| Production | 1991 - 1998 |
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'Papa' and 'Nicole' were fictional characters created to advertise the Renault Clio in the United Kingdom between 1991 and 1998. The "Papa!" "Nicole" and "Nicole!" Papa" verbal exchanges between Nicole and her father during the advertisements were adapted from an original exchange between Nicole Bonnet (played by Audrey Hepburn) and her father (played by Hugh Griffith) in the 1966 film How to Steal a Million. Surveys by Channel 4 and ITV award the series as the most popular car advertisements ever made. In 1996, one survey found that Nicole was recognised by more Britons than Prime Minister John Major, Bob Hoskins or Chris Evans.[1] Renault was found to be the most persuasive advertiser in five European countries in 1994. The advert was designed by the Publicis agency.
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Skornik had not passed her driving test when the first Clio advertisements were made. Penny Mallory, a precision stunt driver and television presenter, played both Nicole and Papa in each of the driving scenes.
The final installment can be viewed on YouTube: [1]
An all-new second generation Renault Clio was launched in 1998 and with it came the finalé of Nicole's Provençale story.
Much publicity and speculation surrounded the question of whom Nicole would marry. Socialite and 'it girl' Tara Palmer-Tomkinson noted, "I can't understand what she is doing getting married. I mean, she is giving up everything. She is one of the most beautiful, stunning, eligible girls around. She must be off her rocker. I mean, she had everything going for her, driving around the country in her Renault Clio, all at Daddy's, or rather Papa's, expense. I should be so lucky."
The finalé was itself a spoof of the film The Graduate. Wearing a dress by Deborah Milner and a hairstyle by Nicky Clarke, with her ring designed by Stephen Webster, Nicole was led down the aisle to the as-yet-unseen groom. Played during the advertisement break between Coronation Street on 29 May 1998, an estimated 23 million viewers watched Nicole leave Vic Reeves at the altar and start a new life with Bob Mortimer in his new Renault Clio.
Throughout the entire series, only five words were spoken: Papa, Nicole, Maman, Bob, and 'YES!'.
Each of the advertisements featured Renault's 1980s and 1990s signature tune, Robert Palmer's "Johnny And Mary". Each used a variation of the song, most notably Martin Taylor's acoustic interpretation (an alternate version of which he released on his album 'Spirit of Django' and Renault's promotional compilation, 'Miles More Music.')