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Clowning around

ZenithOptimedia has been clowning about this week, Bitch hears, with a fundraising party for the agency's adopted charity Castlehaven at Zippo’s Circus big top on Hampstead Heath.

The agency held 'X Factor' style auditions in the run up to the event for the Castlehaven kids to decide who would perform as a warm up act for Dionne Bromfield, the up-coming star and goddaughter of the late Amy Winehouse, arranged by online music provider Vevo.

The kind-hearted agency employees all donated to the cause by buying a ticket for the event and Bitch hears that the top prize of the raffle was a week off work (paid, she hopes), but there was some confusion when the ticket was drawn out of the hat, with Vicki Howard, performance media manager, thinking she had won the coveted prize, which had actually gone to the lovely Claire Griffiths, personal assistant to the ZenithOptimedia's worldwide chief executive Steve King.

In stepped Gerry Boyle, chief executive of the UK office to save the day. The soft hearted Boyle decided to give Vicki the week off as well, ahhh!

Some media owner friends of the agency also attended the event and dug deep for the charity, helping to raise a whopping £17,600 for needy kids. Well done darlings...

"I'm Media Bitch!"

Bitch is super excited about this upcoming event, the 10th anniversary of one of her favourite radio stations, Gaydar Radio on 19 October.

She's looking forward to blagging her way in for a good dance, a couple of glasses of fizz and a gossip with some of her favourites from the station, including Neil and Debbie (pictured) from the breakfast show to see how their ‘Friends of Dorothy’ promotion in association with LoveFilm is going.

As the invite says, "Back then, we couldn’t get Kylie out of our head" and goes on to say there will be an evening of music, drinks, dining and performances to celebrate 10 years of broadcasting.

The only problem with Gaydar jollies, Bitch finds, is that it's somewhat like that scene from 'Spartacus', with quite a few of the guest list insisting, "I'm Media Bitch!"

Keep on running

Bitch is used to the sprightly young things attempting to give themselves heart attacks by running 26 miles in the name of one charity or another, but at least they get themselves through because of their youth and generally buff bodies (yes Bitch has backed a few of the younger media owner and agency specimens from the sidelines over the years).

However, news reaches Bitch that David Emin, director of advertising at the Mirror Group (pictured), has been cajoled into readying himself for the arduous London Marathon by Mecom chief Tom Toumazis, himself an experienced marathon runner.

Bitch isn't casting aspersions, but considering the Sunday Mirror and sister title The People have recently moved to hike their ad rates by 50% following the demise of the News of the World, Emin had better build up his stamina for the marathon task to convince agencies that's a good idea.

Because of that, he might think nobody in media likes him anymore, so if you want to back him you can prove that , although when Bitch looked last he's doing quite well, hitting 73% of his target so far.

Jumping the queue

Bitch has become used to a bit of product placement ever since Ofcom loosened the rules last year, but she's more used to seeing horror films on 'Big Brother' or coffee makers on 'This Morning'.

Little did she know that she would be faced with one of her own media owners being given a disgusting amount of screen time when she was watching television on one of her rare nights in and tucking into her coq au vin.

The culprit – outdoor specialist Primesight, led (on the sales side) by that prince among geezers Nigel Clarkson. The programme – ‘The Hairy Bikers’ (pictured), about two rotund characters who are currently trying to revamp the meals on wheels service.

The campaign was designed by creative agency Saatchi X and posted on a Primesight billboard in Elmbridge, Surrey to raise awareness in the community.

Towards the end of filming the bikers were joined by Primesight billboard posters and other members of the team showing their support.

No word if Nigel was there or not, but Mr Clarkson, you're not getting any younger, so Bitch would suspect this act of kindness is a canny way to try and get yourself to the front of the Meals on Wheels queue in a few years time.

Anyway, that's it for this week petals, wrap up warm and don't forget your muff in this cold weather.

Bitch xxx