For over two decades, his booming voice and enthusiastic cry of 'Bang! And the dirt is gone' has been a staple of British television. But the man behind the Cillit Bang persona, Barry Scott, leads a life far removed from the glossy world of advertising when the cameras stop rolling.
In a revelation that will surprise fans of the iconic cleaning product ads, the actor who portrays the energetic frontman has a decidedly quirky and intellectual day job. Far from battling limescale, he works for a company that provides critical subtitling, translation, and audio description services for broadcasters.
The Man Behind The Microphone
The character of Barry Scott is actually portrayed by award-winning voiceover artist Neil Burgess. While he embodies the enthusiastic cleaner on screen, his real profession is deeply embedded in the media industry he parodies.
Neil works for a firm that ensures television programmes are accessible to all, including those with hearing or visual impairments. This involves the complex and nuanced work of creating subtitles and descriptive audio tracks, a role that requires a sharp ear and a meticulous command of language—a far cry from the simple, explosive solutions offered by his on-screen persona.
A Carefully Crafted Persona
The article reveals that the Barry Scott character was a meticulously crafted marketing tool conceived by advertising agency McCann Erickson for manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser. Designed to be memorable and authoritative, the character's name was chosen to sound like a respected BBC newsreader, lending credibility to the product's claims.
Neil Burgess was initially just the voice of the adverts. However, his performance was so compelling that he was eventually persuaded to appear on camera, cementing his place in British advertising folklore. His famous catchphrase and the character's unique presenting style were born from a desire to stand out in a crowded market.
A Life In Voiceovers
Away from his cleaning alter-ego, Neil Burgess has enjoyed a prolific and successful career in voiceovers. His distinctive, trustworthy voice has been used to promote a vast array of other products and services, including famous campaigns for Radox shower gel and the National Lottery.
This revelation paints a picture of a talented performer who masterfully balances two very different worlds: the loud, dramatic world of a TV hard-surface cleaner and the quiet, precise world of media accessibility. It's a juxtaposition that makes the story of the man behind the Bang all the more fascinating.
