Dave asks viewers to switch on to friendship with CALM Partnership

Monday 26 November 2018

Year-long Be the mate youd want campaign launches just after 9pm tonight on Dave.

Comedian James Acaster to voice ad break takeover to kick off campaign.

Research reveals just over 1 in 3 men wouldnt know what to do to help a friend having a tough time.

UKTVs comedy channel, Dave, is taking over a commercial ad break and will use the time to launch a year-long partnership with the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a leading movement against suicide, which remains the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK.

At 9.09pm on Monday 26 November, a time that would usually be dedicated to adverts and TV trailers, Dave will encourage viewers to get in touch with a mate to see how they are. The four minute ad takeover is made by UKTVs in house creative team and will be voiced by James Acaster, the comedian most recently seen in the record-breaking seventh series of Daves Taskmaster.

The year-long Be the mate youd want campaign kicks off with on air promos on Daves airtime, print and out of home ads, radio ads across the Global Radio network, social media, branded beer mats and coffee cups. Next year, there will be a podcast, a commissioned comedy, and much more. All to encourage and support male friendship as part of a shared ambition between CALM and UKTV to tackle male depression and suicide.

Dave and CALM | Be The Mate You d Want

The campaign comes following recent research commissioned by Dave and CALM of 2,300 men and women in the UK which revealed that, while 86% of men agree that they would want to help a friend, 35% wouldnt know what to do to help a friend having a tough time. The survey also revealed a male/female disparity when it came to noticing the warning signs: 41% of men find it difficult to recognise when their friend is having a tough time, compared to 26% of women. This disparity informs the campaigns focus on encouraging men to reach out to their friends. The campaign also promotes the power of small gestures to improve mental health: when going through a tough time, 38% of men said they would appreciate friends sending them a message, 48% would appreciate friends making them laugh, and 41% would appreciate a friend suggesting they go for a drink.

By encouraging men to reach out to their friends, Dave is supporting CALMs mission to create a more positive and open culture when it comes to mental health.

The campaign centres around the idea that small gestures from a friend can be a lifeline for someone who is going through a tough time. The creative ads will encourage people to do something to show a mate that theyre there for them.

The marketing materials have been produced in-house by UKTV Creative and the dialogue and copy has been crafted by Daves Senior Social Editor, CALM ambassador, and mental health author, Aaron Gillies.

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Luke Hales, Daves Channel Director said:

Dave reaches more than 19 million people a month and on average, over 60% of our viewers are men. Research has highlighted that millions of men experience loneliness, but suffer in silence. This campaign is our small gesture for anyone who may be going through a tough time. We hope it will encourage people to reach out to friends who need a reminder that someone is thinking of them and someone cares.

Cherie Cunningham, Head of Marketing at UKTV said:

Dave and CALM will use the power of Daves brand and tone of voice to launch a campaign that brings to life the strength of friendship, highlighting how small acts of kindness between friends can be powerful. The campaign highlights the best qualities of friendship, the nuances that make real friends and how easy it can be to check in with a mate who may be going through a tough time. Our call to action is simple: All it takes is a text, a chat, a tweet - something to show youre there.

Simon Gunning, CEO of CALM added:

Suicide is a problem that affects everyone, so CALM aims to work with the whole of society on campaigns that change culture and encourage help-seeking behaviour. Dave and CALMs Be the mate youd want campaign will help to promote a positive, proactive and empathetic approach when it comes to mental health. One of the fundamental issues is that, when men are finding things tough or struggling with their mental health, they still face social stigma, so we hope the campaign will create a positive environment where men can feel comfortable opening up to and supporting their mates.

#Bethemateyoudwant

Dave.uktv.co.uk/CALM

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2300 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 16th - 19th November 2018. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

Credits Creative Agency: UKTV Creative

Creative Director: Scott Russell

Creative Manager, Dave: Paul Philpott

Senior Producer: Celia Bayne

Campaign Producer: Holly McIvor

Design Director: Peter Allinson

Design Producer: Sophie Yeoman

Motion Design: Jade Dauncey

Key Art Design: Dani Liquieri

Senior Social Manager: Aaron Gillies

Head of Marketing, Dave: Cherie Cunningham

Assistant Brand Manager, Dave: Zena Jarjis

For more information, please contact: Justine Bower (Director of Communications, UKTV) - justine.bower@uktv.co.uk

Ali Laurie (Network Communications Executive, UKTV) - ali.laurie@uktv.co.uk

Neil Wood (CALM) - press@thecalmzone.net

Tim LeBreton (W Comms) - tim.lebreton@wcommunications.co.uk

About Dave Sky 111/246, Virgin 127/194, Freesat 157 Freeview, BT & TalkTalk 12/79

On demand on Sky, Virgin and UKTV Play

Since bursting onto TV sets in 2007, Dave has been putting in hours at the gym and is now a beefed-up powerhouse of brand new and original commissions from some of the biggest stars and production companies in entertainment. Romesh Ranganthan, Jon Richardso

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