Ruby Wax loses her sparkle for Vauxhall

The comedienne Ruby Wax has reached the end of the road with Vauxhall.

For the past two years the wise-cracking American, known for her crude on-camera behaviour and trademark red lipstick, has played a deliberately exaggerated version of herself in the Vauxhall Corsa advertisements.

But Wax's association with the car has now "run its course" and a "fresh approach" is required, according to the car firm.

David Raeside, spokesman for Vauxhall, said: "We are repositioning the car and the time has come for a fresh approach. Ruby has fulfiled her contract. She has been fantastic, but however successful campaigns are, we must move on in this business."

Wax, the master of the irreverent interview, has featured in six campaigns for the Corsa - Britain's best-selling car last month.

The advertisements feature the comedienne taking the small car for a test ride. She boasts about how she is taking advantage of the firm by insisting that filming takes place in Beverly Hills and how she has control over its content.

In her rush to get to the shops she snubs her friend Zsa Zsa Gabor and then emerges wearing a new suit, with four strapping men in tow carrying her many bags.

She extols the car's virtues and the boys unpack the shopping. Meanwhile, she urges viewers to take advantage of Vauxhall - after all, she has.

When the car was launched in 1993, supermodels were used, and the campaign sparked complaints about exploitation of women.

A series of new adverts will be launched in the autumn.

Mr Raeside said: "We will be launching a new ad campaign which will be very interesting, but it must be kept under wraps until then.

"We have to keep the powder dry until it's launched to get as much impact as possible."