No joke: UK comic advised to take away scorching canine from subway poster over junk meals ban

LONDON — On the London Underground, scorching canine are not any joking matter.

Comic Ed Gamble has been ordered to alter a subway station poster marketing campaign for his new standup present as a result of the picture of a scorching canine violated the transit community’s ban on junk meals promoting.

The poster for the present, “Sizzling Diggity Canine,” confirmed a mustard- and ketchup-smeared Gamble beside a half-eaten scorching canine on a plate.

A bemused Gamble changed the wiener with a cucumber, and the poster was accredited.

Gamble, who’s diabetic and co-hosts the “Off Menu” meals podcast, stated he may see the purpose of the advert guidelines, that are meant to assist curb weight problems in kids.

“However the brand new posters promote one thing far more dangerous — the concept that cucumbers pair properly with ketchup and mustard,” he stated.

Gamble isn’t complaining in regards to the additional publicity the case has generated.

“The posters are making means past their worth now,” he advised the BBC on Thursday.

Since 2019, Transport for London has banned advertisements for meals which might be excessive in fats, sugar and salt from town’s subway trains and stations, buses and bus shelters. It additionally bars commercials that promote unhealthy or unrealistic physique shapes.

“Following a evaluate of the advert, we suggested that components would have to be eliminated or obscured to make sure it complied with our coverage,” the transit operator stated. “A revised advert is now working on the community and we’re all the time glad to work with folks to make sure adverts observe our coverage.”

Final yr a poster for the play “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding ceremony” that includes a big wedding ceremony cake fell foul of the principles. TFL ordered the cake to be reduce from the advert.

The advert coverage has attracted the ire of Britain’s tabloid press, with The Solar slamming “killjoy TFL bosses.”