Hails & Fails – May 9th 2025
In a week where Coronation Street faced internal tensions because of pay gaps among cast members, Stacey Solomon’s BBC reality series Stacey & Joe drew criticism for its portrayal of their domestic life and Kim Turnbull, Romeo Beckham’s girlfriend, left the UK amid reported tensions within the Beckham family, it’s been a great seven days for PR campaigns.
Subway welcomed IKEA to Oxford Street with cheeky meatball giveaway, Gymshark launched a retro laundrette and tailor shop pop-up and Paths for All, Scotland’s national walking charity, launched its Walk Every Day in May initiative. It was a week to forget for under fire Prince Harry though as his BBC interview attracted widespread negative feedback.
HAILS
Battle of the balls
It got spicy on Oxford Street this week as Subway cheekily declared a “Battle of the Balls” against new neighbour IKEA. The Swedish flat-pack giant was setting up shop next door, so Subway seized the moment, handing out free 6” Meatball Marinara subs to hungry IKEA-goers, daring them to decide who really has the bigger, juicier balls.
But Subway didn’t just serve up subs – they served up sass. In a playful nod to IKEA’s famously fiddly flat packs, they handed out “assembly instructions” for the perfect Meatball Marinara (no Allen key required).
Gymshark’s Londrette turns sweaty patches into style badges
Gymshark gave those into Hyrox – the trendy competitive fitness race that combines functional fitness exercises with endurance running – a fresh spin this week with its Londrette pop-up…a retro laundrette and tailor shop in east London where sweat met style.
Forget stashing your hard-earned Hyrox finisher patches in drawers or losing them in car boots – Gymshark let you turn them into wearable trophies. Competitors could slap their patches onto a hoodie, stitched up on the spot, creating a badge of honour you could actually show off.
Their neon-washed laundrette pop-up, complete with vintage washing machines, only opened with a Gymshark coin. Even the recovery drinks got the retro treatment. It was all about keeping things fun, functional, and firmly rooted in the Hyrox community.
Step Up, Scotland! May Becomes a Month of Movement
Paths for All, Scotland’s national walking charity, challenged Scots to lace up, roll out, and embrace the power of daily movement with the “Walk Every Day in May” campaign. The initiative was all about making every step count – for your body, your mind, and your community.
With over 700 Health Walks already happening across the country, the campaign aims to turn everyday walks into game-changers, proving that even the simplest stroll can spark joy, boost health, and uncover hidden gems right on people’s doorstep.
FAIL
Prince Harry's BBC Bombshell: Reconciliation or Wrecking Ball?
Prince Harry’s latest BBC interview was meant to be a call for reconciliation – but instead, it’s sparked royal mayhem.
In a move some have called “emotional sabotage,” Harry mused about how “precious” life is, adding, “I don’t know how much longer my father has.” Cue the outrage – royal insiders slammed his comments about King Charles III’s health as tasteless, with critics accusing him of weaponising private family matters for public sympathy.
But Harry just doubled down and branded his UK security battle a “stitch-up,” hinting at interference from the establishment and even Buckingham Palace. The BBC, caught in the crossfire, quickly backtracked, admitting to a “lapse in standards” for not challenging Harry’s explosive claims. Once again, the Prince’s quest for peace seems to have left nothing but scorched earth.
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