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Cancer Research UK “Cancer Is Happening Right Now: Adyan Sings” 2017

Cancer Research UK “Cancer Is Happening Right Now: Adyan Sings” (2017) is a Cancer Research UK commercial directed by Olly Lambert for Anomaly. It won 2 awards, including British Arrows 2017 Silver — Best Over 15 And Up To & Including 30 Second.

This ad highlights the ongoing reality of cancer by intercutting scenes of patients, doctors, and researchers with a young boy drawing, emphasizing that cancer is happening right now.

Video: Cancer Research UK on YouTube

Shot by shot

  1. A young boy with light brown hair, wearing a grey top, sits at a table and draws with a marker in a classroom.© Cancer Research UK0:00
  2. A blurred shot of a hospital corridor with a sign for "Oncology Day Case Unit Reception" and "Pre-Assessments and Clinics" as a woman walks past.© Cancer Research UK0:04
  3. A man with a beard and glasses looks intently at someone off-screen, listening to them speak in a medical setting.© Cancer Research UK0:09
  4. A man with a beard and glasses looks up at someone off-screen, listening intently in a medical setting.© Cancer Research UK0:14
  5. A man with glasses and grey hair looks at a framed photo of a group of people in a hospital room, pointing at it.© Cancer Research UK0:18
  6. A close-up shot of a framed photograph shows four young women smiling at a party, captured in a nostalgic, slightly faded style.© Cancer Research UK0:22
  7. A scientist in blue gloves uses a pipette and a tool to manipulate a pink substance in a petri dish in a lab.© Cancer Research UK0:28
  8. A young patient with an oxygen mask is tended to by medical staff, while a woman with curly hair watches intently in a hospital room.© Cancer Research UK0:30
  9. A man with a beard and glasses listens intently, then closes his eyes, in a medical setting.© Cancer Research UK0:35
  10. A male patient with glasses and a beard talks to a male doctor in a pink shirt, both smiling in a hospital room.© Cancer Research UK0:39
  11. A female nurse in blue scrubs with a butterfly pin smiles and crosses her arms in a hospital hallway decorated with paper chains.© Cancer Research UK0:46
  12. A young boy in a grey sweater and jeans stands in a hospital hallway, looking around, while an adult woman and a nurse stand behind him.© Cancer Research UK0:49

Stills © Cancer Research UK. Made by Anomaly and Olly Lambert.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

Intercutting real cancer stories with a child's innocence to show urgency.

Tagline: “CANCER IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. RESEARCH IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. DONATE RIGHT NOW. LET'S BEAT CANCER SOONER.”

slice of lifedocumentary stylecontrast editingreal people, real storiesemotional appealcall to action

The cut

Length
60 s
Shots
23
Average shot
2.6 s

What creatives use Cancer Research UK “Cancer Is Happening Right Now: Adyan Sings” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Cancer Research UK “Cancer Is Happening Right Now: Adyan Sings”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    A young boy with light brown hair, wearing a grey top, sits at a table and draws with a marker in a classroom.© Cancer Research UKA blurred shot of a hospital corridor with a sign for "Oncology Day Case Unit Reception" and "Pre-Assessments and Clinics" as a woman walks past.© Cancer Research UKA man with a beard and glasses looks intently at someone off-screen, listening to them speak in a medical setting.© Cancer Research UKA man with a beard and glasses looks up at someone off-screen, listening intently in a medical setting.© Cancer Research UK
    Frames from Cancer Research UK “Cancer Is Happening Right Now: Adyan Sings”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of Cancer Research UK “Cancer Is Happening Right Now: Adyan Sings” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A young boy with light brown hair, wearing a grey top, sits at a table and draws with a marker in a classroom.© Cancer Research UKA blurred shot of a hospital corridor with a sign for "Oncology Day Case Unit Reception" and "Pre-Assessments and Clinics" as a woman walks past.© Cancer Research UKA man with a beard and glasses looks intently at someone off-screen, listening to them speak in a medical setting.© Cancer Research UKA man with a beard and glasses looks up at someone off-screen, listening intently in a medical setting.© Cancer Research UKA man with glasses and grey hair looks at a framed photo of a group of people in a hospital room, pointing at it.© Cancer Research UKA close-up shot of a framed photograph shows four young women smiling at a party, captured in a nostalgic, slightly faded style.© Cancer Research UK
    Length: 60 s · Shots: 23 · Average shot: 2.6 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a slice of life

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    Cancer Research UK “Cancer Is Happening Right Now: Adyan Sings” is built on a slice of life. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Novartis “Relax Your Tight End”© Novartisadidas “Remember the Why”© adidasTyC Sports “Culo y Calzón”© TyC SportsBudweiser “True”© Budweiser
    Novartis · adidas · TyC Sports · Budweiser

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  • Grubhub "The Feest" (2026) commercial still© GrubhubGrubhub “The Feest” 2026Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos · Anomalyshots Awards Gold 2026
  • Hoka "Murmuration" (2023) commercial still© HokaHoka “Murmuration” 2023Dir. Leigh Powis · AnomalyClio Awards Gold 2023
  • Diet Coke "Drink What Your Mama Gave Ya" (2021) commercial still© Diet CokeDiet Coke “Drink What Your Mama Gave Ya” 2021Dir. Los Perez · Anomalyshots Awards Gold 2021
  • Crown Royal Apple Whiskey "Crown Royal Apple" (2020) commercial still© Crown Royal Apple WhiskeyCrown Royal Apple Whiskey “Crown Royal Apple” 2020Dir. Golden Wolf · AnomalyAICP Awards Winner 2020
  • Rimowa "Adwoa" (2019) commercial still© RimowaRimowa “Adwoa” 2019Dir. Jonas Lindstroem · AnomalyBritish Arrows Gold 2019

Award-winning health & pharma commercials

  • Novartis "Relax Your Tight End" (2026) commercial still© NovartisNovartis “Relax Your Tight End” 2026Dir. Eric Wareheim · FallonClio Awards Grand Prix 2026
  • Psp "Birds Never Forget To Fly" (2025) commercial still© PspPsp “Birds Never Forget To Fly” 2025Dir. Giorgi Okmelashvili · PlaymakersADC Europe Grand Prix 2025
  • Viatris "Make Love Last" (2025) commercial still© ViatrisViatris “Make Love Last” 2025OgilvyClio Awards Grand Prix 2025
  • Biogen "Friedreich and I" (2026) commercial still© BiogenBiogen “Friedreich and I” 2026Dir. Pablo Arreba · VML Health SpainADC Awards Gold 2026
  • Kaiser Permanente "Moving All To One" (2026) commercial still© Kaiser PermanenteKaiser Permanente “Moving All To One” 2026Dir. The Sacred Egg · Droga5shots Awards Gold 2026
  • Healthline "For All I Know" (2026) commercial still© HealthlineHealthline “For All I Know” 2026Dir. Sam SabawiiWebby Awards 2026

Questions

Who directed the Cancer Research UK “Cancer Is Happening Right Now: Adyan Sings” commercial?

Olly Lambert directed it, for the agency Anomaly.

Which agency made Cancer Research UK “Cancer Is Happening Right Now: Adyan Sings”?

Anomaly created it for Cancer Research UK (2017).

What awards did Cancer Research UK “Cancer Is Happening Right Now: Adyan Sings” win?

2 awards, including British Arrows 2017 Silver — Best Over 15 And Up To & Including 30 Second and British Arrows 2017 Silver — Charity & Public Service.

What is the tagline of Cancer Research UK “Cancer Is Happening Right Now: Adyan Sings”?

“CANCER IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. RESEARCH IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. DONATE RIGHT NOW. LET'S BEAT CANCER SOONER.”

Sources for the credits and awards

britisharrows.com