AMV BBDO asked Dominic Savage to help them with a new campaign for Women’s Aid. The radio campaign aims to highlight the issue of domestic violence – and the urgent need for neighbours to call the police if they hear violence occur. It’s emotionally charged stuff and you listen to the 70 second spot here

Steve Jones and Martin Loraine wrote the script and Rebecca Scharf was the producer. Olivia Colman and Lindsay Duncan provided the voices. You can read more about the campaign here (LBB) and here (the charity’s website).

The latest ad in the successful Crunchy Nut campaign has screened. And it’s a doozy. Set in some extraordinary cocktail party somewhere (an ambassador’s party perhaps….?!) we see Rob Brydon’s “Bruce Bowls” character wreak havoc as he inadvertently lets loose a million Crunchy Nut Clusters.

Lloydy directed the ad which was shot in the National Museum and the Boccaccio ballroom in the centre of Prague. The commercial was produced locally by our good friends at Stillking for whom nothing was too much trouble. Bouncing Clusters a la the balls in Sony Bravia? Check. Woman sliding down the stairs on her back? Check. 75 Extras on set and looking gorgeous by 8.00 in the morning? Check.

The creatives were Anna Sweet and Pansy Aung at Leo Burnett and the agency producer was the ultra efficient Serena Schellenburg. Bruce Townend edited the spot and Bob Pendar-Hughes was the DoP. We had a load of laughs – something which can be sensed in the ad itself.

Big awards night yesterday. Chortle – the country’s best online comedy guide – held its annual awards last night. And The Commander was honoured with “Outstanding Contribution to British Comedy”. You can see all the winners here. The evening was dubbed ‘Night of the Grumps’ – given the a number of professional cross-patches who picked up trophies (Dylan Moran, Charlie Brooker and Stewart Lee amongst them). But Lloydy was on fine form – no grumpiness going on there!

On the other side of town…Phil and the PhoneShop crew were pipped at the post in the RTS awards. The show had been nominated alongside “Rev” and the eventual winner “Fresh Meat” in the “Best Scripted Comedy” section. Our old friend Rob Brydon hosted the evening with his usual wit and panache.

Well done John – and fingers crossed that PS2 picks up something next time around.

On Sunday, March 11th the Hammersmith Apollo played host to an extraordinary birthday party. Sadly, the guest of honour wasn’t present. Douglas Adams would have been 60 years old on the day. And a host of friends, comedians, musicians and fans came together to celebrate the life of one of Britain’s most extraordinary creative souls.

As young men, John Lloyd shared a flat with Adams and the two enjoyed a fierce bond of friendship that led to a number of writing collaborations. One of these was The Meaning Of Liff – a dictionary of words for things and feelings and that – until that time – had not been named.

John was invited to read excerpts out on stage, together with new suggestions made by the online community. And he went down a storm. Here’s what Chortle (the UK comedy guide) had to say about the evening.

Adams is still very much missed. And he left a legacy of laughter that few will match.