 | This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: vandalism and unsourced information. (May 2023) |
 Aleksandr Orlov, an anthropomorphic Russian meerkat featured in the adverts | |
| Agency | VCCP |
|---|---|
| Client | comparethemarket.com |
| Product |
|
| Release date(s) | 5 January 2009 – present |
Compare the Meerkat is an advertising campaign on British and Australian commercial television for comparethemarket.com, a price comparison website, part of BGL Group. The adverts feature Aleksandr Orlov, an animated anthropomorphic Russian meerkat (voiced by Simon Greenall, uncredited), and his family and friends. Orlov is portrayed as being of aristocratic stock and the founder of comparethemeerkat.com: the campaign originally centred on his frustration over the confusion between his website and comparethemarket.com, playing on the similarity between the words market and meerkat. Orlov's catchphrase is "Simples".
The campaign, launched on 5 January 2009, was created by advertising agency VCCP. The adverts proved popular and became a commercial success for comparethemarket.com, which became the fourth most visited insurance website in the UK as a result.[1] A book featuring Orlov was published in 2010 and other merchandise has been created in tandem with the campaign.[2][3]
- ^ Tomes, Lee (19 June 2023). "Anthropomorphic Storytelling". Orange Fox Studios. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Unveiled: Author who ghostwrote a meerkat's memoir". The Independent. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ Jones, Sam (24 October 2010). "Compare the memoir: insurance meerkat's life story on sale". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 May 2023.