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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Mark Sweney

Ad campaign with Trevor McDonald was filmed for shelved NatWest shares sale

The former newscaster Sir Trevor McDonald.
The former newscaster Sir Trevor McDonald was chosen for the campaign because of his high trust ratings, a source said. Photograph: Neil Mockford/GC Images

A “Tell Sid”-style ad campaign featuring Sir Trevor McDonald was filmed to promote the government’s now shelved plan to sell state-owned NatWest shares to the public, the Guardian can reveal.

The nationwide campaign – which included TV ads featuring the veteran newsreader and presenter popping up around the UK asking the public “Are you in?” – is understood to have been backed by a large-scale media budget in excess of £10m.

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