The Tribune

WHAT is the first thing you would do if you struck it rich?

That’s the premise of a series of advertisements filmed in the Bahamas for the Irish Lottery last month and now making their TV debut.

The advertisements are expected to run over two years, promoting the Irish Lottery under the slogan, “What’s The First Thing You’d Do?”. The story sees a lottery winner whisking his friends off to the Bahamas to celebrate.

Early last month, a production crew from Ireland arrived in the Bahamas for several days of shooting, including at such locations as Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay, on board a luxury yacht and at the Lynden Pindling International Airport. A number of Bahamian residents were signed up to work as additional crew and as extras.

A home in Lyford Cay was converted into a beachside bar for the advert, and cast members lounged around an Old Fort Bay swimming pool for another scene.

The airport scene is the first to make its TV appearance and sees actors dashing towards a Bahamasair flight.

Each of the actors has a different role, such as a getaway car driver, a teacher, a train driver or a bridegroom, with the first advert showing all the locations they are missing from before cutting to everyone dashing towards the plane.

The production company worked in conjunction with the Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism to gain access to the locations used during filming.

You can see the first advertisement online at www.lottery.ie or search on YouTube for “What’s The First Thing You’d Do?”.