A rugby fan has experienced new-found fame after starring alongside a friend in a series of TV adverts.

Ollie Jessup, 34, from Southon Close in Portslade rarely misses a match at The Rec to watch his beloved Bath and was picked out from the crowd by producers.

He and Gloucester Rugby supporter Ed Scrivener are usually West Country rivals, but the two friends impressed producers at Premiership Rugby sponsors Aviva with their double act during Bath’s victory over Gloucester at The Rec in October.


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Aviva scoured the country looking for the most passionate fans, with each Aviva Premiership Rugby club having a supporter featured in the new adverts.

Mr Jessup got the nod to represent Bath in the adverts, which will wrap around the Aviva Premiership Rugby highlights show on ITV.

He said: “It’s a 280-mile round trip to Bath and a 5am start and I have to get a permission slip from my wife Katherine – but she’s usually good about it.

“It’s slightly bittersweet having Ed along, but we do have a great rivalry.

“I was amazed we got selected, actually, I’m guessing the other people who auditioned were pretty hopeless – but it was quite exciting when we got the call.

“Katherine usually does the shopping so I think I’ll be okay out and about coping with the fame.”

The pair have not missed a match between their two clubs since meeting at work three years ago.

Louisa Cheetham, senior partnership manager at Aviva, said: “What we’re trying to do is really get to the heart of what matters to rugby fans from the 12 Aviva Premiership clubs.

“I think what’s been absolutely fantastic is we’ve seen the passion of all the fans, from an 82-year-old Leicester Tigers supporters to a pair of eight-year-olds who love Exeter Chiefs.

“And I think it’s absolutely testament to how wonderfully supportive the fans are, and who are ultimately at the heart of everything we're doing with rugby and makes it the great game that it is.”

For more information about Aviva, sponsors of Premiership Rugby, visit aviva.co.uk/insurance.