Note by Celebitchy: Both JayBird and Helen covered this story in their unique way. Here’s JayBird’s take, to be followed by Helen’s

James Blunt tells GQ that he once sold his sister on eBay. And not in that funny, joking way, he really did sell her. Apparently he’s not quite as big a jerk as this makes him sound.

“I was waiting for my first album to come out and ended up selling pretty much everything I owned on eBay. I had a mild addiction.

“Anyway, I came back to the flat where my sister was staying and she was crying because she couldn’t get to a funeral in Ireland.

“The planes were on strike, the ferry was out of season and there were no trains. I ended up whacking it on eBay, ‘Damsel in distress seeks knight in shining armour! Desperate to get to a funeral in Southern Ireland, please help!’”

[From London Net]

While this makes him sound a little off kilter (who in the world wants to go to a funeral with someone you’ve never met? That your brother found on eBay? And paid for you?) it’s sweet in a weird way. Turns out the guy who won James Blunt’s sister was wealthy enough not just to “buy” her, but also had his own helicopter that choppered them to the funeral. God I hope they didn’t land it next to the church or something. Anyway, it turns out that the pair fell in love, and they’re getting married this summer. So in a way, Blunt’s eBay addiction helped his sister find true love. Or buy true love. Whichever. Who says brothers don’t look out for you?

Helen’s take:

James Blunt may be the ultimate sensitive crooner – but doesn’t seem to quite make it to that level of sensitivity behind the music. He sold his sister to the highest bidder on eBay.

This is really hard to explain, so here’s what he had to say about it.

“The stupidest thing I’ve ever sold is my sister, on eBay.
“I was waiting for my first album to come out and ended up selling pretty much everything I owned on eBay. I had a mild addiction.
“Anyway, I came back to the flat where my sister was staying and she was crying because she couldn’t get to a funeral in Ireland. “The planes were on strike, the ferry was out of season and there were no trains. I ended up whacking it on eBay, ‘Damsel in distress seeks knight in shining armour! Desperate to get to a funeral in Southern Ireland, please help!’
“The bids flooded in and the guy who won had a helicopter. He flew her to the funeral.
“That was three years ago, this summer they’re getting married!”

[From NZ Herald]

This is probably a story I would have kept to myself. Probably for the same reason James kept it to himself until now – he knows it’s not really part of the sexy singer-songwriter mantle to sell your relatives, no matter how good the cause. I wonder what the final bid was? At least she liked the guy, how awkward would it be to be stuck with someone you couldn’t tolerate, in a helicopter, when he had paid for the privilege?

James Blunt’s music doesn’t appeal to me at all, but I’ve always kind of liked him after seeing this on Australian television a year ago.

ANDREW DENTON: That song you just sang, ‘Goodbye My Lover’ was, for you on the album, the most important song. That was the one about the girl who was the one. Have you sung her out of your system?

JAMES BLUNT: I’ve sung it a lot. No, it hasn’t got me the girl back, but I’m sure it will get me laid.

I wonder how many times it got him laid? No, no I don’t. Just keep on being miserable James, it seems to work for you.