Gorillaz’s to give alternative Christmas speech

22 December 2005 11:48 GMT / By Jason Denwood

Never one to miss an opportunity 3, the 3G operator in the UK, is offering its customers an alternative to the Queen's Speech courtesy of the Gorillaz's bass player Murdoc.

Available free to customers on Christmas Day, the speech embraces a range of diverse subjects that are highly unlikely to be on the agenda for the traditional version on the BBC.

Donning a crown and perched on a throne, Murdoc rants and raves about the political, social and artistic highs and lows of the past year. From the ascent of James Blunt to the demise of the Routemaster bus, Murdoc weaves the landmark events of 2005 into his own ‘state of the nation' address.

Murdoc comments, "We've all had so many ‘ups and down' over the last year with toxic vapour clouds, earthquakes, face transplants, floods in Glastonbury and the end of the old ‘routemaster' buses ... but it's not all good news. On the bad side, we've had new music from James Blunt - who needs valium? - Westlife, and more films from ‘Harry Potter'. So it really does look like we're just one step closer to the Apocalypse, eh?".

The 3 minute speech will be available to download free on 3 from Christmas morning until 31 December. To access the speech customers simply click the Planet 3 button on their handset and then click on the Gorillaz icon on ‘Today on 3'.

Murdoc's alternative Queen's Speech is part of a season of music exclusives on 3 including the the mobile video premiere of Madonna's single Hung up, the world's first mobile video sequel for Hard Fi's Cash Machine and the world video premieres of James Blunt's Goodbye My Lover and Pussy Cat Dolls' 3rd single Beep.