Thursday, May 26, 2011

Imogen's revenge! Giggs's girl cashes in on affair with mischievous ad campaign for bookie (just make sure you keep your eye on the ball, Ryan!)

By Daily Mail Reporter


Scroll down to see a video of the photoshoot

Cheeky girl: Imogen Thomas has returned to work – in Manchester United kit promoting Paddy Power’s offer on the Champions League Final. Paddy Power will refund losing bets if United lose the match


Imogen Thomas has cashed in on her affair with Ryan Giggs with a high-profile ad campaign that could ensure it is not just football on his mind on Saturday night.

Given the distractions he has had this week, the Manchester United star will no doubt be pleased to focus his attention on trying to claim a third Champions League winner's medal with his club.

But one bookie has teamed up with the former Big Brother contestant for an eye-catching photoshoot that may mean Giggs has more than Barcelona to be wary of at Wembley.

The ad campaign posters carry the slogan: 'Imogen can't keep quiet about this!'


The Big Brother, star who had an affair with the footballer, took part in the shoot - dressed in a United shirt - with betting website Paddy Power for this Saturday's match. She is believed to have been paid a high five-figure sum for the ad campaign.

The bookie has refused to reveal the details of the campaign that they will be carrying out at the weekend, but it is believed there could be some high-profile trickery, including distracting pitchside displays.

A video filmed during the photoshoot appeared briefly on YouTube stating: 'As Giggs name was mentioned in the House of Commons, Imogen Thomas was on a photoshoot at Paddy Power.'

Revenge: The odds that 'Imogen' will be the first catchphrase to be used by ITV presenters are currently at 25/1. She is pictured right arriving at her lawyer's office.


The video may have proved too cheeky, however, as by the afternoon it disappeared. Another couple of hours later and it had been put up again after 'technical difficulties'

Showing Miss Thomas in various different poses, the video added: 'This photoshoot is the easiest gig she has ever had.'

It's all part of an offer whereby people betting on the match will get their money back if Barcelona wins in 90 minutes at the Champions League final at Wembley.

A Paddy Power spokesman said: 'With such an offer who else could we choose to front our advertising than Imogen Thomas - the most talked about woman in Britain this week.

'We did consider the Middleton sisters - but they were otherwise engaged.'

Special bets have also been put on relating to Giggs specifically with 7/1 odds that he scores and 72 that he is caught offside during the match.

There is also a 'commentary cliché' special for betting on the first phrase from a list to be used by ITV commentators.

Favourite at 3/1 is the mention of '2009' followed by 'Bobby Charlton' - who scored two goals in the Wembley 1968 final - at 8/1. But then there is 'Imogen' at 25/1 and coming in at odds of 40/1 is the phrase 'Giggs has been caught offside'.

Final preparations are made to the pitch at Wembley Stadium for the Champions League Final between Barcelona and Manchester United on Saturday


Darren Haines from the bookmakers declined to say how much Miss Thomas had been paid for the advertising campaign but did say it was a one off.

When asked if there would be mischief made during this weekend's match by the bookies, he said: 'We wouldn't really discuss our promotional campaigns.'

The company has got into hot water in the past over its advertising campaigns. An advert showing a group of disabled people fleeing from an Indian restaurant without paying.

Another - the most complained about advert of 2010 - showed 'blind' footballers using a ball with a bell inside it. When a cat wearing a bell round its neck runs onto the pitch, however, one of the players kicks it over a fence and into a tree.

Man United fans will be hoping Ryan Giggs can maintain his focus on Saturday's Champions League final

Though Giggs got a warm reception from the fans, the strain of his complicated love life was etched clearly on his face on the field at Old Trafford




source:dailymail

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