philip green yacht prank

Sir Philip Green Targeted By Comedian Lee Nelson In Yacht Prank

Lee Nelson sails up to the £100m vessel with a banner saying 'BHS Destroyer' and attaches it to the boat.

Wednesday 7 September 2016 11:46, UK

Sir Philip Green's newly built luxury superyacht Lionheart has been dubbed BHS Destroyer in a stunt by a British comedian.

Lee Nelson, who famously threw fake dollar bills at former FIFA president Sepp Blatter , has now targeted the billionaire peer.

Posting pictures of himself carrying out the stunt, Nelson tweeted: "Good of Sir Philip Green to rename his £100m yacht to something more appropriate. I was glad to help."

Sir Philip, former owner of the now-collapsed chain, is currently being investigated by regulators in a probe into BHS' vast pension deficit.

Last month, Sir Philip reacted angrily to attempts by Sky News to question him about the closure of BHS and the loss of thousands of jobs.

The former owner of the business was holidaying on his new yacht in the Greek islands.

Also in August, Sky News revealed he was seeking assurances regulators will abandon the probe if he makes a "voluntary" financial contribution to the retirement pots of thousands of the firm's former employees .

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The precise sum Sir Philip will have to contribute remains subject to weeks or even months of further negotiations, although experts say it will be at least £300m based on talks so far.

The tycoon promised to "sort" the deficit when he appeared before MPs in June, although he has since been criticised by parliamentarians over the lack of visible progress.

Approximately 11,000 people have seen their jobs disappear as a result of the collapse, with Sir Philip shouldering much of the blame in a critical report published by MPs last month.

Lee Nelson has Destroyed Philip Green with his latest cheeky prank

Tbh, any name is better for a yacht than "Lionheart".

Lee Nelson is known for a good prank on an unwitting celeb, and this time he's targeted billionaire Sir Philip Green.

The comedian - aka Simon Brodkin - rocked up at Green's Lionheart yacht to make a dig at the BHS scandal by renaming it.

Posting pictures on Twitter showing himself and a team pinning a sign saying "BHS Destroyer" on the side, Nelson wrote: "Good of Sir Philip Green to rename his £100 million yacht to something more appropriate."

Well, it's certainly a better name than Lionheart.

BHS closed last week, and Green has drawn widespread criticism from staff, unions and MPs over 11,000 workers losing their jobs, as well as originally selling the chain for £1.

Regulators are also investigating him as part of a probe into the now-collapsed company's pension deficit.

So quite how he reacts when he hears of Nelson's latest prank, we dread to think.

Other big money targets of Nelson's escapades have included former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who got fake dollar bills thrown over him during a press conference last year. He was later charged with trespass over the stunt.

He also ran on stage during Kanye West's Glastonbury headline slot in 2015, which led the rapper to start over his song after security had removed Nelson.

Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies , TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International .  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind , and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.

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Prankster Lee Nelson defaces Sir Philip Green’s £100 million super yacht with a huge poster renaming it ‘BHS Destroyer’

The comedian and pals said they were 'glad to help'

• Holly Christodoulou
• Published : 21:34, 6 Sep 2016
• Updated : 11:14, 7 Sep 2016

PRANKSTERS hoisted a sign on to Sir Philip Green's £100 million super yacht renaming it 'BHS Destroyer'.

Comedian Lee Nelson and pals posted a series of pictures of them sailing to the yacht on a speed boat to attach the sign.

The huge poster read 'BHS destroyer' and was attached to Green's lavish £100 million yacht Lionheart.

The comic tweeted: "Good of Sir Philip Green to rename his £100 million yacht to something more appropriate. I was glad to help. @All4".

@acheffy15 tweeted a photo of the defaced boat with the caption: "My mate just sent this photo through from Monaco. Look what someone did to Sir Philip Green's yacht".

It is thought the billionaire is currently in Monaco .

BHS's collapse in April has affected 11,000 jobs, 22,000 pensions, sparked a parliamentary inquiry and left its high-profile former owners potentially facing a criminal investigation.

In March 2015, BHS was sold for £1 by Arcadia Group chairman Sir Philip Green to former bankrupt Dominic Chappell, who in turn called in the receivers in May.

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Retail billionaire Green has been branded the "unacceptable face of capitalism" by furious MPs.

He has come under fire for taking more than £400 million in dividends from the chain, leaving it with a £571 million pension deficit and for selling it to a man with no retail experience.

Green is not shy about enjoying the trappings of his success - his personal fortune is estimated at somewhere between £3bn and £4bn and he enjoys spending it.

And the tycoon has been branded Philip Greed for good reason - he owns a £100 million super yacht - the jewel in his fleet of three superyachts.

The latest protest comes just days after former BHS worker Hannah Cullen confronted Green on his yacht and called him a "coward".

The single mum was fuming that the billionaire hid on his boat anchored off the glamorous Isle of Capri as thousands of ex-BHS staff faced life on the dole.

The former customer services assistant who worked at the iconic store’s branch in Harlow, Essex, for six years, was praised for her actions.

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'BHS destroyer': prankster renames Philip Green's superyacht

Retail billionaire Sir Philip Green has had his famous superyacht renamed "BHS Destroyer" in the latest prank by standup comedian Lee Nelson. The retail tycoon, who is currently holidaying in Monaco on his £100 million superyacht , has caused controversy after closing retail chain BHS, causing thousands of job losses. See also: Three luxury celebrity holiday homes you can rent See also: These celebrity summer holidays will make you really jealous Yesterday the boat, which is officially called the Lionheart, received a little unwanted rebranding when a sign reading 'BHS Destroyer' was affixed to the side. Photos posted on Twitter show the comedian and a group of friends approaching the boat in a dinghy, fixing the sign to the side, then making a hasty exit.

Good of Sir Philip Green to rename his £100 million yacht to something more appropriate. I was glad to help. @All4 pic.twitter.com/0QQloq8jCg — Lee Nelson (@RealLeeNelson) 6 September 2016

Nelson uploaded the images along with the caption: "Good of Sir Philip Green to rename his £100 million yacht to something more appropriate. I was glad to help." The Lionheart isn't Sir Philip's only yacht. According to The Sun it's one of three luxury vessels in Green's collection. It's understood that as many as 11,000 people lost their jobs when BHS went into administration, with the final stores shutting at the end of August. Green is currently being investigated for the £571 million pensions deficit. The public let their feelings on Sir Philip known on Twitter , replying to Nelson's post with comments including 'hope you drilled a few holes in it while you were there' and 'let's shame him until he pays back the pension fund'.

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Lee Nelson comic pranks Sir Philip Green

Simon Brodkin targets his £100m superyacht

Lee Nelson creator Simon Brodkin has targeted retail boss Sir Philip Green in his latest stunt.

Good of Sir Philip Green to rename his £100 million yacht to something more appropriate. I was glad to help. @All4 pic.twitter.com/0QQloq8jCg — Lee Nelson (@RealLeeNelson) 6 September 2016

Published: 7 Sep 2016

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‘BHS Destroyer’: Comedian Simon Brodkin renames Sir Philip Green’s £100m superyacht with large banner

Simon brodkin, aka lee nelson, re-brands retail magnate's 295-foot boat with large banner as it moors in monaco, article bookmarked.

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Retail billionaire Sir Philip Green has had his superyacht renamed “BHS Destroyer” in a prank by comedian Simon Brodkin, better known for his stand-up persona, Lee Nelson.

The TV star tweeted pictures of himself under his stage name, riding up to the luxury £100 million vessel in a dinghy, and hanging the sign. None of the yacht's 28-strong staff saw the comedian or his four accomplices.

He posted: “Good of Sir Philip Green to rename his £100 million yacht to something more appropriate. I was glad to help.”

As BHS, which closed its doors last month was handing staff redundancy notices, former owner, Green enjoyed a five-week holiday on his new boat, Lionheart.

The collapse of BHS's in April has seen 11,000 people lose their jobs and left 22,000 unsure about the funding of their pensions.

A commons inquiry into the chain has been highly critical of Green, who sold the retail chain for £1 to serial bankrupt Dominic Chappell, who had no retail experience.

Sir Philip owned the department store for 15 years, taking more than £400 million in dividends and leaving it with a £571 million pension deficit.

When questioned about the scandal last month as he holidayed on his new 295-foot vessel, Green became angry, telling a Sky News cameraman that his camera was "going in the f****ng sea

The yacht stunt is the latest prank by Brodkin, who showered former Fifa president Sepp Blatter with fake money at a press conference last year.

He also stormed the Glastonbury stage during Kanye West's set wearing a T-shirt with “Lee-Zus” on it before being removed by security.

The year before he tried to board the England football team's jet as they set off for the Brazil World Cup.

He was given a conditional caution after he duped security at Manchester City's game at Everton in March 2013 and limbered up alongside star players.

The qualified doctor, who had his own sketch show on BBC Three, was later charged with going on to the playing area, contrary to the Football Offences Act.

The charge was withdrawn and he was issued with a six-month conditional caution.

Additional reporting by PA

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Comedian Lee Nelson 'renames' Sir Philip Green's £100m superyacht 'BHS destroyer'

Billionaire sir philip green’s £100m yacht has been dubbed “bhs destroyer” – thanks to prankster lee nelson’s latest stunt..

• 11:00, 7 SEP 2016
• Updated 12:36, 26 SEP 2019

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The TV comedian rocked up beside the luxury ship in a speedboat with his pals who helped him rechristen the boat with a huge banner.

Pictures of Nelson and his mates sailing to Green’s lavish Lionheart yacht to attach the “BHS Destroyer” sign were posted to social media.

On Twitter the star wrote: “Good of Sir Philip Green to rename his £100million yacht to something more appropriate. I was glad to help. @All4”.

Nelson – real name Simon Brodkin – is imfamous for his outrageous stunts.

Handing out Nazi-branded golf balls as Donald Trump gave a speech and gatecrashing Kanye West's Glastonbruy performance are just a few of the stunts which have propelled him into stardom.

The post, which has more than 1,000 retweets, went down a treat with critics of “greedy” and “selfish” Green.

Zaher Laher wrote: “Nice one, just the publicity he needs. Personally you should have called it Greedy McBoatface!”

It is thought the high-street magnate is currently on a jaunt to Monaco.

Last week he was spotted soaking in the sun on his superyacht in the Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, jobless BHS staff are struggling to make end’s meet.

The iconic high street firm folded in April, affecting 11,000 jobs, 22,000 pensions and sparking a parliamentary inquiry.

After 88 years at the forefront of the UK high street, BHS stores closed their doors for the last time on Sunday.

Fuming MPs branded ex-owner Green the “unacceptable face of capitalism”.

He was blasted for taking £400million in dividends from the chain, before selling it off for £1 Dominic Chappell in 2015.

MP Frank Field accused the retail billionaire of “plundering” the firm during his ownership.

Along with his £100m superyacht, the tycoon is thought to be worth between £3bn and £4bn.

Green was publicly mocked for owning several super yachts during the collapse of high street institution BHS.

Protesters were caught erecting a sign that read "BHS Yacht Club" over the threshold of the firm's flagship BHS store on Oxford Street in London.

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Sir Philip, former owner of the now-collapsed chain, is currently being investigated by regulators in a probe into BHS' vast pension deficit.

Last month, Sir Philip reacted angrily to attempts by Sky News to question him about the closure of BHS and the loss of thousands of jobs.

The former owner of the business was holidaying on his new yacht in the Greek islands.

Also in August, Sky News revealed he was seeking assurances regulators will abandon the probe if he makes a "voluntary" financial contribution to the retirement pots of thousands of the firm's former employees .

The precise sum Sir Philip will have to contribute remains subject to weeks or even months of further negotiations, although experts say it will be at least £300m based on talks so far.

The tycoon promised to "sort" the deficit when he appeared before MPs in June, although he has since been criticised by parliamentarians over the lack of visible progress.

Approximately 11,000 people have seen their jobs disappear as a result of the collapse, with Sir Philip shouldering much of the blame in a critical report published by MPs last month.

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Philip Green's yacht renamed BHS Destroyer by TV star Lee Nelson in political stunt

The disgraced former BHS owner has come under fire for his handling of his former company's dissolution

• 21:18, 6 Sep 2016
• Updated 14:05, 3 Nov 2016

Sir Philip Green's luxury £100m superyacht has been dubbed BHS Destroyer in a stunt by comedian Lee Nelson .

The TV star revealed that he had sailed up to the billionaire ex-owner of BHS's boat with a sign reading the new name and attached it as part of a stunt.

Posting pictures of himself carrying out the stunt, the TV star wrote: "Good of Sir Philip Green to rename his £100 million yacht to something more appropriate. I was glad to help."

It comes a week after after the ex-owner of the company, once a high-street favourite, to enjoy himself with a relaxing jaunt on his £100m superyacht in the Med.

Sir Philip Green, accused by MP Frank Field of "plundering" the firm during his ownership, was pictured sunning himself on his plush boat 'Lionheart' near the island of Capri.

Meanwhile, his daughter Chloe Green, 23, followed suit as she boarded a yacht in St Tropez.

Far from dreaming of sun-drenched holidays in the Med, distraught BHS staff are wondering where the next pay cheque is coming from.

The closure news in April hit 11,000 jobs, 22,000 pensions and sparked a parliamentary inquiry.

Sunday was the final day of trading, bringing an end to 88 years of retail history.

Sir Philip, 64, and wife Lady Green will find out in weeks whether there will be a criminal probe into the collapse.

He owned BHS for 15 years before flogging it to serial bankrupt Dominic Chappell for £1 in 2015.

It crashed with an estimated £571million pension deficit, although experts say it could be nearer £700million.

The Serious Fraud Office has confirmed it is reviewing paperwork relating to the collapse.

A spokesman said: “If the director considers there are reasonable grounds to suspect serious or complex fraud, he will open a criminal investigation.”

An MPs’ report last month said Sir Philip had “extracted hundreds of millions of pounds from BHS”.

MORE ON Frank Field Philip Green BHS Politics

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Culture | TV

Britain’s Greatest Hoaxer: Channel 4 reveal how Simon Brodkin pranked Donald Trump and Simon Cowell

While Dom Joly’s Trigger Happy made a brief online return last year, there’s a different public prankster who celebs fear nowadays.

His name is Simon Brodkin, also known as his comedy alter-ego Lee Nelson, and he’s had some high-profile targets in the last few years.

He gate-crashed Kanye West ’s headline set at Glastonbury. He threw a pile of money over disgraced FIFA chair Sepp Blatter . Oh, and he pelted Donald Trump with swastika-emblazoned golf balls.

That presidential prank is one of three hoaxes chronicled in Channel 4 ’s documentary Britain’s Greatest Hoaxer.

The one-hour film shows how Brodkin chooses his targets, and the lengths he’ll go to in order to remain undetected, with every successful stunt giving him an increased profile.

While the Trump trick is the peak of the show, the majority of screen-time goes to Brodkin’s most recent prank: gatecrashing the Britain’s Got Talent auditions in disguise.

“The plan is to sit in this uncomfy chair for five hours until I look like an orthodox Jew,” he explains as he prepares to catch out Simon Cowell , “then go and dupe four judges and the entire nation, and f*** off home to bed.”

Britain's Got Talent 2017 in Blackpool

Second on the list is Arcadia group chairman Sir Philip Green whose yacht gets an unwanted makeover.

While Brodkin’s results are debatable (it’s hard not to feel like his BGT prank is targeting the show’s contestants rather than Cowell), his fans will certainly get a kick out of seeing the work that goes into his surprise appearances.

Countdown’s Susie Dent reprimanded for naughty eight letter word

The Crystal Maze: five things we learned from Channel 4’s charity special

The Crystal Maze, Channel 4: Stand Up to Cancer special with Stephen Merchant is brilliantly nostalgic

Would it be good to see more of Brodkin’s daredevil antics? Sure – but he might not get away with them again once Britain’s Greatest Hoaxer airs.

Channel 4, 10pm

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