Talent show winners become stars of national advertising campaign

A former winner of Newark’s Got Talent is the star of a national advertising campaign.

Six-year-old border collie Nala impressed so much at a casting that she was chosen to appear in several print and online adverts for energy firm Npower.

The dog’s trainer, Nicci Hindson, also appears, as the pair feature in the firm’s Super Powers campaign, promoting a green energy tariff.

Nicci was initially contacted by Mandy Bainbridge, who runs a firm in the north-east hiring animals to film, television and advertising campaigns.

The pair knew each other as Mandy bred Nicci’s younger dog, 18-month-old border collie, Elsa.

Mandy did not have any pets that could perform the tricks requested by the production company, so suggested Nicci and Nala.

“The casting team was really complimentary about us,” said Nicci, who lives in South Clifton.

“Nala was good and was in a real show-off mode that day. It was like she was saying to them: ‘I am Nala. Hire me.’

“We then went down for two separate shoots — one for the still photographs and one for the video.

“Nala was fantastic and did plenty of tricks, like when she rests her paws on my feet and we walk along together.

“The days were stressful but fun as well.

“It tested me as a trainer and Nala, too.”

The photography and filming took place in September.

In the advert filmed for internet use, Nala is shown walking on her hind legs carrying a magazine in her mouth before putting it in a bin, and putting her paw on her face after the voiceover says: “You could say that’s paw-fect.”

“I didn’t realise quite how big it (the campaign) would be,” Nicci said.

“It has been in the Radio Times, Daily Express, Gardeners’ World, and even on the Tube in London.

“The voiceover on the filmed advert even says: ‘We are here in Newark with Nala and Nicci.’”

Nicci, 28, runs a dog-walking business during the day and classes for owners at evenings and weekends where they can learn how to teach their pets tricks or heel walking to music.

Nala won Newark’s Got Talent in May, performing routines with Nicci and Elsa at the Palace Theatre.

“I would like to do something bigger, maybe Britain’s Got Talent, but a performing dog act has won that before, so it would have to be different. Perhaps an act with both Nala and Elsa,” Nicci said.