Fans of Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Loose Women and The Bill may be surprised to catch a glimpse of Kent’s biggest business event in the ad break.

Even though they are already expecting record numbers, organisers of Kent 2020 Vision are cranking up their marketing message by taking 15 slots in prime time ITV shows ahead of the event. The all-day show on Thursday, April 2 features big-name speakers like media guru Andrew Neil, travel expert Simon Calder and Olympic medallist Kriss Akabusi.

The advertising campaign opens on Wednesday with a slot at 1.28pm in Loose Women, followed at 8.15pm during The Bill.

Other appearances include Emmerdale on Thursday (7.15pm), Coronation Street on Friday (8.58pm), ITV Early Evening News on Friday (27), Dancing on Ice Final Repeat (28), Crocodile Hunter Diaries (Sunday), A Touch of Frost on Monday (4.58pm), Tonight With Trevor McDonalds on Monday (8.28pm, with the final slot in Holloway at 9.15pm on Tuesday.

The 20-second ad shows people visiting last year’s show and two businesswomen Trish Jordan, of Rich Picture, Ashford, and Deborah Shell, of Glenex Display Solutions, Eynsford, speaking about the benefits of being part of free conference and business to business expo.

Lavender Blue, based at the Maidstone Studios, has produced the advert.

Carole Black, event organiser with Business Link, based at Kings Hill, West Malling, said the ads had been booked a year ago.

The cost of television advertising has dropped in recent months as the downturn hits marketing budgets and ITV’s bottom line, which has forced the broadcaster to slash jobs and close the Leeds studio.

She said that while the price of the adverts had not fallen, the event was getting more primetime exposure. "We’ve got quite a lot of evening plugs," she said. "We have better slots than last year for the same money."

Ms Black said she was heartened by this year’s exhibitor numbers, with more than 300 booked. Lined up end to end, they would take up more than a kilometre, she said. More than 3,000 delegates are registered, with more expected during the TV advertising campaign and on the day.

"I just didn’t think we would get these sorts of numbers because of the downturn. Perhaps people are thinkng they've got to get going and do something about it rather than sit back and wait for something to turn up."

Details at kent2020.com or call 01732 878555.