Evening Times columnist Michelle McManus stars in a new promotion by bookmaking firm Paddy Power which features a reworking of football anthem Vindaloo poking fun at Scotland's failure to make the European Championships.

It urges the Scots to put their thumb-twiddling time to good use by “betting on England to lose”.

The betting firm has spared no expense (well maybe a little bit…) for the new ad with a host of big-name Scottish celebrities lining up alongside the former Pop Idol winner, including The Krankies, ex Celtic striker Frank McAvennie and former Rangers goalkeeper Andy Goram.

During the ad, the talented bunch march through the Highlands drizzle, chanting defiance and proclaiming the fact that they don't care that Scotland isn't there, because they'll be betting on England to lose.

Watch a sneak preview of the ad below:

The ad breaks in the Champions League Final on Saturday night and is the first strike of a bigger Paddy Power campaign for France 2016, under the strapline "Vive La Bantz".

“Vindaloo” was originally performed by Fat Les, and was written by Blur bassist Alex James, Guy Pratt of Pink Floyd and the comedian Keith Allen, to support England's 1998 World Cup effort.

Glasgow-born McManus said: “When Paddy Power asked me if I wanted to trudge through the highlands, singing in the rain, with The Krankies and the Loch Ness Monster I just couldn't say no!  I’m a massive football fan and seeing as us Scots aren’t at the Euros this summer it was the perfect way to show the world we can still have a laugh about it. I can't wait for the competition to kick off next month."

Paddy Power hopes this version could have a similarly rousing effect, and the bookie said: “Working with some of Scotland’s finest talent was a dream come true and we’re just hoping they don’t get their kilts in a twist over it.

"In all seriousness our aim was to give the tartan army something to cheer about this summer, and betting on England to lose seemed like a great idea.”