The Daily Tonic: Strawberry Sneaker

A few years back, after appearing on a BBC show, Toby Young was bundled off in a cab on the Beeb’s account. Not long after he’d arrived home, the perpetually furious Young rang the taxi company to inform them that he’d left his phone in their cab and wanted the driver to come back to his house immediately.

The company explained that, as the driver was no longer on the BBC’s time, Mr Young would have to pay for that journey himself – which prompted some ranting and raving, saying that it was “fucking outrageous” he be asked to pay.

Eventually the cab came back, and he and the driver searched it from top to bottom but found no phone, inspiring yet more effing and blinding – this time directed at the driver, who Young appeared to blame for the entire incident.

A short while later, the cab firm took another call: this time from the BBC, asking if someone would mind coming back to collect Mr Young’s phone and delivering it to his home – as he’d absent-mindedly left it behind in the studio…

Your wholesome stories of decent stars was just the refresher we needed after Monday’s tales of dog spunk, vom lube and rib removal – so thank you for sending them in. On a similar sort of kick, today we want to hear about the most peculiar celebrity friendships you know of.

Who are the most unlikely celebs you know that are pals? Who are the most unlikely celebs you know who are more than just pals? Any sort of superstar match-up, we want to know about it.

Send in your stories of strange celebrity kinship to hello@popbitch.com and we’ll toss a bunch of goodies out to the best ones.

strawberry_sneaker writes:
“I used to be an extra on EastEnders years ago and was once in a scene in the Vic with Tamzin Outhwaite. It was some toga party and there were fruit bowls and what-not scattered all over the bar.

“We did take after take, back and forward. Me, being quite young and not knowing better, finally snapped and ate a couple of massive strawberries – starving child that I was – from a bowl I finished the scene next to. Cue the continuity battleaxe who came and gave me what for.

“Tamzin, quick as a flash, jumped in and said firmly, ‘Actually, I ate that. Could you please just get us some more?’

“Now if someone ever tries to diss her in conversation, I always stand up for her. She’s a very nice person.”

M/A writes:
“I went to the opening night of the Tales of the City musical in San Francisco, with the music written by Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters. After the show, I noticed him around the back of the theatre and went and said hello. He offered me and my partner a hash cake from a basket. (Apparently the cast had been eating them on stage, what with the show set in 1970s San Francisco and all that).

“Then he asked us if we’d like to go to a party. We obviously said yes and he took us by the hands, walked us a couple of blocks away to a nightclub and marched us past the security into the opening night party. ‘Enjoy yourselves, it’s free drink all night!’ he told us, before heading off into the mist from the smoke machine.”

D writes:
“I had to film Anthea Turner at her house out in the country. When we turned up she cooked our little crew some pretty damn good French onion soup that seemed to be legit made from scratch.”

TJ writes:
“I managed to get into the QI green room after one episode, and one of my friends was jealous because she was a massive fan of Alan Davies. I told him, so he asked to borrow my phone and then called her, leaving a lovely voicemail when she didn’t answer saying how sorry he was she couldn’t be there.”

EP writes:
“I was in a bank in Sloane Square collecting a purse I’d left there earlier and didn’t have what the teller considered ‘appropriate ID’. Stephen Fry walked in, who, by chance, I had met at a party the week before. I told him my name and explained my predicament and he immediately assured the teller I was who I said I was.

“The sweet thing is I don’t think he had any recollection of meeting me…”

You’ll know the drill by now. Ten songs, twenty points – one for the artist, one for the song title.

There’s a theme to this one too. We won’t insult your intelligence by telling you what it is, but knowing it’s there might help you crack a couple of the trickier ones.

[Play it here]

Need some inner peace? Here’s guided mediation with Leon from Curb Your Enthusiasm
[Watch on YouTube]

Orangutans and otters playing together
[See on CNN]

With humans on lockdown, goats are now running the streets of Llandudno
[An incredible Twitter thread]