Papa and Nicole
"Papa" and "Nicole" were fictional characters created to advertise the Renault Clio in the United Kingdom between 1991 and 1998. The "Papa!" "Nicole" and "Nicole!" "Papa" verbal exchanges between Nicole and her father during the advertisements were adapted from an exchange between Nicole Bonnet and her father (played by Hugh Griffith) in the film "How to Steal a Million" from 1966. Surveys by Channel 4 and ITV revealed the series as the most popular car advertisements ever aired in Britain. In 1996, one survey found that Nicole was recognised by more Britons than Prime Minister John Major , Bob Hoskins or Chris Evans. Renault was found to be the most persuasive advertiser in five European countries in 1994. The advert was designed by the Publicis advertising agency. Cast. Skornik had not passed her driving test when the first Clio advertisements were made. Professional driver Penny Mallory drove in place of both Nicole and Papa. Finale. An all new second generation Renault Clio was launched in March 1998, and with it came the finale of Nicole's Provençale story. Much publicity and speculation surrounded the question of whom Nicole would marry. Socialite and It girl Tara Palmer-Tomkinson noted , "I can't understand what she is doing getting married. I mean, she is giving up everything. She is one of the most beautiful, stunning, eligible girls around. She must be off her rocker. I mean, she had everything going for her, driving around the country in her Renault Clio, all at Daddy's, or rather Papa's, expense. I should be so lucky." The finale was itself a spoof of the film "The Graduate". Wearing a dress by Deborah Milner and a hairstyle by Nicky Clarke, with her ring designed by Stephen Webster, Nicole was led up the aisle  to the as yet unseen groom. The advert played during the advertising break for "Coronation Street" on 29 May 1998; an estimated 23 million viewers watched Nicole leave Vic Reeves at the altar and start a new life with Bob Mortimer in his new Renault Clio. The advert was also screened extensively during the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Soundtrack. All but one of the advertisements used Renault's 1980s to 1990s signature tune, Robert Palmer's "Johnny And Mary". Each used a variation of the song, including Martin Taylor's acoustic interpretation, an alternative version of which he released on  his album "Spirit of Django" and Renault's promotional compilation, "Miles More Music". The advert that did not use "Johnny And Mary" was Le Changement ("Moved On") from 1996, where the song by Soul II Soul, "Keep On Movin'", was used.