THERE’S a scene in the new Beckham documentary that features an old Sun article, showing a shepherd living in Timbuktu, with the headline: “We’ve found the only man on the planet who hasn’t heard of Becks!”
David and Victoria Beckham are undoubtedly Britain’s biggest celebrity export. Probably our biggest celebrities, period.
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David and Victoria at tonight’s premiere of the Netflix series Credit: Getty
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The couple has redefined what it means to be famous for the past quarter centuryCredit: Getty
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Sun columnist Clemmie with Victoria at tonight’s premiere
Over the past 25 years, the couple has single-handedly redefined what it means to be famous.
They have become part of the fabric of British culture. They were the Charles and Diana of showbiz. Hardly an inch of their life together went unreported.
More than 200 million followers between them – more than three times the population of the UK! – means that we can literally now see what they have for breakfast. (Avocado, sometimes pancakes).
If we thought there was nothing more to know, we were wrong.
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The warts-on-all four-part documentary somehow managed to unearth some revealing gems.
One of the biggest, which airs tomorrow, sees the pair playfully talking for the first time since David’s alleged affair in Madrid in 2003.
Playfully – because this isn’t even her promotional documentary – Victoria describes that period as “the unhappiest of her life”.
David, almost in tears, describes his pain at his wife’s, well, broken heart as a result of the current media debate.
They could have skimmed over this reported – but always denied – transgression in Richard Curtis’ otherwise love story.
The show is, after all, Studio 99 – David’s own production company.
But they didn’t.
The elephant in the room is faced. And handle, you will see, perfectly.
(The highlight is a FURIOUS Posh when David casually informs her that he will not be at the birth of his youngest son, Cruz, because he is filming with Beyoncé and J-Lo: “Posh was mad!”, she jokes.)
Less forgiving women, you might think, would handle divorce.
Elsewhere, we get to snoop around the couple’s stately Cotswolds castle – noting where Becks drinks her morning coffee: “I can see Victoria naked up there if I’m lucky!” he jokes, like a schoolboy who can’t believe his box, pointing to the upstairs bedroom window.
Becks shows off his meticulous color-coordinated wardrobes – “someone’s been here,” he sighed when he saw a coat hanger two millimeters out of place.
For those who doubted the strength of their love – I defy you to watch this series and not be convinced.
Towards the end, the whole family is shown in the gazebo enjoying a roast prepared by the enthusiastic home chef David.
Kenny Rogers’ Islands in the Stream blares from the music player, Posh and Becks (the latter holding a beer) Victoria dance, swaying to the half-beat.
(After that we see David frantically cleaning the oven and scrubbing the kitchen surfaces).
Later, in a joint interview in the kitchen – David recorded a total of almost 50 hours of interviews – they keep their arms around each other.
They discuss how cathartic the entire recording process was, describing it as “therapy.”
David gently teases Victoria, encouraging her to become more “classy” throughout her career.
“I looked back and heard the recordings [Victoria] on the phone with me, saying ‘hello baby!'”, he grins.
“By the way, she doesn’t talk as much as she does now…she was much more frequent then than now.
“I don’t know what happened…she never had any form of speech lessons…that’s what they say, right?!”
Victoria interjects, mocking his reputation for being “fat” (something he clearly isn’t): “I’m so glad you know what that means…!”
As we see son Cruz paddling on the lake outside and Romeo kicking a soccer ball outside, David reflects, “This has made many things clear to me, and one of the things that is most important to me is what I have.”
If the five hours of this documentary are anything to go by, it’s a lot.
So why are we all so collectively obsessed with this pair?
Because of bloody hard work, they are the ultimate working class heroes.
Goldenballs never claimed to be the best soccer player in the world, and Victoria never once said she was the best singer in the world. Or, even, the best singer of the Spice Girls.
Instead, through a series of ingenious, truly progressive branding decisions, determination and an innate likability – something that absolutely no one can fake – they climbed to the top of the tree of fame and remained resolutely at the top for over two decades.
Only cynics can bring them down.
In her autobiography, Victoria wrote that she wanted to be “known as Persil Automatic”.
She succeeded. And with her husband in tow, one suspects she’ll be around long after the glow of Persil has faded.
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Clemmie poses for a shoot with David
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David and Victoria opened up about their lives in the personal Netflix series Credit: Getty
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A couple with their children, from left: Brooklyn, Harper, Romeo and CruzCredit: 3
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The couple rode through the stormy waters and came out on topCredit: Getty
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Source: HIS Education