Britain's Guardian newspaper on Tuesday reported that Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to top up the intensified relationship between London and Paris by having France's first lady Carla Sarkozy inject more style and glamour into British life. ( dpa )
But Francophile Guardian readers might have had doubts when confronted with the report, especially since it was written by Avril de Poisson, a play on the phrase that translates as "April fool hoax."
The "new government initiative" said the former model had already held talks with British retailer Marks & Spencer on affordable clothes "inspired by the demure tailored grey suits that won her so much acclaim during last week's visit," the Guardian said.
Sarkozy also wanted to meet British chef Jamie Oliver to over her plans to introduce "a more 'continental' approach to eating and drinking, which could see British parents encouraged to serve small volumes of red wine with meals to children as young as seven or eight," the Guardian said.
The tabloid Sun newspaper went a step further Tuesday, claiming that Sarkozy is "to have pioneering stretch surgery in a bid to make him taller." The report, under the headline "Docs to stretch small Sarkozy," said the French president was suffering badly because he is shorter than his wife.
Sarkozy and his wife paid a visit to Britain last month.