The Daily Tonic: Cereal Monogamy

It’s not really our style to do an April Fools gag, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate a good practical joke when we hear one.

A technician who worked on Fatboy Slim’s video for Weapon Of Choice got a strange surprise when checking in to the hotel they were due to film in to find that the hotel’s lift operator was the spitting image of Christopher Walken – the video’s soon-to-be star.

When they mentioned this incredible likeness at the front desk, the receptionist replied “Yes, it is Christopher Walken. Mr Walken arrived earlier and has been dressed like that ever since.”

Apparently, Walken is a bit of a practical joker and one of his favourite gags is to dress like a lift operator and work lifts for strangers to see their reactions.

The tricks and techniques that showbiz journalists use to get their scoops are well documented. Celebrities are routinely subject to surveillance, stings and stake-outs – but hacks really don’t like it when the boot is on the other foot.

A few years back, shortly after Dan Wootton joined the Sun’s Bizarre section, someone decided to play a little prank on him. They sent a rather burly gentleman to drive round to Wootton’s house and pitch up in a parking space outside, where he stayed all weekend. He was joined at various points by a rotating group of friends who all came to hang out with him in the car and pass the time.

After twitching his curtains all weekend, by Sunday night Wootton had finally had enough. He snapped, stormed out of his house, banged on this bloke’s car window – threatening him with the police and citing harassment.

The guy wound down his window and, knowing full well how much the words would annoy him, delivered the line:

“Sorry, mate. I don’t know who you are.”

Thanks for all your stories of celebrity friendships. We’ve compiled a couple of our favourites for your enjoyment. Now, on to the next…

Today’s Question: What’s the weirdest celebrity endorsement/patronage you’ve ever seen?

Send in your stories of star-studded sponsorship to hello@popbitch.com and we’ll sprinkle some digital prizes out to our favourites.

FYI: We’re playing catch up with replies at the minute, so we’ll be in touch with yesterday’s winners very soon – we promise!

JH writes:
“In the early 90s I worked for Hammer Films and was asked to organise a voiceover recording for a Hammer Films documentary. Both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee had agreed to work together one last time. Christopher Lee had asked me to organise one thing: a television and a VHS player in a private room and to have some alone time with Peter.

“After the recording, I cleared the studio and left Peter and Christopher alone with the TV. They hadn’t noticed that I was still at the mixing desk so I waited to see what they were going to be watching. I saw Count Dooku and Grand Moff Tarkin sat watching Looney Tunes cartoons – each doing perfect impersonations of Sylvester the Cat and Tweety Pie – all line perfect!

“I can’t remember exactly – but I think Christopher Lee was Tweety Pie and Peter Cushing was Sylvester.”

bigdog writes:
“I recorded the guy who does the voice of the Sugar Puffs Honey Monster a few years ago. After the session he was chatting away about some bloke called Tony that he’d been out for a drink with the previous night. Eventually, the producer asked ‘So who’s Tony then?’.

“‘You know,’ Honey Monster replied, ‘Tony the Tiger’.”

TEN SONGS: Mixed together

TWENTY POINTS: In total

ZERO PRIZES: On offer

Still, it’s a bit of fun, isn’t it?

[Play it here]

A compilation of Christopher Walken’s dancing
[Put a pep in your step]

Otter cam at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
[Either live, or catch a pre-record]

Does New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have a mystery nipple-ring?
[An investigation]

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