Skoda review gave Leonard’s Uncommon tantalising glimpse of the big time

Skoda is reviewing its UK ad account according to Campaign, no great surprise as it’s reviewing its global ad account – also handled by Publicis Groupe’s Fallon – and Fallon in the UK has produced a series of absolute clunkers including a set with “brand ambassador” Sir Bradley Wiggins (maybe not Fallon’s choice) and a Paloma Faith epic that went nowhere.

What’s interesting though is the reported shortlist: Fallon, Mother (which has Vauxhall in so far as the Vauxhall ad account still exists), adam&eveDDB (which handles Skoda parent VW) and Uncommon.

Fallon needs an infusion of something to be competitive but adam&eve and Mother are formidable.

Nils Leonard’s new agency uncommon has earned itself mountains of publicity in its short life (but that’s former Grey creative boss Leonard for you) and produced a couple of lively efforts for smaller clients.

Skoda would catapult Uncommon into the big time, just as it did Fallon when the agency was first formed in the UK.

It’s tough to face A&E and Mother but that’s the level of challenge both agencies overcame in their early days. The UK badly needs a new, independent creative contender. Can Uncommon rise to this challenge?

Update

Tantalising indeed. Uncommon is now off the list according to the above organ. Rather suspicious somehow. Serves us right for relying on others.