It almost sounds too bizarre to be true, but Bez apparently turned down a night with Julia Roberts back in the 90s.
Well, that’s according to Shaun Ryder anyway.
The Happy Mondays frontman revealed the golden nugget of information during an appearance on ITV’s This Morning yesterday when speaking to hosts Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby about a night the pair had at the famous LA nightclub The Viper Room – which has always been known as a hangout of the young Hollywood elite.
Shaun explained that he and Bez split once they were inside the club, but when they were reunited later on in the night, Shaun claims that Bez told him: “You heard of Julia Roberts? She’s just asked me to go to her place.”
That’s not the most outrageous part of the story, either.
ADVERTISEMENT
It also transpired Bez turned the Oscar-winning actress down because he had other offers – and didn’t really know who she was, anyway.
The Happy Mondays pair were on a night out at famous LA nightclub The Viper Room / Credit: Channel 4
Explaining the situation he found himself in, Shaun said: “When we went to LA, the movie Pretty Woman had only just come out so she wasn’t the Julia Roberts who everyone knows now.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We was in The Viper Room and Bez came over ‘you heard of Julia Joggerts?’ ‘Yeah, Julia Roberts, yeah’, ‘Ah, she’s just asked me to go to her place’.”
“And he didn’t have a clue who she was, but she sent her bodyguard over”.
He then added that Bez also “had about four other girls on the go in the club anyway”.
ADVERTISEMENT
In understandable disbelief, like we presumably all are, Holly then asked Shaun: “So he turned down Julia Roberts?” and Shaun simply replied by raising his eyebrows and nodding.
How does Bez feel about the situation now then? Shaun assured us: “It’s Bez innit, he wasn’t really bothered.”
“The movie Pretty Woman had only just come out so she wasn’t the Julia Roberts everyone knows now” / Credit: Touchstone / Buena Vista Pictures
Although this may be the first time many are hearing this story, it’s not the first time it’s been told by Ryder, as he apparently first revealed it during an interview on radio station XFM back in 2011, and relayed it once again in his autobiography Twisting My Melon.
So, what’s your take then?
Do you believe it? Or is he just having us on?
Trending
Morrisons has launched a nationwide search for its first-ever Chief Doughnut Tester
Emily Sergeant
Today is National Doughnut Day, and to celebrate, Morrisons is on the look-out for one sweet treat fan to take on a new role.
That’s right – today (5 June) is National Doughnut Day, and Morrisons is officially on the hunt for the nation’s ultimate doughnut devotee with the launch of its brand-new (and delicious) role, The Chief Doughnut Tester – with all glaze enthusiasts, sprinkle connoisseurs, and jam-filled aficionados urged to get applying.
The search is on to crown one lucky fan who’ll take on the dream job of taste-testing their way through the supermarket‘s range of doughnuts.
The Chief Doughnut Tester is more than just a title, Morrisons says it’s ‘serious business’.
Morrisons has launched a nationwide search for its first-ever Chief Doughnut Tester / Credit: Morrisons
The new hire will be tasked with taste-testing doughnuts before they hit the shelves, giving verdicts on new flavours and textures, all in the name of research.
The role will also involve teaming up with Morrisons’ internal doughnut-expert team to develop new and limited-edition treats that’ll be in stores next year.
Crowned as the nation’s definitive doughnut authority, the selected winner won’t just earn the title of Chief Doughnut Tester, they’ll also receive the ultimate of sweet perks – a year’s free supply of Morrisons fresh doughnuts, which the retailer sells more than 1.1 million of weekly.
Aspiring Chief Doughnut Testers can apply on the Morrisons website here, by filling in a short 200-words about why’re the ideal candidate.
Applications close at midnight tonight (Friday 5 June), so you’ll need to be quick.
Featured Image – Annie Spratt (via Unsplash)
Trending
First-ever JD Wetherspoon pub to open at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
In news that we feel many Mancs and travellers all-round have been waiting on for a long time, the well-known British chain, JD Wetherspoon, will be opening its first-ever pub at Manchester Airport.
That’s right: soon that first airport pint of the holiday could actually be a relatively cheap one.
While Wetherspoons are no strangers to popping up in terminals across the UK and Ireland, they’ve never done so here in Manchester despite having three, yes THREE, in Gatwick alone.
Not for much longer, though, as soon T2 will be lending more than 3,000 square feet of its prime leisure and retail real estate to a new Greater Manchester ‘Spoons’.
Posting on social media, the airport wrote: “Wetherspoon comes to Manchester Airport this September! The pub will be located in the Terminal 2 Departures lounge and will have more than 300 seats.
“This will become the final major food and drink venue to open its doors as part of our decade-long £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2. It will be named ‘The Belle Vue’, in a nod to Manchester’s historic showground [now a sports complex and leisure hub].
“It was a focal point for social life in the city from the Victorian period up until 2020, when the final event was held at Belle Vue stadium. The design of the pub is inspired by the history of Belle Vue and the sporting culture of the North West of England. We look forward to welcoming you all in September!”
While a lot of money has been pumped into T2’s refurb as a whole over the past few years, it remains unclear just how much this particular new addition will cost; we do know that great sums were set aside for the launch of the Great Northern Market last year.
The inaugural Manchester Airport Spoons is just the latest in a series of major renovations.
As mentioned, the company already operate several up and down the country – 10 airport pubs, to be specific – but this will be the first in the North West.
Speaking on the news, JD Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson said in a statement: “We are looking forward to opening at Manchester Airport. We believe our new pub will prove popular with travellers of all ages and be an asset to the new terminal.”
With Manchester Airport adding a dozen new routes to its roster this summer, you can expect to see even more people flying in and out than ever – no doubt having already polished off a cut-price pint or two beforehand.
Emily Sergeant -
24th June 2021 
