Stephen Hawking conjures black hole in ad

LONDON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Famed physicist Stephen Hawking appears on a commercial for a British website, conjuring a black hole to swallow the website's intentionally annoying mascot.

Hawking, 70, said he is a fan of insurance website Go Compare's humorous advertisements and was glad to be able to film a commercial where he conjures a black hole to swallow fictitious opera singer Gio Compario, The Guardian reported Tuesday.

"I confess I am a fan of the Go Compare adverts," Hawking said. "I am also an opera fan so I was delighted to be given the opportunity to help save the nation and silence Gio."

Kevin Hughes, marketing officer for Go Compare, said he was happy to have Hawking appear in the company's commercial.

"We were thrilled to hear (Hawking) was a fan of the ads and believe his appearance will really take viewers by surprise," he said.