Andy Murray has traded his tennis racket for a biscuit tin, starring in a new advert for iconic Scottish brand Walker’s Shortbread.
The recently retired tennis star has become the first-ever brand ambassador in Walker’s 117-year history, marking a milestone for both Murray and the company.
In the light-hearted commercial, Murray is introduced as an icon “loved by mums” before taking a dainty bite of the classic crumbly treat.
However, the 38-year-old might have some explaining to do at home—especially after years of enjoying his grandmother Shirley Erskine’s homemade shortbread during his travels around the globe.
Erskine’s beloved recipe has even made appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, Sunday Brunch, and Mrs Brown’s spin-off chat show—but it seems Murray’s shortbread allegiance may now be a little more complicated, at least in the public eye.
‘I’m proudly Scottish, and partnering with Walker’s, a brand that has been representing Scotland around the world for well over a century, felt like a great fit for me,’ said Murray as he began a multi-year deal.
‘I come from a small tight-knit community and when I look back at where I have come from, I am proud of what I’ve achieved, which is something I share with Walker’s.
‘It’s a real honour to be part of this next chapter for such a well-loved Scottish brand.
‘I’ve been eating shortbread since I was a kid – my gran would make it all the time for us. We even celebrated my Wimbledon win with shortbread.
‘Shortbread is one of my simple pleasures. No matter where I am in the world, a piece of Walker’s Shortbread always transports me back home.’
Murray’s shortbread campaign is set to appear at train stations across the UK, giving commuters a taste of his latest off-court venture.
Walker’s, the brand behind the campaign, has grown significantly since its modest beginnings in 1898. By 2023, it employed around 1,500 people and generated £184 million in annual revenue.
The three-time Grand Slam champion officially retired from professional tennis last summer following the Paris Olympics.
In a surprise move that caught the tennis world off guard, the Dunblane native announced he would take on a coaching role with longtime rival Novak Djokovic. However, their partnership came to an end in May—just six weeks before Wimbledon—after a brief six-month stint.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme in September, he said: ‘The thing that I always found difficult in recent years was that there was always a guilt associated with what I was doing.
‘If I was going away for a trip of like three to four weeks I would feel guilty leaving my children at home or being away from my wife for a long time with them, so missing the kids I found hard.
‘(Now) I can dedicate time to my children and have free time to play golf or go to the gym on my own terms. It is really nice and I didn’t expect that.’
In a Sunday Brunch appearance in 2018, mother Judy Murray explained: ‘It’s her now very famous shortbread. She started making it for Andy and Jamie when they were travelling all around the world.
‘It was a little slice of something from home when they were on teh road. And it became a thing when they were doing the Davis Cup. They had it in the tea room. And it has become quite famous. It’s quite good.
‘She shares the recipe with everybody, but nobody makes it like her, so we reckon she puts something in it.’
