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

Suffolk Police have uncovered an outrageous plot to kidnap and murder the meerkat stars of a long-running television advertising campaign.

Alexandr and Oleg the meerkats have become nationwide favourites since fronting the Comparethemarket.com ads.

But now a former TV advert star has been arrested for coming up with the murder plot - because he's furious that he did not enjoy the same affection.

GoCompare.com opera singer Gio Compario has been holed up in a Felixstowe nursing home since being axed by the insurance firm for becoming a hate figure.

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 meerkats' 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 Alexandr's country mansion, together with a detailed plan to kidnap him and his pal Oleg. He then planned to force them to walk off the cliff at Dunwich.

Cops say a rope, a knife and a bottle of chloroform was also found hidden under the bed.

A Suffolk Police insider said: "Mr Compario became obsessed with the continued success of the meerkat ads, where viewers are told about the confusion between comparethemeerkat.com and comparethemarket.com.

"Unfortunately 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/compare-the-meerkats.jpg"><img src="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/compare-the-meerkats-e1432889193340.jpg" alt="Alexandr and Oleg of meerkat tv advert comparethemarket" width="450" height="253" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-860" /></a><center><i>Grateful: Alexandr and Oleg have thanked detectives</center></i><br><br>

A spokesman for the meerkats said: "We are sorry to hear about Mr Compario. It's never nice to see someone's career go belly-up, but he should have accepted it gracefully. Meanwhile, Alexandr and Oleg have passed on their thanks to Suffolk Police."

An insider at Compario's former employer, GoCompare.com, said: "We completely disown Gio Compario. He has become an embarrassment to our brand. Simples."

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