Sixth-Form students at a Great Missenden school had a taste of TV advertising after getting a visit from an ITV marketing director.

Chris Goldson, director of creative works and commercial marketing, visited The Misbourne school’s Sixth-Form to talk to pupils about how TV can connect with people and bring them together.

He started his talk with a clip from ITV show Surprise, Surprise, telling students how advertisers want to harness the power of that connection with audiences and “turn tales into sales”.

Mr Goldson also showed students the first ITV advert following its launch in 1955 – a toothpaste advert.

Communication services officer at the school, Cathy Hillier, said: “It was fascinating to see the journey of an idea from conception to broadcast.

“Chris showed a very powerful example, a campaign on This Morning to highlight the taboo issue of male suicide.

“This campaign, involving both celebrities and a visual series of statues placed on top of a tall building as if considering jumping, was commented on all around the world and reinforced the incredible impact TV can have on raising awareness, connecting with emotions and starting a national conversation.”

The talk came as part of the school’s careers strategy to “make possible as many employer encounters for students with leaders from national roles in technology, science, politics, the media and more”.

It was made possible thanks to the Speakers 4 Schools charity.

Mrs Hillier added: “Talking through his career route to where he is now, Chris gave backing to all the ‘softer’ employability skills that we want students to develop alongside their studies and reminded students to take a step back from all the decisions they feel they need to make about their futures, and listen to themselves.

“Judging by the number of students lining up to ask one-to-one questions to Chris at the end, it was a huge success.”