They’re cheesy, pun-loaded and their humour is increasingly OTT. Australians love Budget Direct’s Insurance Solved commercials. 303’s winning formula, that began with the Captain Risky series in 2015, and the new Insurance Solved platform with Sarge, Jacs and Chief (the dog), keeps winning Effies and featuring in most popular ad lists. Budget Direct’s Frozen was named Australia’s favourite ad by TRA in 2026.

New commercial, Splashdown, adds to a prodigious collection of commercials, highlighting Budget Direct’s achievement in winning Money Magazine’s Insurer of the Year for 10 years in a row, while parodying the phenomenon of ‘celebrity space-tourists’.

Splashdown, featuring comedian and actress, Nikki Osbourne, is a satirical look at celebrity culture, portraying a glamorous group of space-tourists, and their hapless re-entry that crashes a suburban pool party. Amidst the selfies and comedic chaos, beloved super sleuths Sarge and his team, reassure the concerned homeowners that Budget Direct’s award-winning insurance has them covered.

303 chief creative officer, Bart Pawlak, commented, “Budget Direct’s commitment to culturally engaging campaigns has seen it emerge as one of the country’s most recognised brand platforms. We’ve loved partnering with the team over the long-term to find new and unique ways to build on that brand equity. It’s one of the many reasons the effectiveness award-winning Insurance Solved platform continues to drive such outstanding results.”

Jonathan Kerr, chief growth officer at Budget Direct, commented, “Our goal with Splashdown is to better engage with more Australians, bringing our Insurance Solved proposition to life for them, in more engaging and innovative ways. That means highlighting our incredible 10-year run as Money Magazine’s Insurer of the Year, our commitment to outstanding service and support, and the real value we deliver. We also wanted to extend the campaign’s reach into the social media world and engage with those audiences in an impactful and entertaining way. We thought recent celebrity space missions were such an iconic cultural flashpoint that was perfect to have some fun with.

“Finding the right cast to lean into the joke was key and collaborating with Nikki Osborne has really brought the idea to life. Her quirky humour and ability to laugh at herself has captured the campaign’s satirical tone, and brought her 500,000+ followers along for the ride.”

The Splashdown campaign covers TV, radio today, cinema, BVOD, SVOD, social and OOH. Additional online and social media integration will broaden the space mission’s storyline and connect with new audiences.

Credits:
Client: Budget Direct
Chief Growth Officer: Jonathan Kerr
Associate Director Marketing, Media & Acquisition: Andrea Peters
General Manager Brand, Media Sponsorships & PR: Warren Marsh
Head of Brand, Sponsorships & PR: Jess McGown
Brand Manager: Darren McStay
Brand Coordinator: Gabriela Cook
Senior Product Marketing Manager, Home: Catherine Harty
Senior Product Marketing Manager, Car: Tara Hudson

Creative Agency: 303 Sydney
Chief Executive Officer: Joanna Gray
Chief Creative Officer: Bart Pawlak
Chief Strategy Officer: Jody Elston
Creative Director: Adam Whitehead
Client Services Director: Ben Glasson
Head of Production: Skye Lanser

Production Company: Good Oil
Director: Hamish Rothwell
Producer: Tracey-Lee Permall
Executive Producer: Sam Long
DOP: Crighton Bone

Editing: ARC
Editor: Lucas Baynes 
Edit Producer: Sally Quade

Post Production: Blockhead VFX
VFX Supervisor: Nigel Mortimer
Post Executive Producer: Libby Behrens

Original Music & Sound Post: Sonar Music
Social Media Campaign: Hello Social
Stills Photographer: Matt Baker @ LOUIS & CO