Fans of Netflix series The Gentlemen – an action-comedy caper based on a Guy Ritchie film – might well appreciate the new Stella Artois ad, which sees Sir David Beckham join the cast.

But the ad doesn’t make much effort to spell anything out to newcomers. We watch handsome tough guy Theo James swagger into a country mansion, past a Stella-packed bar and into a room packed with shady gangster types for… an auction. Of a bull.

Everyone is shocked when a £3m bid comes in from a hitherto-unseen Beckham. “The Duke” – James’ character – sends over a pint, served with menaces, and the bid is withdrawn so our ‘hero’ can win. He then puts Becks in his place – in a rather ungentlemanly manner, it must be said.

A broken-legged Beckham makes a cameo in a series of unenlightening serving tips on Stella’s YouTube channel, apparently having not learned his lesson.

It’s not just confusing – it also lacks the wit to make the association with violence worthwhile.

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