Day of the Davids
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Whether you’re a fan of fashion, sport or natural history, Twitter was the place to be today as two famous Davids took to the platform to answer questions directly from fans.
Footballer David Beckham took over the @HM account to mark the launch of the new TV advert for his clothing range, whilst the @BBCNature account saw a special guest appearance from Sir David Attenborough, ahead of his show ‘Africa’ airing on @BBCOne this evening.
Both #AskBeckham and #AskAttenborough trended on Twitter in the UK as fans took the opportunity to put questions to their idols.
#AskBeckham
Beckham’s takeover of H&M’s Twitter feed (@HM) kicked off at 8am this morning as he exclusively posted his new short film #BeckhamforHM, directed by Guy Ritchie.
My new Advert is about to launch #BeckhamforHM directed by Guy Ritchie bit.ly/WCrpXB Hope you like it?? //Beckham
— H&M ( @hm) February 6, 2013
Then at lunchtime, he arrived to answer questions sent in by followers using the hashtag #AskBeckham. Arriving a little later than planned, he started by posting this picture of himself gearing up for the hour-long session:
Sorry, I’m a bit late! Ready to answer your questions now. Tweet me @ hm using #AskBeckham//Beckham twitter.com/hm/status/2991…
— H&M ( @hm) February 6, 2013
He then went on to answer questions, telling fans that he had the option to buy a franchise in US Major League Soccer:
@ hm #AskBeckham Would u ever consider buying a football club when u retire for example Preston North End;)?
— alex daggers ( @AlexDaggers11) February 6, 2013
Hi @ alexdaggers11 I have the option to buy a franchise in the MLS, so yes to the MLS, sadly a no to Preston //Beckham
— H&M ( @hm) February 6, 2013
He also answered questions about highlights from his footballing career:
@ hm #askbeckham who is the best player you have ever played with or against? Ronaldinho, Zidane or someone else? P.S: i’m a big fan!
— Jonas Blom ( @BlomHelmersen) February 6, 2013
Great question @ blomhelmersen The best player i have played against is Roberto Carlos, best player I’ve played with is Zidane //Beckham
— H&M ( @hm) February 6, 2013
#AskBeckham @ hm what is your favourite goal you’ve ever scored?? P.s you are my idol #fact
— Mark Stevens ( @MarkDStevens) February 6, 2013
Favourite goal would have to be the one i scored against Wimbledon from 57 yards @ markdstevens //Beckham
— H&M ( @hm) February 6, 2013
It wasn’t all sport related though - Beckham gave this cheeky response to bride-to-be Laura Pow’s question:
@ hm what pants would you recommend for under my fiancees kilt at our wedding in April? lol #AskBeckham
— Laura Pow ( @mummypow) February 6, 2013
I shouldn’t be saying this as an H&M ambassador, but he shouldn’t be wearing any, haha @ mummypow //Beckham
— H&M ( @hm) February 6, 2013
He also revealed to fans which career he would have followed if wasn’t a footballer:
@ hmunitedkingdom @ hm if you didn’t play soccer, what occupation would you have chosen? #AskBeckham
— Maura ( @maura_loves) February 4, 2013
I enjoy drawing cartoons, so I’d go for an artist @ maura_loves //Beckham
— H&M ( @hm) February 6, 2013
Beckham admitted that despite having lived in several cities around the world, he still thinks of London as his home:
@ hm of all the amazing cities you’ve lived in…which is your favourite?? #AskBeckham
— Lee Smith ( @lee__smith) February 4, 2013
Good question @ lee__smith I love them all in different ways but London is my home so I’ll go with that one //Beckham
— H&M ( @hm) February 6, 2013
And he even bantered with former footballer and TV presenter @GaryLineker:
@ hm Even your football career will end some day. Post playing would you consider a punditry role on MOTD? #AskBeckham
— Gary Lineker ( @GaryLineker) February 6, 2013
Haha, if it’s your job then yes, as you always seem to be on the beach @ garylineker //Beckham
— H&M ( @hm) February 6, 2013
Meanwhile over on @BBCNature, a legend from another field made his Twitter debut as Sir David Attenborough answered questions from fans using the hashtag #AskAttenborough.
And he’s certainly a personality with global appeal, demonstrated as he replied to this Tweet from @Cmdr_Hadfield, an astronaut aboard the International Space Station:
.@ cmdr_hadfield I’d just sit and watch the earth go by - its a perspective I’ve never had. #AskAttenborough
— BBC Nature ( @BBCNature) February 6, 2013
As part of the chat, he also shared this video of himself with a baby rhino, reminding fans of his legendary broadcasting skills:
Thank you so much for all your #askattenborough questions. In case you missed the baby rhino clip, here it is again: bit.ly/11V5iLg
— BBC Nature ( @BBCNature) February 6, 2013
He also used the opportunity to highlight the plight of the endangered creature:
@ karenjamieson17 The Javan Rhinoceros is probably the most at risk #AskAttenborough
— BBC One ( @BBCOne) February 6, 2013
As well as highlighting a mighty beast of the animal world, he played homage to the lowly earthworm as he answered this question:
@ johannamayr1 That would be the earthworm, otherwise we’d be up to our necks in…! #AskAttenborough
— BBC One ( @BBCOne) February 6, 2013
During the Q&A Attenborough reflected on his extraordinary career, telling followers that he would not have done anything differently if he had his time again:
@ veeeenr I don’t think I would have anything to say to him, I wouldn’t do anything differently. #AskAttenborough
— BBC One ( @BBCOne) February 6, 2013
Although he also revealed himself to be a fan of new media, highlighting Twitter as something that would have excited him as a young filmmaker:
@ choward Twitter, of course! What else? @ twitteruk #AskAttenborough
— BBC One ( @BBCOne) February 6, 2013
Dinner Guests
Both Davids answered questions about their dream guests for a dinner party, with Attenborough opting for Charles Darwin, and Beckham choosing the Queen, Jack Nicholson and Muhammad Ali:
@ hm which 3 people would you invite to a dinner party? #AskBeckham
— lydia cheng ( @lydiacheng_) February 6, 2013
A tricky one, The Queen, Jack Nicholson and Muhammad Ali would be good @ lydiacheng_ //Beckham
— H&M ( @hm) February 6, 2013
Twitter Q&As bring fans closer to the things they love. If you would like to host one on your Twitter account, check out our best practice guidelines.
