out to moves crafted by Alesha that have been designed to get people excited about exercise, enhance the fun and appeal behind working out and to encourage them to start taking their fitness plans seriously, ditching the ‘gym fad’ attitude.

Alesha, whose high energy dance routines earnt her the coveted Strictly Come Dancing crown in 2007, is eager to get the message across that hitting the gym isn’t just about body image.

Alesha Dixon said; “So many people think working out is all about toning and looking good, and that’s what scares a lot of people. But the more important side of it is staying in shape to maintain a healthy heart. I know how dull and uninspiring exercise can be, and it’s easy to fall out of the habit, which is why I’ve made sure my work outs have as much variation and fun factor as possible.”

Alesha’s role as Creative Director will place her at the forefront of the brand’s biggest initiatives and innovations, as the brand continues an ongoing revamp across its 81 gyms. Alesha is out to keep the current members on track and recruit new members to the fold.

So woe betide anyone with a quit mentality…Alesha’s on a mission, and she packs a mean punch!

For further information, please contact Taylor Herring PR on 020 8206 5151