Who are the actors in the On the Beach advert

Paddy McGuinness fronts On the Beach advertising

The primary face of On the Beach adverts since January 2024 has been Paddy McGuinness, the Bolton-born comedian and television presenter. Viewers will recognise him from his long stint hosting ITV's dating show 'Take Me Out' (2010–2019) and, more recently, as a co-presenter on BBC's 'Top Gear' alongside Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris. His appointment was announced when the holiday booking company launched a multi-channel campaign created by London agency Quiet Storm, covering TV, radio, and digital platforms.

McGuinness was chosen for his down-to-earth appeal. Zoe Harris, On the Beach's Chief Customer Officer, described him as a "man of the people who loves getting into holiday mode" and someone who, like the brand's customers, values smart spending. The campaign promotes specific perks: free airport lounge access, fast-track security, and transparent pricing. One early TV spot caused brief confusion when some viewers misheard the tagline "booking geniuses" as profanity, which McGuinness addressed with characteristic humour on his social media channels.

How the campaign evolved in 2025

By early 2025, the partnership had moved well beyond traditional TV advertising. McGuinness began appearing in short-form digital video content tailored for social media and the On the Beach mobile app. His presence now extends into the customer journey itself: booking confirmation emails, app notifications, and even on-screen prompts during the checkout process. This represents a shift from celebrity endorsement to integrated brand ambassador, with McGuinness effectively guiding customers through the booking experience.

In January 2025, On the Beach expanded into the Republic of Ireland, supported by a large outdoor advertising push in Dublin featuring McGuinness. The campaign included 48-sheet billboards at key transport hubs and digital screens in shopping districts. Trevor Robinson OBE, founder of Quiet Storm, noted in an August 2025 interview with Roast Brief that the collaboration had become a "genuine creative partnership" that continues to develop across multiple customer touchpoints.

The agency: Quiet Storm's approach

Quiet Storm, the independent agency behind the McGuinness campaign, was founded in 1995 by Trevor Robinson OBE. The agency won the On the Beach account in 2021 and has since built a recognisable advertising identity for the brand. Quiet Storm's portfolio includes character-driven work for Haribo, Vimto, and other major consumer brands. Their stated philosophy is to create "disruptive creative that punches above its weight", avoiding the sanitised, overly aspirational tone common in holiday advertising.

The McGuinness adverts reflect this: they're playful, occasionally cheeky, and designed to capture the authentic chaos of family holidays rather than picture-perfect resort imagery. This creative direction aligns with On the Beach's positioning as a value-focused, no-nonsense booking platform.

Earlier campaigns and voices

Before McGuinness, On the Beach cycled through several different advertising approaches. In December 2019, the company launched a campaign featuring the distinctive voice of Iggy Pop, the American rock musician and actor. That campaign, created by agency Uncommon, replaced a long-running animated character called 'The Beach', a talking sandcastle that had appeared in adverts since 2017.

In late 2018, actress and singer Sheridan Smith provided the voiceover for a separate On the Beach campaign. Earlier still, a 2013 'Totally Beachin Holidays' advert took a more regionally targeted approach, though details of the cast remain sparse in public records.

Clarifying online speculation

Some online discussions have mentioned actor Kevin Mathurin in connection with On the Beach adverts. However, no authoritative industry sources, press releases, or verified credits confirm his involvement in any On the Beach campaign. Since Quiet Storm took over creative duties in late 2021, the brand's advertising has followed a clear trajectory: first a 'Most Wonderful Time of the Year' seasonal campaign, then the sustained focus on Paddy McGuinness from January 2024 onwards.

As of mid-2026, McGuinness remains the sole consistent on-screen presence for On the Beach across the UK and Ireland. His contract appears ongoing, with no public indication of a change in creative direction.

Where to find official credits

For viewers wanting to confirm casting details, the most reliable sources are:

• On the Beach's official press releases, published in the newsroom section of their corporate website
• Quiet Storm's case studies and portfolio pages, which document their work with the brand
• Industry publications such as Campaign, The Drum, and Marketing Week, which regularly cover major UK advertising appointments
• Paddy McGuinness's verified social media accounts, where he occasionally shares behind-the-scenes content from shoots

These sources provide verifiable information and avoid the speculation that often circulates on general discussion forums.