James Blunt “renames” himself after a budget airline following his album hitting No. 1

James Blunt has changed his name to Ryan Air after making a strange bet with a stranger online over cheese. The Celebrity Traitors star released his album *Airplane Mode* last week and has been doing everything he can to land the top spot. According to this week’s Official Charts, the *You’re Beautiful* singer has indeed soared to number one.

But with his third UK number one album comes an unexpected consequence: a name change, specifically to the budget airline Ryanair — or “Ryan Air,” as he’s now being called. The whole thing began after a lengthy exchange with X user JoeBangles11, who repeatedly asked James about his favourite cheese. “Final offer… If you tell me your favourite cheese, I’ll donate £1000 to a charity of your choice,” Joe wrote on Thursday.

He then added, “Bonus offer. If your album goes to number one, I’ll legally change my name to James Blunt.” James replied: “Hold on. If my album goes to No.1 tomorrow, all I have to do is tell you my favourite cheese, and you’ll give £1000 to a charity of my choice and legally change your name to James Blunt?” “Deal.

People — let’s get to work,” he added, before sharing a link to his album. Joe then responded: “So, tomorrow, James Blunt will have his third UK number 1 album and change his name to Ryan Air. I will find out his favourite cheese, donate £1k to a charity of his choice and change my name to James Blunt.

A Freaky Friday 13th I won’t forget in a hurry!” And true to his word, once the number one spot was confirmed, the soon-to-be Ryan said: “Hi Joe, I have bad news.” James later revealed that the charity he had chosen for the donation was The Blue Marine Foundation, and finally admitted that his favourite cheese is Delice de Bourgogne. The French cheese is a triple-cream cheese made from cow’s milk, with a mild or slightly tangy flavour. It’s also sometimes called divorce cheese or the cheese of love, so clearly it works for every occasion — or every Blunt song, for that matter.

“Almost Ryan” then continued: “I’m Number 1 in the album charts. And you’re no longer called Joe. Much love, Ryan Air.” Being a good sport, “Nearly James” then went down to his local M&S to buy a wheel of his “new favourite cheese.” “Hi Ryan, it has been such fun,” the cheese enthusiast replied.

“Appreciate you humouring me along the way and I can hang up my celeb cheese fact-finding gloves and tuck into my new favourite cheese. Enjoy your number 1, it’s an amazing album and you deserve it! Much love, James Blunt CBE.” While James and Joe may be ready for a name swap, which still hasn’t been made official by deed poll, the singer’s wife is not quite as enthusiastic.

“Number 1