Brian Blessed: The Voice Behind the Flash Advert and More
Yes, Brian Blessed OBE did voice Flash cleaning product adverts for P&G (Procter & Gamble) in the UK. The casting was an obvious pun: Blessed is famous for playing Prince Vultan in the 1980 film Flash Gordon, so putting him behind a product called Flash was hard to resist. He has since been replaced by actor Hugh Dennis, according to a post on X from August 2024.
What did Brian Blessed actually say in the Flash adverts?
One of the better-known spots was the Flash Dust Magnet advert, where Blessed delivered the line: "Trap lock that dastardly dust wherever it lurks, without moving objects around." That phrasing, with its theatrical weight, is exactly the kind of copy that only works when someone has a genuinely booming voice. A Flash Speed Mop advert from 2020 also appears in a YouTube playlist cataloguing voiceovers he recorded for the brand, suggesting his involvement ran for at least several years.
Why did P&G cast Brian Blessed for Flash?
The connection to Flash Gordon is the obvious answer. Blessed's portrayal of the winged Prince Vultan gave him an instant association with the word "Flash", and his voice is one of the most recognisable in British broadcasting. P&G leaned into both. The adverts were not subtle about the reference, which is presumably the point.
What other voiceover work has Brian Blessed done?
Beyond cleaning products, Blessed has voiced video games and other commercials. A Canderel advert featuring his voiceover aired on UK television on 27th December 1996, making him one of the earlier celebrity voices used in the sweetener category. He has also visited London Broadcast studios to record alongside a BBC radio presenter for an upcoming series, showing his voiceover work extends well beyond advertising.
Who is Brian Blessed beyond the adverts?
Blessed built his career across several decades of television and film. He played PC 'Fancy' Smith in Z-Cars, Augustus in the 1976 BBC production of I, Claudius, and King Richard IV in the first series of Blackadder. The Flash adverts were, for many UK viewers, simply the latest chapter in a very long career spent being impossible to ignore.
Trap lock that dastardly dust wherever it lurks, without moving objects around
Frequently asked questions
- did Brian Blessed voice Flash adverts
- Yes, Brian Blessed OBE provided the voiceover for P&G Flash cleaning product adverts in the UK. He voiced multiple adverts including the Flash Dust Magnet and Flash Speed Mop commercials, with at least one spot airing from 2020. The casting was a deliberate pun referencing his famous role as Prince Vultan in the 1980 film Flash Gordon.
- what did Brian Blessed say in Flash Dust Magnet advert
- Brian Blessed's line in the Flash Dust Magnet advert was: "Trap lock that dastardly dust wherever it lurks, without moving objects around." This theatrical delivery showcased his distinctive booming voice, which made the copy particularly effective for the cleaning product commercial.
- who replaced Brian Blessed Flash adverts voice
- Actor Hugh Dennis replaced Brian Blessed as the voice of Flash adverts, according to a post on X (formerly Twitter) from August 2024. Blessed had been the voice of the brand for several years before the change.
- why did P&G choose Brian Blessed for Flash
- P&G cast Brian Blessed for Flash because of his iconic role as Prince Vultan in Flash Gordon, creating an obvious and intentional pun. Combined with his instantly recognisable booming voice, one of the most distinctive in British broadcasting, the connection made him the perfect fit for the cleaning product brand.
- what other voiceover work has Brian Blessed done
- Beyond Flash cleaning products, Brian Blessed has provided voiceovers for video games and other commercial advertisements. He has also recorded voiceovers for BBC Studios, demonstrating his extensive work across multiple media formats beyond just cleaning product adverts.
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Sources
- Flash a-ah: P&G Dust Magnet ad gets clean bill of health - DecisionMarketing (www.decisionmarketing.co.uk)
- Advert's Voiced By Brian Blessed - YouTube (www.youtube.com)
- Not sure about Hugh Dennis replacing the bellowing Brian Blessed ... (x.com)
- Brian Blessed visits London Broadcast for BBC voiceover (www.londonbroadcast.co.uk)
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