The British Egg Marketing Board worked with PR firm Ogilvy and Mather to produce a long-running series of commercials extolling the health benefits of eggs for breakfast.
One of the best-remembered campaigns featured gloomy comic Tony Hancock and his maid, Mrs Cravatte (Patricia Hayes). His neighbour (Pat Coombs) also featured in the advertisements.
Hancock made at least 15 ads for the Egg Marketing Board, which harked back to his Hancock’s Half Hour days.
Others who starred in the Egg Marketing Board campaign included Beryl Reid, Avis Bunnage, Georgie Best, Dilys Laye, Jack Hulbert, Marjorie Proops,
Campaign director Len Fulford became known as ‘the Eggman’, apparently the source of the reference in The Beatles’ song I Am the Walrus.
Author Fay Weldon is credited with coming up with the slogan ‘Go to Work on an Egg’.
