They aren't created for entertainment, they have serious and profound messages. Usually shown during particular charity campaigns.

The advert I always remember is the one of the little girl getting hit by a car. "If you hit me at 40, there's an 80% chance I'll die. Hit me at 30, there's an 80% chance I'll live."

A little bit of history in the 1980s a well known morning tv presenter had a baby who died of cot death, this resulted in a campaign including adverts to get people to learn basic first aid and CPR

Wow. I have never known anyone to laugh at that St Johns Ambulance one before. Unbelievable.

That 'you deserved it,' in response to the break the cycle add (befre the message was being set) is a massive cultural political difference between the UK and the US.

Do Americans not want to hear the truth or do you want to live in eternal optimism? That’s why American positivity, sometimes gets us down. It’s not real life.

I'd forgotten about that Red Cross advert, but when I had a house fire and they showed up with a cup of tea, tissues, and a warm place to sit while I collected myself, it was incredible. I couldn't believe it, and I was so grateful.

These are not advertisements, they are public information films. They are used to inform public about certain aspects and situations in life

Oscar-winning, *Emma Thompson* was the actress you couldn't recall... 👍 But this is one advert and (FYI), she also made another PSA _(Public Service Announcement)_ which shows her mouthing the words of 'real-life human trafficking victims' - male AND female; sex slaves, forced labourers, and children press-ganged into carrying guns...

It's not always about revenue, we Brits generally have huge hearts and donate to many many charities.

American might not know this. We have something called “Watershed” which means any content played on live TV after 9pm( the watershed) can be adult content. That why swearing is allowed on our talk shows and we have graphic ads.

I can remember seeing so many awful but effective adverts growing up in the UK in the 00s. I remember one where a car rolls over a fence and basically flattens a bunch of kids playing football (I think it was a speeding advert), awful stuff, but very effective. They instilled fear into me but in ways that I'm glad. I'm glad these sorta topics aren't sugar coated in the UK, but instead are raw and real.

I must have seen this collection of PSA's reacted to well over a dozen times by now and they STILL bring me to tears each and every time I watch them. Some are more effective at rearing a tear than others, but they ALL have an excellent theme and story to tell. Well done for watching JJ.

A lot of these sorts of things are paid through the TV licence meaning that along with the terrestrial channels this means there is no interference from “sponsors “ regarding content allowing freedom to cover difficult topics. A lot of us grew up with ones about stranger danger, fireworks, learn to swim, crossing the road

These UK adverts are far from the most effective or shocking. The public information videos from the late 70's and 80's are next level horrific. You can probably find them on KZfaq but they really are the stuff of nightmares.

Personally my favourite advert is the 2014 Sainsbury's Christmas advert which is based on true events that my great great grandfather was a part of.

Hard-hitting stuff! I lost my mum to Motor Neurone Disease and my dad to Cancer at around the same time, so yep got a few tears here, but glad these adverts raise awareness, sometimes people need a firm shake to wake up a little more not just with charities and helping but with checking smoke alarm batteries etc. What's interesting to me is that the dates of these are right in the thick of me home caring, so I didn't have any time to watch TV back then, so it's nice to know that during a time when I didn't eat too great or sleep much, there were people raising awareness and planning great adverts to help in the bigger picture. Anyway, Thanks JJ

I can not believe you laughed at the young lad falling!! 🤨 Pray to god you will never go through this!!

The child falling from the tree.....you didn't listen did you ? Mom wasn't THERE ! THAT'S the point.

Seeing these in context is even more powerful. You are home and comfortably watching TV. One minute it is Tony the Tiger, the next it is one of these artistic and gripping shorts, then straight back to _"A product that is amazing"_ ...

I haven't had a tv for 15 years now so I really didn't expect those...and I didn't expect my saturday night to start off flooded with tears. They were horrible, but as you said very effective. No wonder everyone's depressed these days!

A strangely bland and unemotional response to the horror that sometimes exists or occurs in other people's lives........

Unfortunately, the world can be a very depressing place if only we could appreciate the wonders and beauty it offers us all to share!!!

Reality is dark ,we face up to that truth.

That was tough- rest assured all our ads aren't like this. In fact- bizarrely- all the ads I got whilst watching your video were very upbeat Black Friday and Christmas ads.......at least it gave me a break from the horrors.....

We have adverts that aren't so dark, depressing and tear-jerking too lol these are purely charities and reminders. I think you should take a look at our Christmas ads, the one that always gets me tearing up is The Sainsbury's advert from Christmas 2014 it hits you right where it needs to, pulls on your heart strings and is also a true story.

Life is depressing. Here in the uk we believe in justice for all .❤

Hi, how effective are they? Have you checked your smoke alarms?

These aren't really adverts. They are public information films. And though I'm in the UK, I haven't seen them, possibly because the more shocking ones tend to be shown at cinemas when 18 rated films are shown or late at night, to avoid scaring children. The REALLY scary ones are from the 1970s - some of those are really horrific.

On the subject of British TV (and ads), you may find it interesting to watch through Charlie Brooker's - How TV Ruined Your Life (you may know him as the creator of Black Mirror). It's quite an interesting look back at our TV, how it's changed, and delivered in his usual very dry and funny manner.

Dark, but effective. Better than ad's for lawyers and prescription drugs; these drugs may cause side effects like death, voting republican, etc, etc' etc

They’re not adverts because they aren’t trying to sell anything. They’re either public service announcements or charity appeals

I'm a 62 year old British man who has seen these several time. I am sitting here bawling. Erica Clapton's "Tears In Heaven" has the same effect, since I learn't the background story.

"Dark" ads .. sigh. Of course, you'd prefer the American version of public announcements where none is shown and you are focusing on yourself and nothing else. I am glad we have them. They force a sense of responsibility and community within our country. That's why we have lots of things done by society based bodies including research funds. I am so proud of how we tackle human issues. These were supposed to be for adults and shown after 9pm but I saw them when I was in my teens and so did my kids. It is important to be responsible and to teach your children a sense of respect and responsibility to the community they live in.

I loved the old Charlie says psa's

I've never seen that MND ad before, but that was about the most accurate portrayal of the brutality of motor neurone disease ever. Problem is, that since it was made there's still absolutely nothing available to help, so it doesn't seem to have been very effective. That was all very bleak and can't say I've seen much of this sort of thing on the telly!

I haven't seen most of these, and not sure most would be on MSM - but if you go back and trawl the web, you'll find ads that WERE shown in the 70s and early 80s - usually trying to warn kids not to be stupid - like - railway crossings, lakes, electricity, fire, cars, - you get the picture - they were really damn scary and I still remember them and I'm still here and 58. And I still remember every single message - they were powerful.

The ones we got in the 70’s were traumatizing.

Please don't call them ads/adverts. Those are all about 'Buy me. Buy me.' Public Service Announcements are just that. Announcements to bring something to your attention or opening your eyes to something you may never have imagined/experienced because you've never been in a situation where you've had or needed to. Bringing people together into a genuine community all working for and towards a common/greater good. Educated, and not just referring to a school setting. You can learn a lot about a nation's psyche by its PSAs.

Thank you for not pausing every 10 seconds into the ad & trying to second guess/analyise them, therefore missing the punch effect. Well done mate. TBH I have never seen any before.

It’s funny how the USA wouldn’t show a ad like this or even swear on your tv shows but they allow guns what’s the sense in that guns kill swear words do nothing

It’s so true about going numb. It takes decades but it’s like you disassociate in the middle of it all.

We don't mess about when it comes to reaching people :D These ads are designed to shock you, make you think, help. There are some really effective don't drink and drive campaigns too.

Does anyone remember the drink driving advert that started all happy with a cheery song playing followed by a horrendous crash? If so what song was used?

dark, but effective because of it. You would be far more likely to act on these ads if you're thinking about them all day

Public Service advertising is meant to send a serious message not entertain, I’m surprised they don’t have these in America

I have never seen Any of these campaign ads, so thanks for having a look at them.

Great video! I really felt that last one.

Respect for tackling some serious topics JJ for a change!

Gosh some of these really hit hard. The first kid actor alone. wow. And the Motor Neurone Disease...wow, the acting is really excellent. Not to leave out the impact.

The silence on the cancer advert is because it originally had a music track playing that youtube needed removing for copytught purposes.

I watch you for a chuckle, wow i was not ready for that. I just put a new battery in the smoke alarm. Thank you. Keep em coming.

We sugar coat nothing. This is straight to the point.

So glad you saw this! This is a video that I really wanted you to see at some point.

One of the most hard to watch adverts for me wasn't included but it's the NSPCC 'Children don't bounce back advert'. It's so simplistic but I just can't watch it because it's so sad

Yep that cheered me up i'm going to bed goodnight.🤣

You thought that second one was comical? WOW!

Maybe this is why the British cope with dark humour that others deem inappropriate. It’s like light comic relief because we’re all depressed & traumatised by these adverts 😅 I remember watching an advert during children in need about 20 years ago and it showed a young boy being relentlessly bullied on repeat, daily and then it showed his mom walk into his bedroom with his feet swinging in front of the camera. It then faded to black and the words said something like “his name was __ and he was 10yrs old. They wouldn’t stop and now it’s too late. Bullying kills” and then the programme had a bit about families who had lost children to bullying and mental health, a young child narrated an actual suicide note over the child’s real life parents sat holding hands on their sofa staring blankly into the camera and it panned across photos of the child and their bedroom and all their things, the family dog (which was mentioned in the note). Heartbreaking. I sobbed and sobbed, I was about 13 at the time and have never forgot it. I don’t know if they would be so bold as to air that in todays age. Things have changed…..

You should check oit the Christmas 1s they are heartwarming and uplifting I think you'd really enjoy them

You didn't even see the one where a car flips off the road and crushes a group of children... our PSAs are rough!

Hand on heart ,I have NEVER ever seen any of these adverts on my tv,ever ❤

Yeah, this is a tough video to watch through - many reactors have been broken by this montage, so don't feel bad about getting depressed by it. As a bit of a palate-cleanser, can I suggest the compilations of most heartwarming British Christmas adverts? I can't promise you won't cry during that one, but at least it'll be for happier reasons!

you were'nt taking it seriously at first giggling and laughing but you got it by the 2nd and third add was starting to sink in this is no joke

These aren’t adverts, they’re Public Service announcements, and are completely new to me, I’m nearly 73 and have lived in the U.K. all my life.

Not seen any of these ads although I do donate to charities. I was brought up in Dr. Barnardos Homes and foster homes all over the Country. Most of the adults were OK, some were lovely but I will always remember the one who beat up my 9 year old brother because the man was furious that our previous foster father had visited us in the Village Home, without asking first. My brother was kept of school for at least a week because he was too bruised and swollen for the master of the cottage, who beat him up, to risk it. While my brother was being beaten two other staff members each held me back so I could not help him. They kept us two in different homes at times and I remember my brother crying when he had to go back to another place. I promised that, when we were big, we would get a house together. We did and still live together in our late 70s. What I found lovely was that the lady who was the fall-back person to take us here, there and everywhere (like a Social Worker) visited us decades after we left the Homes and said to us, "We did not do right by you two." That sort of soothed a lot of things and I am so glad she said that before she died.

Your lack of empathy and emotion is as hard for me to comprehend as your not understanding the majority of these clips.

Some of these actors should get an award for their acting skills in TV ads

They are great adverts. However, it didn’t sit well with those who survived the Blitz, as the advert almost implied the U.K. had never experienced such horror. My parents and their siblings certainly did. Uncle on Ak ak and digging out the dead after raids. Mum & Dad on airfield being bombed during Battle of Britain. Dad caught in explosions twice but carried on shooting down plains. Uncle, a desert rat in North Africa surrounded, cut off and wounded. Uncle fireman digging out dead children from the rubble. They all lots friends, homes and more, leaving mental scars hidden deep. The memories survive in me and many more, who knew what it was like from those who lived it.

They were mild in what else has been shown over the 70s and 80s

They are public service advertisements. The one with Emma Thompson (the actress) about the sex slave trade is the most dramatic followed by the smoke alarm and the motor neurone disease one.

The reason Helpless is silent is because it was all copyrighted music so the compiler had to mute it

American adverts will be guns for sale to anyone. Buy one get one free lol

Never seen any of those, but wow definitely impacting

Now you need to go have a look at funny British ads. They definitely exist!

Wait till you see the 1970's public information films they made for us kids..

All these ads are depressing but the point of the Is to give visuals to impact your perspective of other people's situations they are effective and something other countries might not have the stomach for

The AIDS PSA's during the 1980's scared me the most. They were simple, yet effective.

The sad fact is that the UK Government only put out, great, public information films when the services involved threaten to go on strike.

For the last one, if you want a full movie like that try out Threads. It follows a family in the aftermath of a Nuclear attack on britain. Truly shocking

Please don't kill the dog! 😂😂😂😂😂

They used to start with the children learn how to cross the road correctly with mommy rabbit, baby girl (4yrs old) rabbit and little boy rabbit (6 yrs old) they ere teaching the Highway Code for children. Did you remember the messages of the adverts? They didn’t work if not! Cheers Aah Kid

What the people wanted. Thank you

As a Brit, how is it I don't recognize these ads?

These aren’t technically adverts, they’re sending important messages to the public.

I have only seen 1 of those commercials, i dont know where i was with the other ones, but i have never seen them!

I’m British and I’ve never seen any of these ads. I believe they now have to be monitored and many have been banned

10:19 the st. Johns ad is silent as it has a copyrighted music soundtrack

They're government information and charity ads not commercial ads.

Depressing but effective

The movie like the last add would be 28 days later, a great British movie.

i have lived in the uk all my life and i have never seen any of them ads on tv

When you laugh you devalue your video. Some have a habit of that. 6:26 10:37

In fairness, you don't usually have to watch them all at once like that.

if you have the time and/or inclination (and that includes to read this comment), look up the "natural born smoker" ads from the 80s. I'm still scarred (but that may have been from my brother singing the jingle to me with a demented look on his face every time he wanted to get his kicks).

No disrespect to Hollywood ( `America ` ) but it`s the same between it and the British Film Industry. Holywood makes some amazing films, but the British always like to keep things real - in their acting and films / dramas. Plus we have had some very comical ads in appropriate enterprises. Not forgetting the American sense of humour, which I get and love.

Well I am in England and I admit I don't watch TV as such and have never seen any of these adverts. But the last on hit me because I was a child in the bombing of our country in WWII. So it has happened and can happen in our own countries. Even yours JJLA.

"You want it darker,. Hin eni, Hin en!

There is a 50 most effective adds, by the same person I think

There's an add at the moment in the UK for the charity war child, it isn't as heartbreaking as these but still very effective.

Try the British christmas ads as a contrast especially John Lewis