Tony’s Network

25.07.06: To mark the opening of Virgin Mobile’s flagship store at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock this Saturday, 29th July, Virgin Mobile has asked the nation who they think is the best-connected person in the country. The results reveal that Tony Blair has the most sought-after mobile phonebook in the whole of the UK.

Tony was the best connected man in Britain in the opinion of those surveyed, with Robbie Williams second most popular, and Sir Elton John third. David and Victoria Beckham came fourth, with Tony Blair’s political rival, David Cameron, completing the top five in the list.

Of those polled 26% revealed that they would most like access to Tony Blair’s mobile phonebook, which is considered more interesting and valuable than any other person in the UK. The final five in Virgin Mobile’s top ten best-connected list include Liz Hurley, George Michael, Mick Jagger, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne and Simon Cowell.

Virgin Mobile’s PR manager Jo Baker said: “It’s not too surprising to see the British PM at the top of Virgin Mobile’s best connected list. Tony Blair is both a politician and a celebrity in his own right, and he must have one of the most intriguing mobile phonebooks in the country. Politicians are becoming more and more involved in popular culture in this country, as evidenced by our survey which places both Blair and Cameron in the top five. I am sure Tony Blair’s mobile phonebook must be one of his prized possessions and kept close to him at all times.”

Virgin Mobile opens its first standalone store at Lakeside in Thurrock on Saturday 29th July 2006. The company is planning to open another two standalone Virgin Mobile stores later in the year and is planning a significant wave of new store openings throughout 2007. It already has 119 specialist stores within Virgin Megastores and WH Smith; these stores-within-stores will continue to be a key part of the company’s retail presence.

The design concept is to create an urban, entertainment-focussed destination that embraces the Virgin Mobile brand. It has been created by an in-house team of people from Virgin Mobile, with the help of Start Design, Judge Gill as Interior Design consultants and Resolution Interiors.

Top 10 best-connected Brits

1. Tony Blair
2. Robbie Williams
3. Elton John David
4. Beckham/ Victoria Beckham
5. David Cameron
6. Liz Hurley
7. George Michael
8. Mick Jagger
9. Ozzy Osbourne/ Sharon Osbourne
10. Simon Cowell

2,000 people were surveyed by Virgin Mobile, by 72point.com.

Virgin Mobile Press Office:
0845 600 6272
or
press.office@virginmobile.com

Jo Baker: 07941 233300 or jo.baker@virginmobile.com

About Virgin Mobile:

Virgin Mobile is the UK’s largest mobile virtual network operator and uses T-Mobile's network. Since its launch in November 1999, Virgin Mobile has attracted more than 4 million customers.

Virgin Mobile is part of the ntl:telewest group. The Group is the first to be able to offer `quadruple play’ to customers: mobile and fixed line telephony, broadband internet and television.

In the UK, Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600; on the web at www.virginmobile.com or on the high street at approximately 5,000 outlets including Virgin Mobile Stores within Virgin Megastores and selected WHSmiths, The Carphone Warehouse, The Link, Phones 4 U, Currys.digital, Comet, Tesco, Asda, John Lewis, Argos, Woolworths, Toys R Us, Ryman, web retailer Dial-a-phone plus hundreds of independent mobile phone dealers and available via Shop Direct/Littlewoods, Grattan and Empire home shopping channels.

Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly (contract) is currently available in Virgin Mobile Stores, The Carphone Warehouse, The Link, Phones 4u, at concessions in WHSmith and from www.virginmobile.com.

Virgin Mobile employs approximately 1,700 staff at three sites, Trowbridge, London and Daventry, and has an outsourced customer service centre operated by approximately 200 staff in Middlesbrough.

Virgin Mobile was voted 22nd Best Workplaces in the UK in the Financial Times survey for 2006.