The family history and DNA research company wanted to reveal that the “typical Brit” is 60 per cent European.
To finish their tongue-in-cheek advert, AncestryDNA used the tagline: “We may be leaving Europe, but Europe will never leave us.”
A spokesperson told Express.uk: “We may be on our way out of the EU, but our enduring connection to Europe is here to stay, according to new genetic research.
“The findings from AncestryDNA reveal that Britons derive, on average, 60 per cent of their ancestry from Europe.
“This figure inspired a new advertising campaign from the leader in family history and consumer genomics.”
The new DNA findings come from analysis of the genetic make-up of those living in Britain, based on data collated from the at-home AncestryDNA test.
The kits examine a person’s entire genome at over 700,000 different genetic locations through saliva samples.
New results revealed that aside from the 36.30 per cent of the average person’s genetic make up that is Great British, the vast majority of the remaining DNA is European.
This includes 23.14 per cent Irish and 37.42 per cent continental European, covering north, east, west and southern Europe, the Iberian Peninsula and European Jewish ancestry.
Commenting on the new campaign and DNA findings, Russell James of AncestryDNA said: “Our DNA service has enabled millions of people worldwide to find out more about their ancestral heritage and for many in Britain it has confirmed our strong cultural and genetic connections with other European countries.
“Our new campaign rises above the divisiveness of Brexit to celebrate the enduring cultural and ancestral links that millions of Britons have with Europe.
“At Ancestry, we believe our shared Europeanness is something we can all celebrate, regardless of how we voted in the referendum.”
AncestryDNA’s UK TV ad featured a chorus of characters from across Europe singing Rick Astley’s Together Forever.
The company stressed that the lyrics of the song “echo a sentiment shared by more than 86 per cent of Britons who consider themselves European”.
Yorkshire stands out from the crowd by “officially being the most British county in the UK” with 39.93 per cent of resident’s DNA hailing from Great Britain. Yorkshire also ranked the least European with 57.98 per cent.
