TV’s ‘Monkey’ calms waters on Thames and avoids stirring up storm in a teacup

It looks like monkey business on the Thames with a tealeaf effigy passing Canary Wharf and floating under Tower Bridge.

20ft high statue of TV ad's 'Monkey' drinking a cuppaas it floats under Tower Bridge, highlighting green as having a direct impact on workplace productivity [photo: Matt Crossick/PA] - Credit: Matt Crossick/PA

The stunt by TV ad’s ‘Monkey’ character yesterday was a bid to “energise commuters” and highlight a forthcoming ‘Green Paper’ about productivity.

The 20ft-high topiary, crafted from 110,486 fabricated green tea leaves, stirred many heads along the foreshore.

It was aimed at publicising a report by Monkey’s bosses, PG Tips, identifying the presence of the colour green in workspaces and the home as having a direct impact on productivity and outlook on life. It’s due to its “primal association” to nature and open spaces, they argue.

What better way than setting sail downriver drinking green tea to create the vision of calm, Monkey thought, living up to his larger-than-life character passing iconic landmarks from Canary Wharf to the Houses of Parliament.

At least the weather was calm—so he avoided making a storm in a teacup.