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To usher in the official opening of Britain’s newest landmark, the Heart Breakfast radio show broadcast live from 450 feet above Brighton beach and Magicman were there with the first ever advertisement performed completely live from the British Airways i360.

Watch the video highlights. 

For once it is not a cliché to describe the British Airways i360 as rising from the ashes when its glass pod glides smoothly up a 500 ft central tower. Where once stood the entrance to the West Pier that famously burnt down in March 2003, now stands the highest moving observation deck in the world and the tallest observation tower outside London. 

Pole position - looking up from inside the rising pod 

Vertical cable car, vertical pier, call it what you will, the i360 is set to transform Brighton seafront like the London Eye helped rejuvenate the South Bank of the Thames - today a vibrant hub of activity and a backdrop in many Hollywood movies.  

Heart Breakfast with Nicola and Jack live from the i360

A decade in the making, the i360 opened to the general public on 4th August 2016 and Heart Radio were there to open ceremonies with Nicola and Jack  broadcasting their Heart Breakfast show from the laminated glass observation pod, complete with an audience of 100 competition winners and guests, taking flight to a height of 450 feet. 

Everything was performed Live including the ad breaks

 Heart Breakfast's Nicola and Jack hosted a special one-off show where everything was performed live (except the records of course). The presenters interacted with a live audience, the links were read live by an announcer, and of course the advertisements were also performed live. 

Recorded for posterity - the first live performance from the i360

Trivia fans take note, Magicman are the very first company to have an advert performed and broadcast live from the i360 but also the first on Heart Sussex. Four voice-over artists took to a specially built stage in costume, holding a vintage radio set and waving Union Jacks live an improv comedy quartet and gently mocked the Pathé News Reels of yesteryear. 

Pier review - a bird’s eye vista of Brighton beach 

It was all tongue in cheek good-humoured fun in the style of Magicman’s radio campaign currently voiced by comedian Harry Enfield. The script, a one-off written especially for the event, was funny, the audience responsive and the atmosphere great. Watch the highlights video to see for yourselves.

Team Magicman - Louie, Karla and Martyn

Team Magicman were on the scene to enjoy proceedings, pictured above Louie Markwick (Technical Supervisor), Karla Swain (Group Audit & Compliance Manager) and Martyn Howells (General Manager), as well as your author Alan Rhodes (Marketing & Communications Manager). 

Touchdown - time to disembark

We were all in agreement that a flight on the i360 was a surprisingly satisfying experience and a great addition to Brighton. The British Airways i360 is now open to the public, for booking details and the story behind the project, please visit the official website.

Official photo of the British Airways i360

Special thanks to Miles Torrent , Giles Channon and everyone at Heart.

More:

Heart Breakfast’s photo gallery from the i360 live show

British Airways i360 official website