BBC One Cliffhanger Promotion

Following the success of the Rush Hour campaign, BBC marketeers lined up a spectacular new promotion in May 2003, "Cliffhanger". Taking the idea of period drama, the 90-second film shows a young mother falling off a cliff top after being swept aside by bandits on horseback. As she falls to her death, a modern couple look on idly. The idea was to promote BBC One as engaging, showing how viewers can feel part of the action when watching dramas. However, the campaign backfired badly. Hundreds complained the promo was in bad taste and many children were distressed by it. So after just one night, Cliffhanger was pulled. Bad luck if you missed the promo, for BBC bosses decided against its return in any form.