The Daily Tonic: Flowers From The Royles

Going stir crazy with the lockdown TV options? Get a free 14 day trial from NextUp Comedy and stream unlimited stand up, from comedy legends to rising stars. Claim your exclusive 14 day trial now, using the promo code POP.

[Just follow this link]

A quick dose of gossip, smut and silliness Subscribe

* Some Coolidge Yule-idge!

* Buttons from Bonnie!

* PLUS: An NME audio round

>> Basic manners <<

Sharon the wealth

Yesterday we asked for stories of celebrities giving you gifts. One reader wrote in to tell us this:
“I once worked on a film with Sharon Stone. When she wrapped, a cardboard box arrived on set filled with plastic biros with ‘Love and Thanks, Sharon Stone’ and the name of the film printed on it in gold lettering. Each pen was individually wrapped in a crinkly clear plastic sleeve. I took three.”
It seems Sharon has form with trinkets. When she was filming Basic Instinct 2, producers had to rearrange the shooting schedule around her so she could go to Cannes to attend a charity benefit. When she got back, she gave a speech to everyone telling them how much she’d missed them and announced that she’d bought them all presents.
Everyone was then given a box containing… a hotel shower cap.

When filming Gravity, Sandra Bullock insisted on a full company photo being taken on the first day. Then, when they wrapped, she presented everyone with a picture of that photo being held up in a space shuttle, with Earth in the background – having called on an astronaut pal to help out.

>> Pen pals <<

Question of the day

Nowadays, writing to a pop star is as easy as sending a tweet – but it didn’t always use to be that way. So we want to know about the very first time that you made the effort to send something to a star.
Today’s Question: Who was the first celebrity you ever wrote to? What did you say and did they reply?
Tell us your tales of celebrity correspondence at hello@popbitch.com and we’ll reward our favourites with some digital prizes.

tinasparkle writes: “I was a dancer in Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ video. When she found out it was my 21st birthday, she got me a birthday cake. Coincidentally, it was also her dad’s birthday so she sang us both Happy Birthday. Nice bird.”

>> Presents of mind <<

A Coolidge Yule-idge

JB writes:

“I was once at a party around Christmas in Hollywood where the funniest woman alive turned up, Jennifer Coolidge. Not only did she give everyone a lift home, her car was piled up with great big fabulously gift-wrapped presents.
“She didn’t even know who she was going to give them to. She’d just bought loads of fantastic presents in the spirit of Christmas that she was giving out to people generally.”

CA writes: “Caroline Aherne sent me flowers on my wedding day. She was a fucking diamond and allowed my Dad to brag that a member of the Royle Family had sent flowers in his speech…”

>> Doctor’s orders <<

Tom’s putting it in an envelope now

PN writes:

“In 2015 I had a heart attack in the street. Luckily, I was rushed to, and treated in, hospital and was back home after a week. A few days after being back at home, I received a card through the post. Didn’t recognise the writing so opened it to find a handwritten get well soon card from Tom Baker! (A friend had arranged it.)
“It read ‘Your Doctor wishes you a speedy recovery!'”

slackhack writes: “I was sent a Christmas pudding in a Highgrove porcelain bowl as a thank you from Prince Charles a few years back. The pud was dead nice and I use the empty pot to keep receipts in to claim back expenses.”

>> Bonnie lass <<

Pushing all the right buttons

KT writes:

“In the late 90s, my mum gave directions to the train station to a very panicked and flustered Bonnie Langford. It was only round the corner but poor Bonnie had obviously been looking for a while. She thanked my mum, hurried off, and came running back down the high street a minute later, having nipped into a newsagents to buy me (aged about three) some chocolate buttons. Then went off running again for her train.
“My mum would never hear a bad word spoken about her. I just hope she made her train.”

Bill Drummond’s generosity doesn’t just extend to making people mince pies. Every Spring he has committed himself to giving out 40 bunches of daffodils to total strangers on the street of a different city each year.

>> Quaratunes <<

Keep your NMEs closer

After Saturday’s audio round of Smash Hits Poll Winners Singles Of The Year we thought we’d better throw some meat to the Real Music crowd – so here’s the same round, but made up with the NME Awards Singles (or Tracks) Of The Year instead.
Ten songs: a point for naming the artist, a point for naming the song.
[Twenty points in total]

If you’re wanting a slightly more substantial quiz fix, we’ve put together some downloadable Popbitch Popquizzes all especially designed to be completed in quarantine…

[Take a look here]

>> Hmmms <<

Some links for Tuesday

Want to donate to a community bail fund, but not sure which one?

[Here’s a consolidated fundraiser]
Dancing otter

[See on TikTok]
A disco symphony dedicated to lockdown

[In aid of NHS Together charities]

Thanks to: contact_tracy, tinasparkle, JB, CA, PN, slack hack, KT, CW, RP, RT

Old Jokes Home

Thanks to the new government guidelines, only six of the seven dwarfs can get together. One of them won’t be happy.

Fancy Another?