*******************************
This special Remain issue is brought to you with the help of @weareeuropeuk who curated their favourite art, video and images making the case to stay #INFOR Europe. See more here: http://reasonstoremain.tumblr.com/
*******************************
“Let me say the night with the midget blew my mind. You can do things that just aren’t possible with an average-sized woman” – Bobby Brown
POPBITCH _ _ _ _
_ __ ___ _ __ | |__ (_) |_ ___| |__
| ‘_ \ / _ \| ‘_ \| ‘_ \| | __/ __| ‘_ \
| |_) | (_) | |_) | |_) | | || (__| | | |
| .__/ \___/| .__/|_.__/|_|\__\___|_| |_|
|_| |_|23.06.16 ISSUE 791 – REMAIN EDITION
Free email every week
Subscribe http://eepurl.com/XSZoP
Email stories hello@popbitch.com
* Billie, Bob and Brexit
* Mallett’s Magic vanishing act
* Charts: Drake still no 1
>> Especially for EU <<
The remainstream media
Britain is going to the polls to decide on the UK’s future in the EU. And, once again, the public seems to be bitterly divided on the topic at hand.
As such, we’ve decided to create two different issues of Popbitch this week: one for Brexiteers, and another for the Bremainers.
This Remain issue sticks to the status quo (our usual fodder with a little bit of focus on the people we’ll be keeping in charge) whereas the Leave issue turns a larger spotlight on Team Brexit.
If you’re still on the fence, read both editions. They’re filled with different stories – and who knows? It may even help make up your mind.
A recent poll by Populus shows that 49% of vapers wish to leave the EU.
>> Danan and out <<
Chazbaps backs the union
After the BBC’s Great Debate on Tuesday, Billie Piper tweeted her support of Remain, saying: “I don’t want Britain to be like that one person at the party no one wants to talk to” – and she knows of what she speaks…
uglyboy writes:
“I was at a 911 party with Paul Danan once – it was the night that Billie Piper got her first number one with Because We Want To.
“Billie arrived at the party and was having a couple of drinks. All of a sudden, she makes a grab for me saying,
‘SAVE ME! Tell him you’re with me!’
“I turn around, and there’s Paul Danan drooling.”
Thanks to a recent FOI request by BuzzFeed, we learned that Palmerston (the Foreign Office cat) used to be called Leonard.
>> Big Questions <<
Who’s asking what this week?
Which singer’s pay-off (and new record deal) came about more because she threatened to spill the beans on some of the men she’s worked with than for pure artistic reasons?
Ladbrokes thinks Remain is 4/1 ON to win (at time of publication) Odds are updated in real time so click here to keep up to date.
>> Boomtown twat <<
Fishing off the PR
If, like us, you were scratching your head wondering why on earth Bob Geldof was captaining a boat up the Thames last week in his support of the EU, we may have found an answer.
Someone working on the Remain team told us about a different political campaign they were involved in, and what happened when they tried to drum up some celebs to support it.
The famous PR agency Freud Communications expressed an interest in helping – and said that they’d also be
bringing Bob Geldof along with them.
The campaigner wasn’t quite sure that Geldof was the right sort of fit, but was told in no uncertain terms that Geldof was a dealbreaker.
If they wanted the almighty PR weight of Freud, then Geldof’s involvement was “non-negotiable”.
Matthew Freud’s ex-wife? Elisabeth Murdoch: the daughter of anti-EU Rupert. (Not that that is in any way connected, of course…)
>> Cam on my face <<
Near-sex on the beach
Many of his detractors have accused David Cameron of feigning an interest in the EU for the sake of his career, but he does appear to have at least one very European attitude.
On a prime ministerial holiday to Cornwall, Dave whisked Sam away to a quiet, secluded beach for some ‘alone time’. However, the beach wasn’t quite as secluded as they thought, as a few passing swimmers got quite an eyeful.
“Not full sex,” they told us, “but near as.”
Referendum Cockwatch: Tom Watson is a “walker not a washer. Waddled out of the gents without so much as a glance at the sink.”
>> Cunning linguists <<
Munch ado about nothing
BBC Breakfast’s unfortunately titled summer segment “Come Over, Carol!” got scrapped when they realised how it sounded when said out loud, but these things aren’t always caught in time.
For example: the Melbourne newspaper, The Age, runs a weekly food and drink column – and, even though it has been printed many times, in bright colours, no-one appears to have complained about the title:
“Eat Out Gemima Cody”
Remain’s 11th hour hero John Barnes went to the same school as Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm: St. Marylebone Grammar.
>> A cock or two? <<
Mallett’s Magic vanishing act
NB writes:
“I used to work with a cameraman who told me of his days working at TV-AM with Timmy Mallett. Timmy’s cockatiel side-kick, Magic, was often let out of his cage to fly around the studio. One day during filming however it was realised that no-one knew where Magic had gone.
“After some frantic searching he was spotted perched high up in the lighting rig. Eager to get Magic down the crew began calling him, only to see the unfortunate bird get sucked into one of the large air conditioning vents in the ceiling.
“Poor Magic was never seen again, and another Magic was quietly purchased as a replacement. Luckily there were no children on set to witness Magic One’s untimely demise.”
Our choice is simple: Leave/Remain, but some voters in the Australian elections next week have a 40 inch ballot paper to fit 151 candidates across 42 columns.
>> Reader’s opinions <<
A phonecall attraction
Most celebrities will only voice their political opinions when it helps to boost their profile – but that’s not
always the case.
Eddi Reader from Fairground Attraction semi-regularly calls into a regional phone-in show on BBC Radio Ulster to talk about the topics of the day. (It started when she rang in to talk about Martin McGuinness meeting the Queen, and apparently developed a bit of a taste for it.)
*******************************
Popbitch Job Search: Former officer & security professional; ex-head of diplomatic protection, well versed in looking after rock ‘n’ roll and media. Knows all the current hotspots and seeks something interesting and rewarding. Email specialist.risk.management@gmail.com for CV or more info.
*******************************
>> Brand on the run <<
How not to be social
Proving that there’s no tragedy brands won’t try to milk for some #engagement, a London grooming and skincare company decided they’d tweet their condolences about the sad and untimely death of Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin.
Which is not so crass in and of itself. However, given that he was killed in a freak accident and crushed by his own car, the hashtag #mancrushmonday probably wasn’t appropriate.
It’s still there…
*******************************
Media Masters Podcast. Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith talks about a life in media and THAT porn film purchase. Listen: http://ow.ly/se8a301vssF
*******************************
>> Hmmms <<
ABBA, otters, rapping MPs
* Big Narstie was supposed to play Guildford university on Saturday. Except he turned up at 4am, somewhat wasted. Here’s his explanation.
* Big Narstie wants you to get out and vote.
* If rappers and darts legends are not your thing, here’s some more serious #reasonstoremain.
* Portishead release an excellent cover of Abba’s SOS as a tribute to Jo Cox.
* Lib Dem leader Tim Farron doing the John Barnes rap from World In Motion.
* Adding to the obituary list, is this the year new music died? Only one track in UK’s radio top 20 most played in 2016 was actually released in 2016.
* Local News Story Of The Week actually comes from a national this week: the Guardian!