Barclaycard is no longer funny

It's official. The credit crunch is not funny. Says who? Only Barclaycard, chief exploiter of the credit boom, that's who.

The credit card firm is dropping comedy from its ads after almost 25 years.

In the past, the plastic giant has used Alan Whicker spoofing himself, Rowan Atkinson's blundering spy and even Friends' star Jennifer Aniston.

Its ads currently feature Julian Rhind-Tutt and Stephen Mangan, the stars of C4's Green Wing, but their next ad will be the last after a two-year run.

- Evening Standard's City Spy column