JAMES Blunt has shared his relief at not having to change his name after the 20th anniversary re-release of his album Back to Bedlam failed to reach number one.
After pledging to change his name to a suggestion from the public if the album topped the charts, Blunt took to social media yesterday to reveal the driving licence he had planned should it come to fruition.
In a video shared last month, the 50-year-old announced he was giving the public “the power to f**k my life”, with the most-liked comment on the post to be his new legal name.
Seizing a once-in-a-lifetime chance, Brits voted to rename him “Divock Origi” after the former Liverpool striker, with a whopping 21,000 likes for the suggestion from the Guardian’s deputy football editor, Sachin Nakrani.
In a cruel twist, the runner-up was “Blunty McBluntface” referring to the UK’s public-named polar research ship, Boaty McBoatface.
Blunt has since hilariously shared a spoof driving licence featuring the Belgian-born footballer’s name and bizarrely, a date of birth making him 10 years younger.
He posted the snap to social media yesterday with the caption: “A belated ‘Thank You’ to everyone who helped get Back To Bedlam to No. 7 in the charts.
“It’s an amazing result after 20 years. I’m glad I didn’t have to change my name – looks like you’ll all have to put up with “James Blunt” for another few decades…”
It has since received over 24,000 likes and more than 320 comments from Brits sharing their reactions.
One joked: “You rigged the charts. Did you buy the top six in the squillions Blunty?”
A second wrote: “Thank God. Was concerned if you changed your name then my James Blunt tickets wouldn’t get me into the gig.”
Another said: “Looks like a mug shot of Edward Scissorhands. Perhaps your next venture should be Tim Burton movies.”
A fourth commented: “Not disappointed that the press don’t have to call you Blunty McBluntface heading forward. It’s fine.”
Another quipped: “I need one of them magic driving licenses, it’s knocked 10 years off your age.”
