Jerry Springer, Isaac Mizrahi and The Ramones have done it, while Tommy Hilfiger and Liza Minnelli are planning to do it. What exactly? Sign Jules Segal’s Union Jack, of course.
Mr Segal, a London-based author, has made a bet with William Hill that he can get 500 American celebrities to sign the flag. The aim, says Mr Segal, is to cheer up us Brits in these difficult times.
The project is part of the research for his forthcoming book, The US Say, which investigates the “special relationship” between the UK and US.
Mr Segal, 38, tells People: “William Hill have offered me odds of ‘however many of the celebrities I meet in six months’ to one, with a stake of £20. So, should I meet 112, I will receive 112-to-1.” Winnings will be donated to charity.
The project follows the success of Mr Segal’s last celebrity challenge: getting 500 Britain-based celebrities to meet him to prove they are not all self-regarding egotists. The results of which were published in his hit book, Greeting the 500.
He says: “I don’t think the British people think that they are that popular around the world, so I thought that people in the US could write messages to cheer us up — some words of encouragement in these downtrodden times. The book will be a humorous look at my time in the US and ask whether the UK/US special relationship is a fallacy or true.”
Mr Segal has recently returned from a three-month stint in the States, where he met several high-profile people who added their messages of support.
Morgan Spurlock, the star of the film Supersize Me, wrote: “Eat less chips,” while porn star Ron Jeremy wrote: “Cold women and warm beer but I still love you.”
Mr Segal is now keen to recruit more signatories and hopes to turn the project into a television show.