Tuesday Topic, with Christine Rutter

DID you know Eddie Murphy and George and Barbara Bush were living in East Lancashire? The county is positively brimming with celebrity names nestling in anonymity. All right, I may not be talking about real-life superstars or VIPs but I did uncover people who share their names. I talked to a few of the celebrity namesakes about the blessings and curses of living in the shadow of a star.

TALENTED artist Michael Jackson, from Hoghton, raises a few eyebrows when he tries to sell his wildlife paintings in the United States. Most of his clients believe American superstar Jacko has taken a break from warbling to try his hand at art.

"From an artist's point of view, people remember my name -which is good business," said Michael, 36. But while Jacko dons sunglasses and a surgeon's mask as bodyguards keep the fans at bay, Michael is happy in solitude. He has travelled the world with his wife Alison, visiting places such as Nepal, India and Malaysia and Borneo to find subjects for his paintings. Michael, who has a one-year-old son, said: "The singer is quite a strange person to say the least, although I don't mind his music."

DURING an exchange trip to the States, American youngsters were told the speaker at a meeting would be Eddie Murphy. But instead of the Hollywood star it turned out to be a teacher from Clitheroe Grammar School. Eddie, 49, politics teacher and head of careers, said: "I was billed as Eddie Murphy with nothing to say that I wasn't the star himself. It caused a laugh when I got up. It is a good ice-breaker. If you mention your name it gets people chatting and smiling straight away. It has always caused some hilarity with students at school. People I telephone either burst out laughing when I say my name or put the phone down," said the father-of-two from Chatburn. He added: "I'm nothing like the real Eddie Murphy. I'm a lot whiter, poorer and fatter. He is a brilliant actor."

"PEOPLE keep asking if we are going to have crocodile or kangaroo on the menu," said Paul Hogan, head chef at Rishton's Auberge restaurant, who shares his name with the star of the film Crocodile Dundee. Paul was even refused a visa to Australia because of it.

"I rang Australia House in London to apply for a visa to work in Australia but they wouldn't take me seriously so I sacked the idea in the end, he said. "I just got fed up with it."

Paul, 38, of Whittle-le-Woods, has cooked for the likes of Princess Diana and Jack Nicholson. He has worked in the catering business since leaving school and has travelled the world. He said: "When the films came out I got a lot of stick. I'm used to it now and just pretend to laugh at the old jokes."

YOU would think George and Barbara Bush would be more at home at the White House than their former alehouse, the Brownhill Arms, in Blackburn. The pair share names with the 41st US president and his First Lady. George, who uses his other name Terry, said: "I suppose it's a one in a million chance that we share names but, to be honest, I've never used the name George - and certainly not now I'm married to Barbara."

The couple have heard every pun. "Most people can't believe it when we tell them but we couldn't lead more different lives."

ROGER Moore as James Bond might have liked his cocktails shaken not stirred but the East Lancashire version prefers a smooth beer in a long, cool glass.

Roger, wines and spirits sales manager for Daniel Thwaites in Blackburn, lives in Hebden Bridge. He said: "I've heard every pun going. Being in sales, the best one I heard was 'I bet your word is your bond'."

The 52-year-old recalled the time he booked a Spanish holiday.

"They must have been expecting the real Roger Moore because they looked very disappointed when I turned up and said who I was. We were expecting a really nice suite but we didn't get one."

CRIME seems to be the link between one of the greatest film directors and his local namesake.

Alfred Hitchcock directed the first full-length talking picture to be made in this country and specialised in crime suspense-packed thrillers. His namesake Superintendent Alfred Hitchcock works at the cutting edge of crime, based at Burnley Police Station. "My grandfather had the same name, which was then passed on to my father and then me," he said. But the name has its disadvantages.

"When I met my wife-to-be in a nightclub she went home and told her parents she had met 'Alfred Hitchcock' but her father said 'Don't believe everything that boys tell you.' Luckily she took a chance and met me again."

When he joined the police he was in for more punishment than he'd bargained for.

"I went on a physical training session and the gym instructor asked me my name. When I told him he said 'Oh we like jokers here. Get down on the floor and do 50 more press ups."

Even booking a table has proved difficult: "I rang a restaurant and she refused to take my booking. She kept saying 'Tony, you're winding me up.' I had to get a friend to ring up in the end."

IT CAN be a blessing to be named after motor racing's most famous commentator - especially when you receive his cheques in the post.

A sports journalist with the same name as the commentator received a bumper cheque from the News of the World for a story he had apparently sold them.

Whalley's own Murray Walker, a former Lancashire Evening Telegraph employee, said: "It has its advantages when you receive large amounts of money for an exclusive on the British Grand Prix!" Murray added: "Sharing the name certainly has its ups and downs. It is great being a sports journalist - people never forget your name. You do get recognised in the business because of it.

"Carl Fogarty used to be very sceptical in my first interviews with him. When I walk past people I always get a lot of motor racing noises."

He added: "I recently went to Iceland and on my way through customs they asked me if I was coming for the rally - and I don't think they were joking."

"Murray Walker seems quite a nice bloke. I have never had any desire to meet him but I always expected to come across him one day."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.