10 most chilling British TV adverts that will haunt us forever

Julie Knew Her Killer advert

The British public have detailed the most horrifying adverts in recent history that have left them clutching their pearls in a chilling Reddit thread sure to send shivers down your spine. While most advertisements offer witty catchphrases to memorable jingles some have done the total opposite. Instead, they have remained in the public's consciousness for all the wrong reasons.

Express.co.uk takes a walk down memory lane as we handpicked some of the creepiest and utterly terrifying adverts that still haunt us today.

10. Live With It (2009)

Described by one Reddit user as the "scariest advert they have ever seen" first aired in February, 2009. The "Kill your speed, or live with it" road safety advert was released by THINK!, the UK government's road safety campaign, designed to highlight the consequences of speeding.

The advertisement follows a man haunted by the dead body of a young boy, who he is understood to have killed in a road accident.

The broadcast shows him going about his life completing everyday tasks from brushing his teeth to getting the bus, with jarring flashes of the small lifeless corpse.

The scarred Reddit user wrote: "Mine is is definitely the one with the man who sees the dead boy he killed everywhere. Only saw it properly once because I used to run and cry every time I even saw the first couple of seconds of the man brushing his teeth and I still can't watch it or look on the floor at night."

9. In The Summertime (1992)

The deceptively jolly advert had most viewers think they were about to tune into a beer advert while enjoying drinks in the summertime.

For the UK's Drinking and Driving Wrecks Lives campaign Mungo Jerry's 70s classic, In The Summertime, can be heard as idyllic scenes show friends gathering together at a pub, as pints are brought over to the table. They laugh and play with their children as some of the group depart the venue getting into their car as the joy comes to an abrupt end.

As the viewer is lulled to a sense of security, the mood rapidly shifts and a bloody car crash scene is shown outside the bar.

One user penned: "I remember when I first saw this advert on tv. Even after almost 30 years, I still remember it and it still gives me chills."

8. Frisbee (1978)

As part of the Play Safe campaign, the notorious British safety film in which young Jimmy makes the fatal mistake of trying to retrieve his Frisbeethe seventies advert still leaves viewers mortified.

The infamous clip shows a hesitant Jimmy being pressured to retrieve a rogue frisbee from a sub-station. The broadcast ends with the boy being electrocuted to death by a 66,000 volt current as his playmate screeches his name in distress.

Although a successful safety film, one Reddit was admittedly left traumatised. They penned: "I have never forgotten that one."

7. No! (1989)

The British Gas advert from the late 80s shows a couple return home but become aware there is a gas leak.

The advert, which starred EastEnders actor Gavin Richards, sees the couple survey the home as they follow a step-by-step guide of what not to do if someone suspects a gas leak.

The man goes to light a cigarette - but then thinks better of it.

But the most tense moment of viewing comes when Gavin's co-star goes to turn on a light switch. He bellows out a pained 'no!' and the advert abruptly ends.

One wrote: "The bit at the end where he shouts NO! has haunted me since this advert was first shown in 1989 - absolute pure FEAR."

6. Munchters (2002)

The ad is still talked about today. The bizarre offering came from snack company Munchters, which was popular in the early noughties.

It featured an amalgamation of characters, including a burrito-esque-shaped humanoid and a dog that resembles a bread loaf. At one point, animal attempts to swallow a television whole.

But it was the 3D character design that raised eyebrows, despite its unclear plot.

"This advert freaks me out," one Redditer wrote. "I don't want to give it away because it comes as a surprise but it's so uniquely weird."

5. Metz's Judderman (2000)

The creepy noughties advert was voted the 18th scariest moment by Channel 4 and had been rated 15.

The now discontinued brand launched a particularly unsettling commercial which describes the lore of this deeply jarring creature, which emerges "when the moon is fat".

One user posted: "This advert had absolutely no business being so creepy just to promote an alco-pop."

4. Julie (1998)

Julie, also known as Julie Knew Her Killer, is the title of a British public information film (PIF) about the importance of wearing a seatbelt in the rear of a car. It ran on national television from 1998 to 2003, run by the Department of Transport as part of their THINK! campaign. It was listed among the hardest hitting adverts "of the last 30 years".

Julie Knew Her Killer, sees a mum and her two children leave their home and get in the car but she suddenly gets into an accident. But it was her son who is dubbed the killer, who was sitting behind her without a seatbelt resulting in the mum being crushed to death as he sat back down.

One wrote: "I'm from the States but was living in the UK in 2000 when this advert was shown. I remember seeing this and thinking British advertisers didn't mess around." Another remarked: "I realise that this is traumatising to some, but I wish we had more safety advertisements like these since they're so effective."

3. Lucky (2006)

Following on from the theme of road safety this 2006 offering still horrifies viewers two decades on from when it was released. The ad, created by the government's road safety campaign THINK! starts with a morbidly lifeless body of a young girl, who has been killed by a motorist going at 40mph.

She begins to click her body as the young girl starts to come back to life, with bone snapping sounds, showing what could have happened if the driver was traveling at just 30mph less.

The website states that two versions of the advert were created "for either side of the TV watershed".

"I still remember her broken wrist cracking back into place and it must be 15 years since that advert was on," one commented.

2. Searching (1978)

John Krish's haunting fire prevention film prowls through a carefully designed burned-out shell of a set.

The chilling 1978 advert takes on the point of view of a house-fire victim walking through the charred remains of a property as distorted voices can be heard calling out in the background. It gets extremely creepy as they walk around the destruction as echoed voices and screams of a family are heard as we look around the charred remains of the home. At one point, a blood curdling yell for "mummy!" leaves you stunned.

The public service announcement (PSA) was intended to promote fire prevention and was against letting children play with matches.

A viewer wrote: "One of the most terrifiying fire public information films of the 70s."

1. Lonely Water (1973)

One of the most haunting, Lonely Water, from the Central Office of Information warned against the dangers of playing by water.

Bond villain actor Donald Pleasence offers his voice for the Grim Reaper character, preying on the youngsters who play near potentially dangerous areas of water. The creepy setting and voice ends with Death's final, ominous "I'll be back".

One wrote: "As a child growing up in Britain I can confirm that this did terrify me," while another added, "I can't imagine anyone other than Donald Pleasance voicing this. He sounds so sinister."