Jackpotjoy Send Rubber Duck down the River Thames

Residents and visitors to London were recently treated to a bizarre spectacle of 50 foot proportions, as a giant yellow rubber duck sailed down the River Thames. Resembling an alien attack scene out of a science fiction movie, many were left wondering what on earth was going on. However, it soon became apparent that it was all part of a stunt arranged by one of the U.K.’s best loved online bingo sites – Jackpotjoy. As part of the brand’s FUNdation campaign, which aims to get the nation doing something daft for fun, the mega-duck travelled its way from West India Dock to Tower Bridge, quacking as it went. At Tower Bridge, the bridge was raised temporarily to allow the 60-foot-wide quacker to continue on its journey.

Barbara Windsor, who is patron of the Jackpotjoy FUNdation campaign, was there to christen the rubber duck’s maiden voyage with a bottle of champagne, before it set off on its watery journey past some of London’s most famous landmarks, like the O2 Dome, the Gherkin, Canary Wharf, and the Tower of London.

After carrying out independent research, FUNdation was created to try and help the UK recover from its current “happiness recession.” Psychologists say that the typical Brit should laugh 15 times a day, but recent studies are showing that we’re only chucking half that amount.

Speaking on behalf of Jackpotjoy and the FUNdation campaign, Barbara Windsor says that the idea behind the rubber duck’s outing along the Thames was to “bring a smile and chuckle to everyone who saw it,” and that they thought it would be a great way to kick off the campaign. The River Thames has been heavily-featured in the media this year, thanks to the Olympics and David Beckham’s arrival via speedboat, and the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant, so the team thought it would be a fitting tribute to give the Thames one final time in the spotlight before the New Year.

The big yellow bird is said to have taken more than 800 man-hours to put together by an 8-man team, and stands at 50 foot high, 60 foot wide, and weighs in at an eye-watering half a ton.

Did any of our readers spot Jackpotjoy’s duck on its travels? What do you think about the FUNdation campaign? Do you really think that the UK is too miserable at the moment, and if so, how would you go about cheering everyone up?

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