The infamous Tango Man has returned after three decades, ditching his controversial face slaps for scoops of the brand's first-ever sorbet.
The notorious character made headlines in a 1992 advert that saw him charge across a field and slap an unsuspecting Tango drinker around the face. The commercial became so notorious it was even pulled from screens after schoolkids started recreating the slap in playgrounds across the country.
New Look, Same Orange Spirit
More than 30 years on, the orange figure has returned to Britain's streets but this time giving out sorbets rather than slaps, and comedy kisses. He was spotted surprising Brits by cycling and rollerblading through Central London this week.
Instead of slapping pedestrians he was seen rolling out an orange carpet for confused Brits to dance down and recreating classic commentary from the original advert. He announced his claim that Tango's new sorbet 'has all the bite and buzz of the Tango drink' down his megaphone.
New Sorbet and Limited-Edition Range
The reappearance of the beloved advertising character comes as dessert parlour Creams Cafe's limited-edition Tango range launches in their 95 cafes nationwide. The Tango Sorbet, priced at £2.95 a scoop, is claimed to be an industry-first bright, zesty orange sorbet topped with orange sherbet and crackling popping candy. The creators say it's designed to recreate the fizzy, tongue-tingling sensation of drinking an ice-cold Tango.
It's joined by the Tango Orange & Lime Daiquiri (£5.75), which is said to blend Tango sorbet, mojito mix, crushed ice and fresh orange, finished with a zesty sherbet dusting.
90s Icon Returns
The original Tango Man first burst onto British screens in 1992, in an ad that saw the orange figure charge across a field and slap an unsuspecting Tango drinker around the face. The advert coined the phrase 'you know when you've been Tango'd', which the brand has recently resurrected as its tagline. The original campaign became one of the most talked-about in British advertising history.
After the controversy, the ad was re-edited with a comic pretend kiss replacing the slap, the catchphrase stuck, and the Tango Man secured his place as a 90s cultural icon. Brits have been told that if they spot the Tango man they can claim complimentary scoops in Creams Cafe.
Everett Fieldgate, CEO at Creams Cafe, said: "At Creams we're always looking to create experiences not just products and we want customers to feel surprised and immersed by what we offer. The Tango Sorbet does exactly that. From the bold citrus hit to the popping candy fizz that mimics the feeling of drinking a real Tango."
"It is playful, nostalgic, interactive and unlike anything else currently on the UK high street. We know customers today are looking for more than just food - they're looking for moments worth sharing and talking about. This collaboration brings together two bold brands to create something genuinely fun, memorable and first-of-a-kind."
