Every little plot twist helps: Tesco in Downton Abbey sponsorship deal

Brand in first TV sponsorship as it attempts to recover from horsemeat scandal

David Wood, Tesco's UK marketing director, described the award-winning show as “well-crafted, authentic and inspiring” and a “great brand fit” with the supermarket (AP)

Every little plot twist will surely help. Supermarket giant Tesco is attempting to bolster its upmarket credentials by sponsoring hit period drama Downton Abbey. The grocer’s premium Finest brand will be seen by millions of viewers when the fourth series of the ITV drama airs in the autumn.

Tesco announced the brand’s first TV sponsorship as it attempts to recover from the horsemeat scandal earlier this year and sliding sales and profits. The multi-million pound sponsorship deal will last for a year and see the Finest brand appear across TV, mobile and online platforms.

Tesco UK marketing director David Wood described the award-winning show as “well-crafted, authentic and inspiring” and a “great brand fit” with the supermarket.

Tesco is under pressure to revive flagging sales which fell 1 per cent on a like-for-like in the three months to the end of May. It saw a slump in demand for frozen and chilled convenience food after it was forced to withdraw four beef products found to contain horse DNA.

Its Finest range was launched in 1998 and spans 1,400 premium products such as beef carvery rib and strawberry Eton Mess. Shore Capital analyst Clive Black said Tesco was trying to “demonstrate it is more aspirational” ahead of an expected relaunch of Finest in the coming weeks.

“It’s one piece of a jigsaw that Tesco is building at the moment to improve its lot,” he said. “It’s a highly-regarded TV series watched by a large body of people and shows a degree of self-confidence in the belief of Tesco.

“Management has dusted itself down and had a clear look at how it’s perceived and how it needs to improve the perception.”

Tesco replaces cruise ship operator P&O as the show’s sponsor. Rival Morrisons sponsored the recent series of Britain’s Got Talent, and Sainsbury’s is sponsoring British athletics.

The fourth series will run for eight episodes and follows the lives of a family of aristocrats and their servants. The third series of Downton Abbey was watched by an average of 12 million viewers - claiming a 40 per cent share of the audience - and aired on Sunday evenings. The series is set at Highclere Castle in Berkshire and written by Julian Fellowes.