Following on from Bono's stint as editor of the Independent, Giorgio Armani is to run the newspaper for a day.
The Independent put on tens of thousands of sales when the U2 singer and poverty campaigner was put in charge of the "quality tabloid" for a day. The deal was part of Bono's Red Product drive to aid the developing the world.
The move also fitted nicely into Independent editor Simon Kelner's newspaper gimmick strategy. The exercise was mercilessly lampooned by Charlie Brooker, who wrote of Bono's Indy editorship:
"Stella McCartney interviews Giorgio Armani, who has designed a pair of sunglasses for the RED charity range. These cost around £72 and will make you look like Bono: buy a 10 quid pair from Boots, bung the remaining £62 to an Aids charity and not only will you enjoy a warm philanthropic glow, no one's going to shout "wanker!" at you when you walk down the high street."
Handily for all concerned, Bono's stint in the editor's chair came before his poverty halo slipped somewhat when it was revealed that U2 have shifted their finances from Ireland to Holland in an attempt to lower their tax bill.
But if Bono and Armani can edit a newspaper, then who else could sit in the chair?
How about Kate Moss as editor of the Mirror? Given that she made their reputation as exclusive-gatherers while their stories about her increased her already large paypacket tenfold.
Or Kerry Katona as editor of the News of the World? It would certainly be the only way that that publication would say anything nice about the two-time Celebrity Mum of the Year.
Or how about George Galloway as editor of the Financial Times, striking at the heart of international capitalism?
