IRN-BRU is unleashing a crew of balaclava-clad grannies on mobility scooters across Liverpool, led by National Treasure Amanda Barrie, and challenging the nation to track them down as the iconic soft drink brand celebrates its 125th anniversary.
BRU’s iconic getaway grannies have always been known for nicking cans and making a swift getaway. Supermarkets, convenience stores and even vending machines have no chance when the electric ladies powered on girders roll into town.
But next week the famous soft drink brand has laid down the gauntlet for the nation to do what many security guards have failed – and stop them in their tracks. In a BRU-nique challenge, the first 12 people in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool and London to find granny before she scarpers will earn £125.
The grannies will be ready at secret locations in a BRU’d out mobility scooter, complete with blue flame racing stripes, so members of the public will have to be quick to track them down.
A series of cryptic clues will be released via IRN-BRU’s social media alerting eager fans to their whereabouts – a secret location somewhere in each city. So you’ll have to be quick to be one of granny’s favourite dozen.
National treasure Amanda Barrie is fronting the UK-wide ‘Catch Me If You Gran’. At the age of 91, she has starred in Coronation Street as Alma Baldwin (previously Halliwell and Sedgewick) for over 20 years; as well as playing Cleo in the classic Carry On film. Other TV shows include Bad Girls and Benidorm, and she has just published her ‘tell all’ autobiography, ‘I’m Still Here’ . Now, she is leading the charge of BRU grannies.
Amanda said: “After all those years in the UK’s top soap and my Carry On capers, I know a thing or two about causing chaos. Then there was my time reeking havoc in Larkhill Prison, not to mention taking a swipe at Gordon Ramsay on national TV. But even I struggle to keep up with these BRU grannies.
“They’ve traded shopping trolleys for mobility scooters and they’re determined not to be caught. If you do manage to stop one, you’ve definitely earned your £125.”
The challenge will kick off in Scotland, which is not only the home of IRN-BRU, but a host of famous grannies, from Craiglang’s Isa, to Mrs Doubtfire, Lorraine Kelly and everyone’s favourite neighbour Christine.
The tour of the UK will see BRU’s iconic shoplifting granny come to life. The famous Electric Lady ad in 2001, saw a kind smiling elderly woman glide through her town on a mobility scooter, smiling and waving at neighbours before pulling down her tea cosy hat come balaclava and raiding a shop for dozens of cans of BRU.
The Electric Lady is not the only granny on a mobility scooter to appear in the ads throughout the years. In 2025, modern-day icon, This is Not A Soft Drink featured a Scots granny who declared she’s not wearing any pants before scooting off with a boy’s IRN-BRU.
To celebrate 125 years of the national favourite, BRU has brought back the classic ad along with other hits from their packed vault with Electric Lady appearing on YouTube alongside a cheeky Grandad who will do anything to steal his grandson’s IRN-BRU.
The BRU grannies will appear on the following dates:
Glasgow: Tuesday, September 15
Edinburgh: Wednesday, September 16
Liverpool: Thursday, September 17
London: Friday September 18
Kenny Nicholson, Director of Brand at IRN-BRU, said: “To celebrate our anniversary, we’ve brought to life one of our greatest characters.
“The IRN-BRU grannies are out in force next week, revving their scooters and ready to hit the road. Fans will need to be quick as they won’t be in each of the four cities for long before they make a speedy getaway to the next one.
“This is one of the many ways we’re giving back to the nation as we mark 125 years of Made in Scotland from Girders.”
