by Karrie Gillett
AN ADVERT starring Sir Sean Connery and Olymipic hero Chris Hoy has been launched to promote Scotland’s year of Homecoming 2009.
[youtube=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rvxATYB2jKA]
The 60-second film sees singing stars such as Sandi Thom and Lulu joining golf legend Sam Torrance and Scotland rugby players.
The advert – which is being screened from Friday November 28 – will be broadcast during prime-time TV shows such as X factor and Coronation Street as well as in cinemas and on websites.
Ten celebs are shown at sites across Scotland singing a line from Dougie MacLean’s well-known anthem Caledonia.
But Bond superstar Connery – who is pictured with a backdrop of Edinburgh – speaks his part in the advert.
First Minister Alex Salmond was at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh for the first screeing of the advert which is designed to encourage people living in Scotland to invite friends and family from all round the world to “come home”.
Mr Salmond said: “It’s time we took pride in our country and realised what we have to offer in the year of the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth.
“Caledonia is a song which resonates with Scots the world over. For those far away it is a reminder of strong bonds, full of the promise of return.”
The celebrities appearing are singer Amy Macdonald with a scene of Glencoe behind her; Chris Hoy at Glasgow Science Centre; Brian Cox on Orkney; Sam Torrance at Turnberrry; singer Eddi Reader at the Robert Burns Statue in Dumfries; Scotland Rugby players Kelly Brown and Thom Evans at Strathisla Distillery in Speyside; Sandi Thom at Far Beach in Sutherland; Sir Sean Connery in Edinburgh and Lulu at Castle Starker in Argyll.
