Compare the Market, if you’re reading you can clock this up as a massive PR win.
A driver who was pulled over by police in Surrey attempted to convince officers he had vehicle insurance by pointing out he had a Compare the Meerkat fluffy toy at his house.
But it didn’t fly with the @SurreyRoadCops, who tweeted on Monday:
“PNC says no insurance driver says “It must be insured I have my Meerkat at home” Meerkats are not proof of insurance!”
The intensely irritating meerkat ‘Aleksandr Orlov’ – and his family - have become the firm’s mascots in recent years.
Said to hail from Russian aristocracy, the cravat-wearing mammal is now a TV phenomenon and social media rockstar with 814,000 Facebook fans and 66,000 Twitter followers.
Aleksandr Orlov has become the mascot of Compare the Market
He’s also a best-selling author, with his autobiography ‘A Simple’s Life’ outselling both Katie Price and Tony Blair's efforts.
Some would say Orlov revolutionised the British advertising industry – as well as promoted his species to national status.
The original soft toy in sale at Harrods was sold out before it even made it to the store.