<b>By Rob Banks
Crime Editor</b>

Suffolk Police have uncovered an outrageous plot to kidnap and murder Brian, the robotic star of a long-running television advertising campaign.

Brian the robot has been fronting the Confused.com insurance ads for so long that his annoying voice and ridiculous 'adventures' have left viewers screaming at their screens in frustration.

Now a former TV ad star has been arrested for coming up with the murder plot - because Brian is getting all the attention.

GoCompare.com opera singer Gio Compario has been holed up in a Felixstowe nursing home since being axed by the insurance firm for overstaying his welcome on our television screens.

It was thought he had come to terms with his notoriety, and seemed happy enough earning some small change by busking along the seafront.

But it turned out he secretly harboured a searing hatred of Brian's continued exposure.

<a href="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/gio-compario.jpg"><img src="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/gio-compario-e1432887217607.jpg" alt="go compare singer" width="450" height="299" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-852" /></a><center><i>Nicked: Embittered Go Compare opera singer under arrest</center></i><br><br>

Compario, 36, was arrested by detectives following a tip-off from a worried member of staff at the nursing home. While tidying his room she found a map of Brian's home, together with a detailed plan to kidnap the robot and force him to walk off the cliff at Dunwich.

Rope, a knife and a bottle of chloroform was also found hidden under the bed.

A Suffolk Police insider said: "We have some sympathy with Mr Compario because the Confused.com adverts in which Brian appears are becoming excrutiating.

"However, the gentlemen took his hatred too far and is now in custody. We are having psychiatric tests conducted to see if he is fit to face trial."

<a href="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/brian-confused.jpg"><img src="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/brian-confused-e1432887449382.jpg" alt="Brian robot tv" width="450" height="241" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-853" /></a><center><i>Safe: Brian the robot thanks detectives</center></i><br><br>

A member of Confused.com's marketing team said: "Brian has become a beloved member of our family, and we'd hate to see him being harmed. Particularly by a fat, has-been opera singer."

But he conceded everyone was still desperately jealous that the ComparetheMarket.com meerkats continued to be loved by the nation.

"I hate those meerkats. We just can't compete with them," he said.

Facebook it: <iframe src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsuffolkgazette&amp;width&amp;layout=button_count&amp;action=like&amp;show_faces=false&amp;share=true&amp;height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; height:21px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>

<a href="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/buy-us-beer/">If you like Suffolk Gazette, click here to buy us a beer!</a>