great mates
Elton John and unlikely pal voted top duo by fans after he ends decades-long feud with Madonna
He helped his fellow musician with his battle with booze
BRITS have revealed their favourite unlikely duos – with Elton John friendship with a US rapper coming out on top following their joint Grammy performance in 2001.
A poll of 2,000 adults found other improbable but loved friendships, both real and fictional, include GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles – as well as Han Solo and Chewbacca.
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Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett’s close bond also made the top 15 alongside Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks.
Yet it was 78-year-old Elton's connection with US rapper Eminem, 52, which came out top, after the Rocket Man singer forged a connection with the chart star when he became his AA sponsor.
The Detroit born rapper and actor reached out to pop legend Elton who came to his rescue.
"As a fellow musical superstar with nearly 30 years of sobriety under his belt, Elton John was the perfect mentor to help guide Marshall," wrote author Anthony Bozza in his book Not Afraid: The Evolution of Eminem.
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"The two started on a program of weekly check-ins and grew very close."
The popularity of Elton's friendship with the Stan rapper, real name Marshall Mathers, comes after he made amends with Madonna, ending their years-long feud.
While looking at the list of the nation's traditional favourite duos, the survey also stated how Laurel and Hardy (42 per cent), Ant and Dec (31 per cent) and Paul McCartney and John Lennon (29 per cent) came out on top.
The research was commissioned by , which has partnered with TV personality Pete Wicks, 37, featuring his famous friendly other half, Sam Thompson, 32, to celebrate its campaign Two is more than one.
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The pair emulate the likes of ‘Spiedi, ‘Brangelina’ and ‘Bennifer’ as they announce their own duo nickname ‘Sam and Pete Twix’ - merging their surnames to take their duo status up a new notch.
Pete said: “We couldn’t be any more different, and that just works, so we (or more so Sam) jumped at the chance of combining our names.
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“He’s gutted he didn’t think of it first, though jokes aside, the best thing about our duo is we always have each other’s backs – and you can’t ask for more than that.”
The research also found other iconic duos included comedians French and Saunders (25 per cent), rock legends Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (16 per cent), as well as Noel and Liam Gallagher (12 per cent).
When quizzed on what makes a pairing iconic, 56 per cent say it’s about bringing out the best in each other.
Meanwhile, 24 per cent believe it’s because they are total opposite, but it works - and another 24 per cent reckon a key sign is everyone talking about them.
What albums has Sir Elton John released?
How many records has Elton released across his career?
Empty Sky - 1969
Elton John - 1970
Tumbleweed Connection - 1970
Madman Across the Water - 1971
Honky Château - 1972
Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player - 1973
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - 1973
Caribou - 1974
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy - 1975
Rock of the Westies - 1975
Blue Moves - 1976
A Single Man - 1978
Victim of Love - 1979
21 at 33 - 1980
The Fox - 1981
Jump Up! - 1982
Too Low for Zero - 1983
Breaking Hearts - 1984
Ice on Fire - 1985
Leather Jackets - 1986
Reg Strikes Back - 1988
Sleeping with the Past - 1989
The One - 1992
Made in England - 1995
The Big Picture - 1997
Songs from the West Coast - 2001
Peachtree Road - 2004
The Captain & the Kid - 2006
The Diving Board - 2013
Wonderful Crazy Night - 2016
Regimental Sgt. Zippo - 2021
More than two thirds (66 per cent) think the phrase ‘opposites attract’ is true in real life connections, and 37 per cent claim they have experienced their own unlikely friendship.
It emerged 52 per cent have bonded with someone who seemed completely different to them at first, with one in 10 stating they are now best friends with that person.
Nearly a quarter say their BFF knows them better than anyone else, and 25 per cent even admit they confide more in them than they do their own partner.
According to 32 per cent of the OnePoll.com respondents, knowing each other’s families is what indicates ‘best friend status’ the most.
As well as spending all day together and still having things to talk about (31 per cent), knowing each other’s favourite things (28 per cent), and speaking your own language (15 per cent).
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Lauren Godfrey, senior brand manager for the chocolate brand, which has also created a quiz where users can answer a series of questions to see which famous duo their favourite friendship is most like, added: “We’ve always believed the world is more fun in twos – and our research shows we’re a nation of duos.
“Whilst none of us can understand the true bond of a pair, it's been fun to take a peep behind the iconic duo that is Pete Wicks and Sam Thompson – or as we like to call them, Sam and Pete Twix.”
Unlikely Celeb Pals
EMINEM and Sir Elton John have come out tops in a poll on unlikely celeb pals - were you aware of these famous connections?
TOP 15 UNLIKELY DUOS:
- Elton John and Eminem
- Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett
- Laurel and Hardy
- Han Solo and Chewbacca
- GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles
- Ed Sheeran and Courteney Cox
- Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart
- Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond
- Georgia Toffolo and Stanley Johnson
- Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole
- Walter White and Jesse Pinkman
- Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks
- Bette Midler and 50 Cent
- Harry Styles and Lizzo
- Pitbull and John Travolta
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