Comic gets flirty in the US

American gossip columns have branded Steve Coogan a "cad" for chatting up two women in one night.

The comedian was caught out at the US premiere of 24-Hour Party People, his film about the Manchester music scene.

The New York Post's influential gossip column Page Six reported how he got phone numbers from two "lovely lasses" at the after-party.

He separately invited them to a David Bowie and told both they were "the most beautiful girl I've ever seen", the paper reported.

The Alan Partridge star, who is little-known in the States, also called them repeatedly the next morning - but they had a mutual acquaintance so they found out what he was up to.

Published: 5 Aug 2002