The Daily Tonic: Moustache Wisdom

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, The Connection at St Martins-in-the-Fields has had to temporarily close its doors for the first time. But even though the centre isn’t open as normal, they’re still doing everything they can to help London’s homeless. To help them keep on with their work, they’ve launched the Keep Our Doors Open appeal.

[Donate here]

A quick dose of gossip, smut and silliness Subscribe

* Emailing the Reidenator

* Talking ‘tache with Tom

* PLUS: A Sunday audio round

>> Party pants <<

The benevolence of Bextor

After ten weeks of live-streaming gigs on Instagram to keep the nation’s spirits lifted, Sophie Ellis-Bextor has now closed her Kitchen Disco.
Sophie has always been a generous sort. Former staff at the Middlesbrough branch of HMV remember the time she once popped in to browse records when she was in town for a gig. The manager asked if she wouldn’t mind nipping into the stock room to sign a few copies of her CD, which she cheerfully did, but put down her shopping and forgot to pick it back up when she left.
A few hours later, Sophie’s aide returned to collect the bag and gave all the staff free tickets to her concert the next night as thanks for looking after it. Even though they’d been going through her shopping and playing with all the skimpy knickers she’d bought.

5fingers writes: “While I was at school, I was in an Alan Bennett play with Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Her claim to fame at the time was that she had snogged Bonehead from Oasis at some showbiz party…”

>> Dishing dirt <<

Question of the day

What with so much of weekend TV being based around food (Saturday Kitchen, Sunday Brunch, etc…) we’re curious to know: have you ever had to cook for a celebrity? Has a celebrity ever cooked for you?
We’d be particularly interested to hear about celebrity chefs in this one. What are they like when the cameras aren’t rolling?
Dish to us at hello@popbitch.com and we’ll serve up some digital goody bags to our favourites.

VN writes: “I received an email from Alex Reid, who seemingly hasn’t updated his address since the 90s and still refers to himself as ‘The Reidenater’.”

>> Labour of love <<

Talking ‘tache with Tom

Former Labour Deputy Tom Watson has a personal account on Metafilter. He goes by the username ‘baggymp’ but, aside from the occasional comment on other people’s posts, his primary contribution to the site is a single 96-word post, entitled:
“How to grow and maintain the perfect handlebar moustache”
[Enjoy his wisdom]

JB writes: “Rock goddess Lita Ford used to use the Money Saving Expert forums years ago. Her username was Lita_Ford.”

>> Shocking language <<

A Kylie conspiracy

KL writes:

“Have a listen to Kylie’s song Shocked. I was told at the time by a producer that Kylie refused to sing anything other than ‘Fucked to my very foundations’ in the 3rd line of the chorus, which they subsequently masked with some backing vocals and some clever cuts in the video for the song.
“You can’t unhear it once you know this information.”
[Take a listen @ 1’13]

JH writes: “Rav Wilding is quite an active member of the Arlesey Rail Station User Group on Facebook. He seems quite passionate about the (lack of) motorcycle parking provision.”

>> Fugitive Farron <<

More conspiracy theories

CW writes:

“I’m not sure this in any way falls under ‘pop culture’ but you mentioned conspiracy theories so I couldn’t help but share my absolute favourite one.
“When Tim Farron was leader of the Lib Dems an infamous rumour went around. It’s that he got his famous religious fervour from the fact he once murdered someone. This rumour regularly makes the rounds through certain Lib Dem circles despite the fact it’s clearly ludicrous. First of all, you’d have expected it to come out in some way during the 2017 general election rather than the ‘I think bumming is a sin’ stuff.
“But more poignantly, it would mean there’s something about Tim Farron that’s marginally interesting.”

R writes: “Ewen Macintosh used to post on an internet forum dedicated to The Office called Wernham Hogg. He was extremely argumentative on it.”

>> Quarantunes <<

Your Sunday audio round

Today’s audio round is a touch longer than normal, which is helpful as most of the titles of these songs are practically full sentences – so you might need a few extra bars to get them all written down.
You get a point for every correct artist you identify and a point for every correct song title.
[Play it here]

Fancy a Sunday afternoon quiz? The Popbitch Popquiz contains everything you need to put one on yourself – and there’s plenty of different options.

[Take a look here]

>> Hmmms <<

A couple of quick things

Another pop conspiracy theory: Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson are Michael Jackson’s parents

[It’s pretty detailed]
A look at Aaron Ramsey’s old Bebo account

[“hard as nails”]
22 oversized teddies riding a rollercoaster

[Watch on YouTube]

Thanks to: RS, R, 5fingers, VN, GW, JB, C, JH, CW, RJ, CM, RC, KL

Old Jokes Home

Might apply for a job at the mirror factory.

I could see myself working there.

Fancy Another?