The actor behind the iconic Cillit Bang adverts, known to millions as Barry Scott, has been revealed to be Neil Burgess, who now works as a quizmaster at a London pub. Burgess, 54, hosted the cleaning brand's ads from 2006 to 2006 and again from 2013 to 2016, famous for his catchphrase 'Bang! And the dirt is gone.'
Since leaving the role, Burgess has taken up a position at The Raglan pub in Walthamstow, where he hosts quizzes for teams of six at £2 per person, with a prize fund of £350. The pub advertises the event as being hosted by Barry himself.
Burgess has also reprised his character for a new range of adverts for high-protein cereal Surreal, featuring a new version of his catchphrase. He regularly posts skits on his YouTube channel and performs stage monologues.
Before his fame as Barry Scott, Burgess appeared as Brian McFadden's manager in the music video for 'Real To Me,' as a paramedic in 'Waking the Dead,' and as a removals man in 'Life Begins.'
The adverts sparked memes and a dance remix with over a million YouTube views. Burgess was also the subject of a death hoax in 2014, when a student website falsely claimed he had been found dead.
One Cillit Bang ad was banned by the Advertising Standards Agency after complaints that it exaggerated the product's speed. The ASA ruled the ad could not be broadcast in its current form.
