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Former Arsenal player and TV pundit Ian Wright gets behind Panini sticker album campaign at M&S Food in Hempstead Valley, Gillingham

M&S has enlisted the help of football icon Ian Wright and his young granddaughter to get shoppers in the mood for “swapping stickers” this summer.

The 60-year-old former Arsenal and England player was spotted filming for a commercial at a branch of the major retailer in Kent last month.

Ian Wright has released a commercial at the M&S in Hempstead Valley, Gillingham. Picture: Wrightyofficial
Ian Wright has released a commercial at the M&S in Hempstead Valley, Gillingham. Picture: Wrightyofficial

Mr Wright, who is now a frequent pundit on BBC’s Match of the Day, took shoppers by surprise when he was seen shooting for an ad in the Hempstead Valley branch in Gillingham.

Earlier today, the former player who made 288 appearances for Arsenal, released a clip of the commercial on his social media accounts featuring his 10-year-old granddaughter Raphaella Wright-Phillips, who herself signed a youth contract with the Gunners last year.

The advert forms part of an exclusive promotion for the food retailer’s official England sticker book collection ahead of next month’s European Championships in Germany.

“Raph, what stickers are you hoping to get?” asked Mr Wright.

To which Raphaella responds: “I’m hoping to get definitely Alessis Russo and Saka.”

“If I get Saka I don't know if I’ll swap him,” Mr Wright quipped.

“You’ll have to give me at least two or three for Saka!”.

Mr Wright has for the past two years featured in the M&S campaign Eat Well, Play Well, to encourage a healthy diet.

From today (May 7), shoppers can claim a pack of four stickers with every £20 spent in an M&S Foodhall. Exclusive Panini sticker albums are also available to buy for £3.

Each home nation team has its own album and stickers, in a promotion running in M&S Foodhalls across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

M&S is also encouraging shoppers to use their local store’s Facebook page to swap cards with people in their area, by posting what they have and what they need.

Some fans persuaded Mr Wright to take a selfie with them during the filming in Gillingham last month.

In March, Mr Wright was discovered eating a full English breakfast at Juliet’s Farm Shop and Cafe in Ash, near Sandwich.

He later shared a video of his visit on TikTok.

Last November he was invited to Buckingham Palace to be made an OBE for his services to football and charity.

Football sticker collecting aficionados have branded this year’s Uefa Euro 2024 album, produced by Topps, “arguably the most controversial sticker album of all time”.

It comes after the American trading card company, which took over responsibility from Panini, left key household names and details out due to image rights being retained by the previous provider.

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