News 2003
Dateless, but not desperate
10/02/2003
There’s never been a better time to be single over Valentine’s weekend, according to Virgin Mobile, sponsors of the British Red Cross Desperate and Dateless Ball. With singletons in the UK now topping 10 million, 6 million men to 4.5 million girls, and a raft of celebrities choosing the single life, Virgin Mobile is urging Brits to give smug couples the elbow this Valentines Weekend and to meet new people at the Ball.
In association with interactive betting company Blue Square, Virgin Mobile has been placing bets on which celebrities are likely to get ditched or stay hitched by Valentine’s Day 2004. Surprisingly, Kylie ‘better known for her bottom’ Minogue comes in as rank outsider with a 12/1 chance of meeting her love match, closely followed by Robbie ‘bad boy of pop’ Williams with 10/1 odds and Geri ‘ginger’ Halliwell with 8/1 odds. George ‘I am scared of marriage’ Clooney is the most likely celebrity to walk down the aisle this year, with odds coming in at 6/1.
Following on from this, it seems that even one time successful couples are destined to remain apart with Liz Hurley and Hugh Grant being given a 25/1 chance of rekindling their romance and Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley having 20/1 bets placed on the likelihood of a second marriage.
It is inevitable though that some celebrities will remain the kings and queens of coupledom - the most probable pair being Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas with odds on at 1/20, followed by Madonna and Guy Ritchie with 1/4 odds. Posh & Becks come in third with a 33/1 chance of getting divorced this year and it looks like even Tony Blair will be staying faithful with 10/1 odds of cheating on Cherie.
Steven Day, Corporate Affairs Director, Virgin Mobile, said: “Last year’s Desperate & Dateless Ball provided a great way for singles to spend Valentine’s and many people came away with several numbers stored in their mobile phones. Although as a network we believe in showing people exactly what they are getting before they commit, in matters of the heart it can be intriguing to let fate play a hand and a blind date can be a fun way to find love!”
Influenced by shows like Sex in the City and already popular singles dating nights, hordes of amorous Brits have been queuing up for tickets for this year’s Red Cross Desperate and Dateless Ball taking place in London and Leeds on 15th February. The London event is being held at the SE1 Club and features The Fine Young Cannibals and in Leeds it is taking place at Granary Wharf with Lovetrain. The ball, which is sponsored by Virgin Mobile, looks set to break records as the world’s largest blind date ever.
Tickets for the event, which is on target to raise at least £100,000 for the British Red Cross, cost just £55 (free drinks will be included) in London and £45 (free drinks included) in Leeds. Entertainment on the night will include a live band, club zone with dance DJs and flirt zone. Buy tickets online at www.dndball.com or call the More Th>n ticket hotline on: 0191 512 2276
