A British MP has caused a splash after he was spotted half naked – in an advert for shower gel on American TV.
Conservative Johnny Mercer is seen lathering himself in the bathroom in a commercial for Dove Men currently airing in the States.
The Member of Parliament was able to pull off the role after building an impressive physique during his distinguished career as a commando captain.
He shot the advert in London before he was elected but after he was chosen to contest the parliamentary seat for Plymouth Moor View in Devon.
In addition to the shower scene Johnny, 38, is seen showing off his strength with daughter Amalie, 6.
He had to prepare for the role by shaving his chest and spent hours in the shower to enable camera crews to capture the best footage.
The Army veteran, who has done several tours of Afghanistan, said it had been “a bit of fun” and was a great way of spending time with the family after leaving the forces.
But despite a series of adverts being planned, he said he hoped it would be quickly forgotten.
He said: “They [the marketing agency for Dove] phoned us up because they wanted people who weren’t models or signed-up to an agency.
“When they asked me, I thought ‘Why not, it will be a laugh.’ It was really fun. They sent me and the girls to London for three days.
“Unfortunately, I think it might be the first in a series of adverts but we’ll have to wait and see. Hopefully it will be forgotten about quickly.”
After he was nominated to stand for election, the couple got wind that Dove Men were looking to film an advert with an ex-military family and, after being put forward by a friend, decided to make a “spoof” family video to send onto the marketing agency.
The agency liked what they saw and invited them to London for the shoot.
Even though the clip currently airing on TV in America is only 15 seconds long, wife Felicity Mercer said her daughter and husband shot hours of footage during February half-term in 2014.
She said: “They made him shave his chest for the shower scene so he spent the week itching which I don’t think he enjoyed.
“He had to spend hours in the shower but he was dressed from the waist down, which obviously you can’t see.
“It was just something really nice for him and Amalie to do together while me and Joey [their youngest daughter] stood by watching the shooting and editing.
“They really enjoyed it. I don’t think Amalie really understood what she was doing until she saw the finished product recently.
“To be honest, once the election campaign kicked-off we didn’t think much about the advert but then we received a notification telling us it was on in the States.
“It was an amazing experience and we hadn’t done anything like that before.
“I’m really proud of him because it was a father and daughter thing that they shared and I think it was really special.”
