Summary

  • British Airways releases safety video in the style of a classic British period drama.
  • Filmed at real British country estates, the video was designed to resonate with global audiences through humor and authenticity.
  • Period costumes designed by Oscar-winning Jenny Beavan OBE and 19th-century accents coached by Jill McCullough.

British Airways has released a new safety video in the style of a classic British period drama. The five-minute onboard briefing features British Airways staff helping members of 19th-century Britain get to grips with best safety practices.

British Airways releases period drama safety video

Titled “May We Haveth One’s Attention – A British Original Period Drama,” the video stars over 40 airline employees – including pilots, cabin crew and ground staff – providing important safety information to the landed gentry, as well as their retinue of housekeepers and butlers, amidst the backdrop of stunning country estates and manor interiors.

The five-minute safety video – created in collaboration with creative partner agency Uncommon Creative Studio – was directed by filmmaker Sharon Maguire, best known for directing the standout hit Bridget Jones’s Diary and its sequel, Bridget Jones’s Baby. With airlines eager to attract the attention of passengers before takeoff, safety videos have become more and more extravagant over the years.

british airways safety

Photo: British Airways

The creative team filmed scenes at real-life British country estates, including Hatfield House in Hertfordshire and Englefield House Estate in Berkshire, to give it an authentic feel. Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, said,

“When it came to selecting a genre, we wanted something that would enable us to do this while resonating with global audiences, so a period drama with a little bit of humor seemed like the perfect fit.”

It was undoubtedly an excellent creative choice to draw upon one of Britain’s most famous exports, the period drama. Having remained a popular milieu of storytelling for generations, modern TV shows like Downton Abbey and Bridgerton have kept the period drama tradition alive and well in the 21st century.

Helen Lau, a British Airways First Officer appearing in the safety video, added,

“As a First Officer, my job means I am in the flight deck during the safety briefing, so to know that I will be appearing on the video in the cabins feels very surreal.”

An all-star team

The period costumes seen throughout were designed by three-time Oscar-winning British designer Jenny Beavan OBE. Beavan has worked on scores of high-profile movies over the past four decades, including A Room With A View (1985), The King’s Speech (2010) and Mad Max: Fury Road (2014).

british airways safety video

Photo: British Airways

Dialect coach Jill McCullough, who has worked on the likes of Star Wars and Chernobyl during her career, helped cast members perfect their 19th-century accents. Like any critically acclaimed period drama, there are some great moments of dialogue, including this gem of an exchange:

HORSEMAN 1: Do I smell the winds of war?

HORSEMAN 2: I see smoke on the horizon.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT: Smoking, including e-cigarettes, vaping and the use of other smoking devices, is not permitted at any time.

According to BA, the video will be shown on long-haul aircraft fitted with inflight entertainment (IFE) screens – as for its short-haul flights without screens, cabin crew will perform manual safety demonstrations instead.

The evolution of onboard safety videos: Check out Simple Flying’s guide of how airline safety videos have changed over the years

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