I legally changed my name to James Blunt just so I could find out his favourite cheese

I’ve long been a fan of his music (Picture: James Blunt/Metro/Shutterstock) James Délice de Bourgogne Blunt. As of Wednesday, that will be my legal name. I’ve always liked my former moniker, Alan Pender – and my online alias, Joe Bangles – but a bet is a bet and I have honoured my end of the deal. I had told James Blunt that if his new album reached number one, I would donate £1,000 of my own money to a charity of his choice and – slightly more extreme – I would change my name to his. I was a desperate man. I’d spent six years trying to find out his favourite cheese. With this tweet, I had his attention and he promised that finally, he would reveal it. Of course, as much as I am a fan of his music, I didn’t expect him to get the top position. It all started during the pandemic when my friend suggested I start up a Twitter account. I’d never really been on social media much, but as we weren’t able to leave the house, I thought ‘why not?’. And one night, after seeing Lord Sugar get into an online back-and-forth with another user, I decided to try and ease the tension. After one too many scotches, I typed: ‘Sugartits, what is your favourite cheese?’ He retweeted it, told me it was ‘ultra strong cheddar’, which actually isn’t a thing, and the rest is history. I made it my mission to find out different celebrities’ preferences. Since 2020, I have sent 152,000 thousand tweets and while I’ve had a thousand replies, my hit rate is ridiculously low. I’ve tried thousands of cheeses (Picture: James Blunt) I’ve heard from cheese haters (Matt Lucas ‘loathes all cheese’), and cheese lovers. From Professor Brian Cox (Cantal), Alex Horne (Babybel), Dawn French (Yarg), to more controversial characters like Putin (Daralagjazsky) and Elon Musk (Stilton). The latter’s response also saw a Stilton Musk memecoin launched, with the company behind it then sending some of the cheese into space, before posting it to me. I have space cheese in my fridge right now. I’ve been invited onto Good Morning Britain and This Morning (Holly Willoughby told me she hates cheese); I’ve taken part in a Channel 5 documentary; I was invited to become an ambassador for the International Cheese and Dairy Awards alongside such names as Marco Pierre White and Michel Roux Jr. Just to add, going into my tweeting career, I knew very very little about the topic. I just liked a cheese sandwich. I put an ask in with James Blunt in 2020 (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) I’ve since spent a lot of time studying but I am no expert, and I have gone on to try thousands (Cornish kern is my current favourite). Among my numerous requests to celebrities, I put an ask in with James Blunt in 2020. He’s always been amazing on Twitter and I was intrigued what he would choose. I got no reply but decided to be persistent. When he liked one of my asks, I knew I stood a chance. I tried to sway him with bribes – free cheese, wearing a t-shirt promoting his 2024 album, to no avail. Then, in 2024, he put out a tweet. ‘Announcement at 17:00hrs’. It was a picture of him in front of a cheese board. I was confident all my hard work had paid off until I saw the video, which cut off before the big reveal. I should have known, the answer wouldn’t come easily. He gave me the old cheese tease. During an appearance on This Morning, James Blunt answered questions. Someone called Julie wrote in to ask what his favourite cheese was. He turned to the camera and said: ‘This person’s a plant… this is a guy called Joe Bangles and I will never tell you my favourite cheese.’ Poor Julie. Two months after that, I went to his album release at HMV. I genuinely am a fan of his music. What was wild was that, while waiting in the queue, 20 different people asked me ‘do you think you’ll find out today?’. Then James Blunt saw me at the back of the queue and gave me a thumbs up and nodded. ‘You don’t mind signing the album with your favourite cheese do you James?’, I asked. He signed, we shook hands after a pleasant bit of chit chat, and then I walked away and saw he’d written: ‘You’ll always be Bangles to me’. To be honest, I didn’t think he’d ever fold. For two years, I went back to messaging other celebrities (and with X the way it is now, it’s slimmer pickings). I have been on a mission for six years (Picture: James Blunt) Then I saw my chance. He had a new album coming out. First, I offered money to a charity of his choice for his favourite cheese. Then, I offered £500 and a photo of me holding his album as my profile picture. Nothing. But when he released a video, saying he would be changing his name to Ryan Air (after he said he would change his name to Blunty McBluntface during a previous campaign to get to number one), I saw my chance. I would give £1,000 of my own money to a charity of his choice and change my name to James Blunt. All he had to do was tell me his favourite cheese. We were on! Then James Blunt got to number one. It was cheese time (Picture: Jesus Briones/GTRES/Shutterstock) At the beginning of the week, it felt like the spot was Royal Blood’s. Come Thursday, I realised this might actually happen. My wife, reassured this wouldn’t mean she had to change her or my daughter’s surname, shrugged her shoulders. I’ve always been barmy and she’s been with me every step of the cheese journey. Cheesebags (what I call my followers) started chiming into the donations too and we’ve now raised £4,500 for the Blue Marine Foundation, who work to protect our oceans. Then James Blunt got to number one. It was cheese time. Délice de Bourgogne. A triple-cream cheese; decadent. A fine choice – but really, I judge no person’s choices. I’m simply an information gatherer. More about James Blunt(s) Fun fact: James Blunt was actually born James Blount. To find out more about the newest James Blunt, you can follow him on X here. I grabbed a wheel of my own and sat at home, marking this fitting end to six years of persistence by legally changing my name. I mentioned nothing about a middle name in our bet, but I decided to commemorate the moment by including the cheese, too. My new name, when translated, is James ‘The Delight of Burgundy’ Blunt. The only thing left to do is get my friend to counter-sign my application. Knowing me, he’s not surprised and happy to do it. Realistically, this won’t be my name for life. I have said at least until the new year. I can’t be changing passports and confusing my daughter. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But, writing this article, I have realised for the first time that I will now have to answer ‘have you ever been known by any other name?’ on forms now. As for my namesake’s part of the deal. He released a video of him receiving a threatening call from ‘Ryanair’, with the voice saying ‘You have a beautiful family, James. It would be a shame if they were all… seated separately’. Cheesebags are not best pleased but I have my faith – and a DM from James telling me that he will keep his promise. Until then, X will just have to make room for two James Blunts. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. Share your views in the comments below. Deals of the Day The best Black Friday beauty deals on the Dr Barbara Sturm face cream and hyaluronic serum The best Black Friday sleep deals to upgrade your bedroom with Simba’s 33% off sale Why shoppers are rushing to snap up this 99p Audible deal before Christmas 14,500 five-star reviews later, this cult sleep spray is discounted for Black Friday Shoppers ditch expensive dental work for these £19.99 MySweetSmile whitening strips Arrow MORE: My child came out as trans – then I realised I was a lesbian Arrow MORE: Jeff Innocent: I grew facial hair to stop people thinking I’m a racist Arrow MORE: Scarlett Moffatt: ‘I hope I’m A Celebrity shows the real Leigh Francis’ Switched On Get plugged into the week’s must-watch shows, unmissable moments, and expert reviews with Metro TV Editor Sabrina Barr.