Quaker: From the Mighty Oat

AMV BBDO launches Quaker Oats TVC featuring astronaut and porridge-enthusiast Buzz Aldrin.

So we all know that getting your oats in the morning will set you up nicely for the day – lowering cholesterol, boosting your fibre and antioxidant intake etc, but did you know it can also help if your job description entails bouncing around on far-off celestial objects?

The Pepsico-owned porridge oat brand today releases a cool TV spot, directed by HLA's Tom Merilion, that relates the story of how when astronaut Buzz Aldrin became the second human ever to walk on the moon, he did so with a tum full of porridge. The advert features 86-year-old Aldrin watching original footage of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission and recounting his breakfast choice on that momentous moontastic day.

AMV BBDO tracked down NASA archive material in which Aldrin and fellow astronaut Mike Collins banter about how much oatmeal Aldrin ate on Apollo 11. Tony Strong, copywriter at AMV BBDO said: “It turned out Buzz himself had never heard the original clip before. He was such a pleasure to work with – at 86, still tirelessly energetic and passionate, and a genuine porridge enthusiast.”