Real Madrid‘s new signing David Beckham (L) leaves his hotel with his wife Victoria in Madrid. Beckham has joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in a 35 million euro deal.
PHOTO - REUTERS
LONDON – As David Beckham and his Spice Girl wife Victoria embark on a new life in Spain, Britain‘s celebrity watchers are scouring their gossip magazines for a new couple to take over as the nation‘s unofficial king and queen. Prince William has been touted as a possible replacement for „Becks“ as Britain‘s leading man, but, as yet, he has no long-term Posh Spice to bring to the party. And in any case, the Royal Family would never grant the media the kind of access to the Queen‘s photogenic young grandson as they enjoy with England soccer captain Beckham.
Chris Martin, lead singer of pop giants Coldplay, and his actress girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow have also been hailed as a replacement for David and Victoria. But celebrity watchers say they have neither the charisma nor the desire for fame which has driven the Beckhams to the top of the showbiz pile. Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue is a huge hit in Britain but few people know or care about her actor boyfriend Olivier Martinez — perhaps because he is French. Neither can soccer offer anyone to step into Beckham‘s boots. Everton youngster Wayne Rooney is the undisputed rising star of English football but is hardly cut out to be a male model. Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen is, like Beckham, blessed with talent and good looks, but is a little too clean-cut for the gossip magazines.
Selina Julien, showbusiness features writer on Heat‘s rival magazine Now, says Martin and Paltrow would be no match for the Beckhams even if they wanted to be. Faced with a dearth of couples to take over as the king and queen of celebrity, Britain‘s tabloid newspapers and magazines have come up with their own solution to the Beckhams‘ departure. They are following them to Spain. Newspapers are said to be employing „Becks correspondents“ and paparazzi photographers in Madrid whose sole job will be to chronicle the soccer star‘s movements.
Reuters
