Stunt Watch: Govia Railway & Diane Morgan, KFC puffs up pickles, and a blooming relationship between Lovehoney & Chelsea Flower Show

From public safety to pickle couture, here’s what caught my eye this week…

Govia Railway’s safety campaign

As someone who has had a few near-misses nearly falling down the crack in between the train and the platform, this one felt personally targeted.

Govia Thameslink Railway enlisted Diane Morgan to front its first-ever safety campaign, built around the reality that accidents on platforms are more common than you might think. In fact, 32% of passengers did not realise running for a train could be unsafe.

I love this for three reasons. First, I’m a big Diane Morgan fan – and crucially, she wrote the script for the content, which shows. Second, the tone is spot on. It’s funny without undermining the seriousness of the message, which is a very fine line to walk in safety comms. And third, her quote in the press release. There’s no generic “I’m thrilled to be launching” in sight, just pure Diane brilliance.

KFC’s pickle puffer

From tripping to… trippy fashion.

When I think of pickles (which, admittedly, isn’t often), KFC isn’t the first brand that comes to mind – until now.

To launch its new pickle menu, KFC created a puffer jacket filled with actual pickles and pickle juice. Yes, really. If you’re getting déjà vu, it’s because an AI version of this concept had been floating around on social feeds and KFC took that AI slop and made it real.

It’s got that all-important “WTF factor” to stop you in your scrolls, a very simple link back to the product, and the right level of absurdity to get people talking. I’m personally a fan of a high neck on a puffer so my only note would be a bigger collar for even easier access to the pickled goodness, but that’s personal preference.

Lovehoney’s pleasure garden

From pickles to phalaenopsis orchids.

Lovehoney announced that it will be at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year with a literal pleasure garden. The “Aphrodite’s Hothouse” has been created by award-winning designer James Whiting and will be filled with flowers and plants associated with love and sex.

Something must be in the water at RHS this year, they’ve lifted the ban on gnomes, they’re letting sex toys in, whatever next, eh?

But on a serious note, it’s a really simple and smart lean into the unexpected and a good reminder of the power of juxtaposition and showing up where you’re not meant to be, but with a purpose, which in Lovehoney’s case is tackling taboo.

(To see the original LinkedIn post, click here.)

Written by Hannah Jackson, creative director at Pangolin.