My baby is a TV icon at just 20-months-old
A baby from Furnace Green is now a mini star of the small screen after being cast as the new iconic figure of a national advert.
Twenty-month-old Leo Lendon, of Freshfield Close, was chosen to become the laughing baby in a Cow and Gate baby food advert following a nationwide search for babies with big personalities.
Leo’s Mother Vicki, 30, discoverd the opportunity while browsing the web.
She said: “I saw an advert on Cow and Gate’s Facebook page saying ‘we’re looking for babies with big personalities’, send in videos of your children.
“I sent a funny home video I already had of him and thought, if he isn’t picked they’ll still have a laugh watching it.
“I’m so excited for him. It’s something he’ll be able tell [people about] for years, it’ll be his chat up line, ‘I was in a Cow and Gate advert’.”
Leo has spent his life in and out of hospital due to an infection in his kidney and had to undergo a three week stay in hospital at just nine months old.
The infection has left him with reduced kidney function and scarring which requires him to take life saving antibiotics daily and he may need an operation later in life.
But it was during his time in hospital that Leo’s natural charm was discovered.
Vicki explained: “During an extended stay at the hospital, no one could walk past his room without smiling at him.
“Of course I am biased, but when I saw the joy he was bringing others - I knew he had a spark! I’m so pleased that Leo’s happiness will now be able to bring a smile to other people.”
The ad, which aims to showcase little ones’ lovable personalities, was first broadcast on October 9 and features several children playing instruments, with Leo mastering the drums and keyboard.
Although Leo’s too young to understand he’s the star of a national ad Vicki knew he’d enjoy watching it.
“The home videos we’ve got of him he loves to watch,” Vicki joked. “He’s quite an ego centric child in that way. He doesn’t do embarrassed.
“He was so excited when he first saw the ad.”
Jeffrey Rothman, Cow and Gate marketing controller, said it was a tough job deciding who should appear but Leo was the perfect fit because of his big personality.
He said: “There were lots of amazing entries for this opportunity.”
Vicki, who is expecting her second child in February, said her little superstar enjoyed a free day trip to London and they were even paid a couple hundred pounds for the experience.
“I was so proud watching him during the filming, playing on the drums and being cheeky.
“When I saw they had chosen him as the laughing baby at the end I was extra proud. They must have loved him, but I love him more.”
To view the video online visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khvFHHG7-uA
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Friday 24 May 2013
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