Singer James Blunt has promised to legally change his name to the most popular suggestion from the public – but there’s a catch.
The 50-year-old musician vowed that if the re-release of his debut album Back to Bedlam hits number one in the charts, he will change his name by deep poll.
In a video message posted on X, Blunt said the album – which features hits like You’re Beautiful, Goodbye My Lover and High – is being re-released on 11 October to mark its 20th anniversary.
“I’ll let the people decide,” Blunt is heard saying in the short video. He adds: “But if it doesn’t go to number one, I’m not changing my name.”
Writing alongside the video message, the singer used the hashtag #jameswho and asked fans to comment their name suggestions below the post, with the most-liked becoming the winner.
And fans did not disappoint. Within hours of being posted on Wednesday, it racked up over 800,000 views and more than 2,000 comments.
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The most-liked suggestion at the time of writing was Blunty McBluntface – the exact name the singer said he did not want during an interview on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X on 30 September.
Other popular suggestions included Blames Junt, James Corden (after the presenter and Gavin & Stacey star) and Nick Pope (after the Newcastle United and England footballer).
Back to Bedlam became one of the best-selling albums of the 2000s in the UK and is 17th on the list of the best-selling in UK chart history, according to the Official Charts website. His single You’re Beautiful reached number one in both the UK and US.
Blunt went on to release a further seven albums. The latest was Who We Used To Be, in 2023.
As part of the anniversary album, the singer is embarking on a tour across the UK and Europe, playing London’s The O2 Arena on 16 February next year, as well as dates in Belfast, Dublin, Leeds, Glasgow and Manchester.