Today programme presenters star in viral marketing experiment

LONDON - BBC Radio 4's flagship current affairs programme 'Today' is being promoted in a spoof viral that claims Jim Naughtie presents the show wearing nothing by a thong and that Evan Davis refuses to go on air unless he is provided with an eclectic selection of costumes and make up.

The has been created by , with the idea of seeing how 'Today' will fare in a world of viral marketing, YouTube and the "watercooler" moment.

It shows the 'Today' programme's fictional wardrobe mistress talking through the demands of the presenters who work on the show.

She claims that John Humphrys' wardrobe consists entirely of identical grey sweaters and white shirts, while Jim Naughtie is alleged to wear either a thong or nothing at all to present the show.

Evan Davis' wardrobe ranges from a penguin suit to dressing as a Bay City Roller, and during the viral he demands that the wardrobe department sew aeroplanes with propellers on his belt.

The idea for the film came after a recent feature 'Today' ran on viral marketing. Rubber Republic had appeared in the item and was then challenged by 'Today''s editor to make a viral.

The idea is to explore how far it spreads with minimal seeding, and Rubber Republic will appear on Today in around a month's time to report on the effect.

Matt Golding, creative director at Rubber Republic, said: "When the makers of 'Today' challenged us to make them a viral on a quick turnaround, we knew it would be tough but we thought 'what better way to prove how the medium works?'

"We've done our best to make something we think is fun and now it's down to the public to judge for themselves."

'Today' is Radio 4's most popular programme, reaching an average of 6m listeners every week.

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