The Wiggles & Simon Cowell Star In Marvellous Romp For Uber Eats & Special Group

Famed talent show judge, record executive, producer and celebrity manager Simon Cowell has returned to Australian TV screens; this time joining Australia’s most iconic household entertainment group – The Wiggles as part of Uber Eats’ latest and most unexpected iteration of its ‘Tonight I’ll Be Eating’ franchise.

Created in partnership with Special Group Australia, the campaign features Cowell – a world renowned professional music critic – starring as the ‘Grey Wiggle’, the latest member of the family-favourite band. Throughout the campaign Cowell is seen bringing his unique acid tongue to the rainbow skivvied Wiggles as he dishes out brutally direct feedback to the much-loved entertainment group.

This is now the fifth year of the ‘Tonight I’ll Be Eating’ franchise which first debuted in 2017 with stars including Naomi Watts, Beau Ryan, Sophie Monk, Hamish Blake, Andy Lee, Rebel Wilson and Boy George. Since then, the now world-famous brand platform has gone on to win over 40 awards across the globe with campaigns running in over nine different markets.

The ‘Tonight I’ll Be Eating’ franchise has featured unexpected duos including global megastar Kim Kardashian-West and renowned Australian character Sharon Strezlecki from Kath & Kim. In November 2020 the platform was launched in North America with a debut battle between world famous superstars and on screen rivals Mark Hamil and Patrick Stewart.

David Griffiths, head of marketing, Uber Eats ANZ said: “Aussies love nothing more than coming together with their friends and family, and usually, food is at the heart of these sharing occasions. Consequently we are seeing more and more families come into the category. The Wiggles are an Aussie institution and Simon was the perfect person to join the band as The Grey Wiggle. The campaign builds from week-to-week across all forms of traditional, digital and social media so keep an eye out for some amazing collaborations and VIP appearances.“

Max McKeon, Uber APAC creative director, Special Group Australia, said: “The ‘Tonight I’ll Be Eating’ brand platform has made its way to over seven different countries, but our latest campaign brings it home strong again – pitting the harsh critique of Cowell against the unbending optimism of the Wiggles.  It not only shows what great sports everyone involved was, but every adult who’s ever had to watch the family-friendly group will automatically empathise.”

The integrated campaign will run across TV, out-of-home, radio, social, digital and owned channels with more Wiggles characters set to appear in upcoming featurettes, including fan-favourites Henry the Octopus. 

CREDITS:

CLIENT: UBER EATS

MARKETING DIRECTOR APAC: LUCINDA BARLOW

HEAD OF MARKETING UBER, ANZ: ANDY MORELY

HEAD OF MARKETING, UBER EATS ANZ: DAVID GRIFFITHS

MARKETING MANAGER: CHANNA GOONASEKARA

STRATEGY LEAD: ALLY DOUBE

CREATIVE AGENCY: SPECIAL GROUP

FOUNDING PARTNERS/CEO: LINDSEY EVANS & CADE HEYDE

PARTNERS & CCO: JULIAN SCHREIBER & TOM MARTIN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: MAX MCKEON

CREATIVES: JOSIE FOX AND HARRY STANFORD

SOCIAL LEAD: LACHLAN STEWART

HEAD OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT: TORI LOPEZ

BUSINESS DIRECTOR: CAITY COWPER

BUSINESS MANAGER: DHARSH SUNDREN

GROUP STRATEGY DIRECTOR: CELIA GARFORTH

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: SEVDA CEMO

HEAD OF STILLS AND DIGITAL: NICK LILLEY

PRODUCER: STEPH WILKINSON (SOCIAL)

DIGITAL PRODUCER: STACY SZABO

TALENT DIRECTOR: EMILY STEWART

HEAD OF DESIGN: ADAM SHEER

SOCIAL AND INFLUENCER SPECIALIST: SARAH MCKIE

EDITOR: FRASER KELTON (SOCIAL)

MEDIA AGENCY: MEDIACOM

GROUP CLIENT DIRECTOR: LYNSEY MOGRIDGE

GROUP STRATEGY DIRECTOR: TIM HULL

GROUP INVESTMENT DIRECTOR: JEN DONALD

ASSOCIATE DIGITAL DIRECTOR: CLAUDIA DOMINGUES

SOCIAL CONTENT: R/GA

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR: BEN WALL

CREATIVES: BEN NEWMAN & NEIL WALSHE

SENIOR SOCIAL STRATEGIST: CALLUM JAMES

FILM PRODUCTION: FINCH

PRODUCTION COMPANY: FINCH COMPANY

DIRECTOR: ALEX ROBERTS

CINEMATOGRAPHER: ANDREW COMMIS

MANAGING DIRECTOR: COREY ESSE

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: LOREN BRADLEY

PRODUCER: NICK SIMKINS

ART DIRECTOR: SAM LUKINS

POST PRODUCTION: ARC EDIT

EDITOR: LUCAS BAYNES

POST PRODUCER: MICHAELA FENTON

COLOURIST: FERGUS ROTHERHAM

ONLINE OPERATOR: VIV BAKER/CHRIS BETTERIDGE

SOUND: RUMBLE

SOUND ENGINEER: CAM MILNE, LIAM ANNERT & TONE ASHTON

SOUND PRODUCER: KATIE HARPER

SOCIAL DIRECTOR /DOP: WILL ROBERTSON AUS

SOCIAL DIRECTOR /DOP: DAVID SYMMONS   UK

STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER:            CHRISTIOPHER TOVO – AUSTRALIA

STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER: SIMON EMMETT – UK

STILLS PRODUCTION: CHEE PRODUCTIONS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: MATT CHEE

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: TAMIKO WAFER

RETOUCHING: CREAM / EA                              

FOOD STYLIST: HANNAH MEPPEM