James Blunt’s pub is haunted by the ghost of regular who keeps knocking over a tankard from the ceiling

JAMES BLUNT has been the butt of plenty of jokes – and now even a ghost is pulling his leg.

The You’re Beautiful singer, who regularly takes the mick out of himself on social media, is being haunted in the pub he owns — with the ghoul regularly knocking a particular tankard from its hook.

James has shared a video on Instagram of a glass mysteriously falling at The Fox & Pheasant pub and is convinced it is the spirit of a former regular.

A source said: “James believes the ghost is that of someone who used to come in regularly, because he always knocks over the same tankard.

“James and the staff reckon it must have been his favourite one.

“He appears quite regularly, knocking things about and causing hazards. A few of the staff were really freaked out when it first happened but now everyone views the ghost quite affectionately.

“It keeps the staff on their toes because they have to be ready to catch the falling tankard at any time. It feels ridiculous but there is really no explanation for it.”

James bought The Fox & Pheasant in Chelsea, West London, which dates from 1846, in 2017, did it up and opened the following year.

If I was a ghost, I’m not sure James would be the first person I would be haunting. That said, if I was able to keep my eye on someone, a character like James would certainly keep me entertained.

Now that we are in November, I’m gearing myself up for an onslaught of new festive albums and songs from acts all clamouring to make a few quid from the festive market.

But with James’s new friend on the other side, I’m hoping he’ll start a trend next year by releasing a Halloween record.

If that means a launch party in the pub with a poltergeist, count me in.

READ MORE FROM SIMON BOYLE'S BIZARRE COLUMN

Joel at helm of ball party

HEAD & Heart hitmaker Joel Corry had an earlier start than normal at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball Kick Off Party on the Thames, cracking out tunes before Big Ben struck noon.

The superstar DJ played an exclusive set from the Barclaycard Boat yesterday to celebrate the return of the music extravaganza, which will be held at London’s O2 Arena on December 11 and 12.

Capital Breakfast’s Roman Kemp hosted with Sonny Jay and Sian Welby. They will this morning announce the artists playing the Jingle Bell Ball.

Roman said: “We are unbelievably excited to be celebrating the return of Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball.”

If you’re lucky enough to get tickets, I’ll see you there.

Ellie's booze blitz

ELLIE GOULDING has revealed she turned to booze to chase the high of being on tour and didn’t “ever want to go home” when she was out drinking.

The Love Me Like You Do singer said: “(I would be in) the middle of the day and thinking, ‘Ooh, when can I have a wine or something?’

“It’s no coincidence that most artists have had their days of booze and drugs, because it is that constant high that you crave.

“As soon as you’ve done a tour where you’ve had constant adrenalin from performance after performance – everyone is different – for me it was drinking.

“I loved to drink and I discovered a vodka soda. I thought, ‘OK cool, I can stay hydrated but also get very very drunk at the same time’.

“It was like a constant seeking of highs and the next thing you could do to make you feel alive.”

Ellie, happily married to art dealer Caspar Jopling, also said in the past she would wake in the middle of the night and think about her failed romances.

She told the Reign With Josh Smith podcast: “I would be like, ‘What the hell was I thinking?’.

“Or I’d remember an ex boyfriend and think, ‘Should I reach out? No, why would I reach out to my ex boyfriend?’”

I think we’ve all been there . . .

Tong move

BEFORE finding fame as one of our greatest ever DJs, Pete Tong kicked off his career as an A&R man, signing acts including Run DMC and Salt-N-Pepa  . . . although he did drop one big clanger.

Pete was honoured at Tuesday’s Music Industry Trusts Awards at central London’s Grosvenor Hotel.

And he told how a colleague had secured rap superstar Jay-Z for the label before he made it big.

But, Pete added: “He was signed, then in an A&R meeting we managed to drop him.”

Pete moved to Radio 1 in 1991 and recalled: “We created a platform for (dance music) which was groundbreaking.

“But we did get carried away. One year I persuaded them to let me do my show from Ibiza for the whole summer – 18 weeks of outside broadcasts.”

Rihanna a party animal

NEVER mind the costume, it was the price tag on Rihanna's Beetlejuice-style outfit that gave me the biggest fright.

She dressed in black and white for a spooky bash in New York, including this zebra-style coat from US fashion designer Rick Owens which will set you back a whopping £8,000.

Proving she still knows how to party, Rihanna did not leave her brother Rorrey’s Halloween celebrations until 5am. Her make-up, including gothic lipstick, still looked impeccable as she headed home.

But given it was dark outside at that time, I can only assume the singer’s decision to wear sunglasses was to hide her weary eyes.

I just wish I looked that good on my way to the kebab house after a big night out.