PG Tips Monkey
Monkey (also known as ITV Digital Monkey or PG Tips Monkey, and often pronounced "Monkeh" in imitation of Johnny Vegas' Lancashire accent) is an animated puppet advertising character in the form of a knitted sock monkey. He was first produced by The Jim Henson Company via their UK Creature Shop, puppeteered by Nigel Plaskitt and Susan Beattie and voiced by comedian Ben Miller.
Monkey has appeared in advertising campaigns in the United Kingdom for both the television company ITV Digital (now defunct) and the tea brand PG Tips, as well as being occasionally featured in TV programmes. Monkey is notable as one of a small number of advertising characters to eclipse the popularity of the product they advertise and also to be reused to advertise a completely different product[1].
Monkey has appeared in advertising campaigns in the United Kingdom for both the television company ITV Digital (now defunct) and the tea brand PG Tips, as well as being occasionally featured in TV programmes. Monkey is notable as one of a small number of advertising characters to eclipse the popularity of the product they advertise and also to be reused to advertise a completely different product[1].
Characteristics
[edit] Fictional character biography
As a child, Monkey was frequently bullied at school, due to his left eye being larger than his right, causing his schoolmates to refer to him as "big eye". He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and gained a grade 7 for piano.[10] Monkey made his original screen debut choreographing and starring in the first ever Monkey-based hip-hop workout Laserdisc on GMTV breakfast.[10] He then starred as the host of an experimental Hawaiian-fusion cooking show. Although only twenty-five episodes were ultimately shot, the show did quite well in Turkey.[10]
In 2001, Monkey was teamed up with Al in order to advertise ITV Digital. Monkey temporarily abandoned Al after being humiliated at ITV Digital's bankruptcy.[11] He auditioned for the role of the titular character in Peter Jackson's King Kong, though he lost the part to Andy Serkis.[10] After spending time being tied to a lorry bumper, he returned to Al and the two began working in advertising PG Tips.[11]
[edit] Personality and habits
PG tips promotional monkey.
Monkey is sometimes portrayed as being quite cowardly; examples include his desertion of Al after the fall of ITV Digital[11], and his refusal to take responsibility for dropping a ceramic bowl dating back to 3000 BC, despite being filmed doing so.[12] He is also prone to miserliness, having admitted that he re-uses discarded plasters he finds in swimming pools.[12] Although his occupation is that of actor/presenter/comedian, he admits he would do anything anyone is willing to give money for.[10] Monkey hoards both his and Al's wages, deliberately neglecting to inform the naive Al of the fact that they are in fact paid for their work, stating "I don't bother Al with details" and that his money is "safely invested in a portfolio of bananas".[13] Despite his turbulent relationship with Al, the two share the same bed.[14] Monkey is shown to very passionate about tea, his favourite serving method being "three stirs clockwise, two stirs back, one and three quarters sugars".[11] He vehemently insists that tea bags should precede milk when brewing.[13] His exact species is never clarified; Monkey himself denies being a chimpanzee, and his response to Al's idea that he may be "half monkey-half chimp" is limited to "speak for yourself".[13] Though he claims to be a "ladies monkey", he is caught by Al surfing http://www.monkeyladies.com giving exaggerated descriptions of his physical appearance.[15] It is implied that Monkey may be a transvestite; he is shown wearing a woman's nightcap[14], a sheath dress[16] and a ballet tutu.[17][original research?]
[edit] Fictional character biography
As a child, Monkey was frequently bullied at school, due to his left eye being larger than his right, causing his schoolmates to refer to him as "big eye". He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and gained a grade 7 for piano.[10] Monkey made his original screen debut choreographing and starring in the first ever Monkey-based hip-hop workout Laserdisc on GMTV breakfast.[10] He then starred as the host of an experimental Hawaiian-fusion cooking show. Although only twenty-five episodes were ultimately shot, the show did quite well in Turkey.[10]
In 2001, Monkey was teamed up with Al in order to advertise ITV Digital. Monkey temporarily abandoned Al after being humiliated at ITV Digital's bankruptcy.[11] He auditioned for the role of the titular character in Peter Jackson's King Kong, though he lost the part to Andy Serkis.[10] After spending time being tied to a lorry bumper, he returned to Al and the two began working in advertising PG Tips.[11]
[edit] Personality and habits
PG tips promotional monkey.
Monkey is sometimes portrayed as being quite cowardly; examples include his desertion of Al after the fall of ITV Digital[11], and his refusal to take responsibility for dropping a ceramic bowl dating back to 3000 BC, despite being filmed doing so.[12] He is also prone to miserliness, having admitted that he re-uses discarded plasters he finds in swimming pools.[12] Although his occupation is that of actor/presenter/comedian, he admits he would do anything anyone is willing to give money for.[10] Monkey hoards both his and Al's wages, deliberately neglecting to inform the naive Al of the fact that they are in fact paid for their work, stating "I don't bother Al with details" and that his money is "safely invested in a portfolio of bananas".[13] Despite his turbulent relationship with Al, the two share the same bed.[14] Monkey is shown to very passionate about tea, his favourite serving method being "three stirs clockwise, two stirs back, one and three quarters sugars".[11] He vehemently insists that tea bags should precede milk when brewing.[13] His exact species is never clarified; Monkey himself denies being a chimpanzee, and his response to Al's idea that he may be "half monkey-half chimp" is limited to "speak for yourself".[13] Though he claims to be a "ladies monkey", he is caught by Al surfing http://www.monkeyladies.com giving exaggerated descriptions of his physical appearance.[15] It is implied that Monkey may be a transvestite; he is shown wearing a woman's nightcap[14], a sheath dress[16] and a ballet tutu.[17][original research?]
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