James Blunt: ‘I’ll change my name to Blunty McBluntface if I get No1 in the charts’ with Back to Bedlam

Singer James Blunt has vowed to legally change his name to Blunty McBluntface if his album makes it to No 1 in the charts this week.

A remastered version of his debut, Back To Bedlam – featuring his hit single You’re Beautiful – was released on Friday to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

But it follows a rash promise made by the singer earlier in the month that if it tops the charts again he will change his name to “whatever the public wanted”.

Blunty McBluntface emerged as the winner in a poll of Mr Blunt’s social media followers – a twist on Boaty McBoatface, the winner of a 2016 survey which went viral when the public was given the chance to name a £200 million polar research ship.

However, it was not taken up and the vessel was instead called the Sir David Attenborough.

The original Back To Bedlam sold more than 11million copies worldwide. In a video previously posted on his Insta gram account, Mr Blunt announced: “I’m rereleasing my debut album Back To Bedlam – something that has kept me consistently rich for the past 20 years.

“So as a way to give back to you, my adoring public, if it re-enters the charts at No1 I will legally change my name.

“I’ve been called many things in my life, ‘the most hated man in pop’, ‘annoying’, ‘James Beige’.

“I’ll let the people decide.”

Mr Blunt reiterated his promise on Radio X’s Chris Moyles Show shortly afterwards.

He said: ‘” have signed up to changing my name to whatever the public want. It’s a genuine thing. I swear on my life I will change my name should it hit No 1… as long as it’s not, you know, Blunty McBluntface.”

The new name was revealed in a video on social media last night, with Mr Blunt moaning: “People have no imagination.”

The spoof film shows Mr Blunt, 50, trying to enter a music company building for a meeting, only to be stopped by the front desk as they have no record of a ‘James Blunt’.

He then attempts to get in using a few of the top contenders suggested by fans, such as ‘Jimmy Spliff’, ‘Blames Junt’, and ‘Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Pop Star Four Chord Song Machiney’ – but none of them work.

Looking deflated, his final guess is ‘Blunty McBluntface’ and he is granted access.

He then mutters “people have no imagination”, to which the receptionist replies: “The people have spoken.”

Mr Blunt added: “But if it doesn’t go to No 1, I’m not changing my name, it’s safe to say this is the most important democratic moment of the year.”