Visit Iceland releases new comedy short with comedian Joe Thomas

For true Northern Lights aficionados, there is no better place to chase them than Iceland. And there is no group more fanatical (and less official) than the “A.U.R.O.R.A.S”, the Alliance of Ultra Reliable Observers Ready for Aurora Spotting.

This fictional club is at the centre of Visit Iceland’s new mockumentary released today, 22October 2025, and stars comedian Joe Thomas (Inbetweeners, Fresh Meat) who plays Nigel, the group’s endearing and geeky leader. Nigel is a super nerd and has formed the A.U.R.O.R.A.S to help tourists get ‘aurora ready’. The group answers questions from their (33) fans, busts myths “no you can’t turn them off with a switch”, and shares the best conditions in which to catch them, “clouds are BAD”.

It is an extremely exclusive club, with just three members, but they are recruiting. Anyone, ANYONE is able to join Nigel, his deadly serious random-detail-devotee co-founder that is Helga, and Doug, the affable and excited American who seems to be in the club by accident “because whale-watching was full”. Simply visit the website visiticeland.com/the-auroras, take a test and you will get your membership certified.

Joe Thomas said: "I had so much fun filming in Iceland. From the waterfall to the lagoon and the field full of wild horses, every place we went was beautiful. And yes, I saw the lights! Magical.

“The character I play, Nigel, is hilariously positive and his fellow A.U.R.O.R.A.S, Doug and Helga, are equally hilarious in different ways. Their dynamic makes this film a real laugh.

“I would hugely recommend going to Iceland this winter; for the best chance at seeing the Northern Lights, but also for everything else you can see and do. The people are generous, kind and don't take themselves too seriously!"

With increased solar activity bringing the Aurora Borealis closer to home for people in the UK interest in the Northern Lights and astrotourism has skyrocketed. There was a 92% surge in searches for Iceland compared with the same period last year amongst UK travellers in particular.*

As light pollution continues to rise around the world, Iceland remains one of the best places travellers can experience truly dark skies, sitting at roughly 65° north latitude, right in the aurora “sweet spot.” Unlike many aurora destinations that require long journeys into the wilderness, Iceland combines incredible natural beauty, black sand beaches, glaciers, fjords, with easy access to restaurants, cultural attractions, and winter adventures like snowmobiling, whale watching, and geothermal spas. Even if the lights are fleeting, there’s always something unforgettable to do.

Local expert in dark skies Sævar Helgi Bragason said: “The auroral oval is a ring-shaped zone around the magnetic poles where aurora activity is strongest and most frequent, and Iceland sits directly beneath it.

He explains, “Between September and April, Iceland experiences long nights and very little light pollution, so it is a great time to visit. The darkness extends for up to 20 hours a day in midwinter which gives multiple viewing windows each evening, increasing the odds of catching the lights, even if there are brief clouds…”

“At Visit Iceland, we wanted to create something that celebrates both the natural wonder of our destination and the playful, down-to-earth spirit that defines us,” said Oddný Arnarsdóttir, Head of Visit Iceland. “The A.U.R.O.R.A.S. campaign captures that perfectly — turning the Northern Lights chase into a story full of humour, warmth, and Icelandic charm.”

The new mockumentary was directed by UK-based and Icelandic-born Arni Thor and premieres on YouTube and on the Visit Iceland website, where anyone, ANYONE, is also able join the coveted club that is the A.U.R.O.R.A.S. Take the extremely tough test at visiticeland.com/the-auroras and you can also win a trip for two. T&Cs apply.