M&S drops star-studded ads

Marks & Spencer is planning a poster girl revamp

They’ve fronted Marks & Spencer’s womenswear campaigns for more than five years, but now the star-studded advertisements featuring the likes of Twiggy, Dannii Minogue and Myleene Klass are to come to an end.

The high street giant is set to drop the ads, which have also starred singer VV Brown and models Laura Bailey, Erin O’Connor and Lizzy Jagger, as part of a major revamp of its TV, press and billboard advertising.

While the celebrity adverts were once credited with boosting M&S’ fortunes, new chief executive Marc Bolland has reportedly decided it’s time for a change amidst rumours that the glamorous ads were beginning to alienate the store’s customers still in the clutches of a recession. The latest showed the celebrity group modelling the spring/summer 2011 collection in a sun-drenched Miami.

M&S are keeping schtum on the advertising shake-up – ‘for competitive reasons we don't comment on our future advertising plans’ – however, it’s understood that ‘60s icon Twiggy and model Lisa Snowdon may still continue working with the retail giant on in-store promotions, voiceover work and posters.

Footballer-turned-Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp will also be retained and continue to model the menswear collections.

What do you think of the ad revamp? Will you miss the celebrity adverts? Tell us below...

MARKS & SPENCER'S SPRING/SUMMER 2011 CAMPAIGN

MARKS & SPENCER SEES LINGERIE SALES SOAR