Captain Birdseye Trivia Quiz

Answer: Naval uniform

The captain has always been well turned out in what looks like a blue merchant navy uniform completed by a peaked cap with gold braid around its front.

Answer: 1967

In the movie "The Boat That Rocked" (2009), one character refers to another as Captain Birdseye. This is an unfortunate anachronism as the movie is set in 1966. It does, however, demonstrate the degree to which the captain has become a cultural UK icon since then.

Answer: With an obituary placed in the "Times" newspaper

The obituary read:
"Birdseye, Captain. On June 7th, 1971, after long exposure, life just slipped through his fingers. Celebrity and gourmet. Mourned by Sea-Cook Jim and the Commodore, in recognition of his selfless devotion to the nutritional needs of the nation's children." (Source: UK "Times" newspaper, March 18th 2008).

But, by 1974, Birds Eye had changed their mind and placed a second ad, on July 22nd 1974, stating that they wished "to deny premature reports of his demise previously recorded in these columns".

Answer: Pelican

Pedro debuted in 1998 and was part of a short-lived makeover of the campaign that brought in a much younger captain. It also introduced teenage sidekicks, Mishell and Daniel, and was designed to appeal to 9 to 11-year-olds who were increasingly being attracted to pizza. Pedro had to be saved from the dreaded Piranha Gang.

Whilst this incarnation of the captain may have been more exciting, feedback showed that he was down on trustworthiness and the old-style captain was soon recalled.

Answer: Children

Thousands of children have appeared in the captain's commercials through the years and one suspects that several of these have gone on to greater things. The most famous child to be associated with Birds Eye campaigns, though, is actress Patsy Kensit who helped to promote frozen peas. Who can forget the slogan, "Sweet as the moment when the pod went 'pop'"?

Answer: Fish Fingers/Fishsticks

Clarence Birdseye first patented fish fingers in the UK in 1927 but it wasn't until 1955 that they became commercially available as a frozen product. Initially, they had to be eaten immediately as few people had freezers. By 1967 they had become so successful that they were even being referenced by the Beatles:
"Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
Four of fish and finger pies".

Answer: Unilever

Clarence Birdseye realised the potential for the fast freezing of food whilst serving as a US Government scientist in the Arctic. He founded Birdseye Seafoods, Inc. in 1922 and, in 1924, the General Seafood Corporation. In 1929, these were bought out by the Postum Company, later to become General Foods.

In the UK and Europe, the Birds Eye range has traditionally been promoted through Unilever (formerly Lever Brothers) and related companies. Unilever sold the bulk of its frozen food business, including Birds Eye, to Permira in 2006.

Spaniards may be confused because over there Captain Birdseye has been both Captain Pescanova and Captain Frudesa.

Answer: Captain High Liner

Captain High Liner is the public face of High Liner Foods. He first began to appear in commercials during the 1970s.

In 2007, High Liner Foods successfully appealed to the European Union's Office for Harmonization against a previous ruling that they could not register their captain's image as a trademark in Europe. Unilever had objected that it was too similar to the existing Captain Birdseye.

Maybe it was High Liner fishsticks that featured in the infamous "South Park" "Fishsticks" episode and its parody of Kanye West. I can't elaborate on the content here so you'll have to do some googling if you need to find out more.

Answer: Only the best for the captain's table

Eating at the captain's table is, of course, a euphemism for the finest dining. An earlier version of Captain Birdseye's slogan was "Fresh from the captain's table!".

It seems that, at the height of Captain Birdseye's fame, he was close to defining the British public's view of what it was to be a sea captain. A UK poll voted him the world's second most recognisable captain after Captain Cook (Source: UK "Times" newspaper, March 18th 2008).

Answer: Pescod is the surname of one of the actors to play Captain Birdseye

The actor most readily associated with the role of Captain Birdseye is John Hewer who played the part between 1967 and 1998. He was succeeded by a younger version, played by Thomas Pescod, before normal service was resumed in the person of Martyn Reid. Pescod's other credits aren't extensive but he has appeared in "Sex and the City" and "Ugly Betty".