NEWS FROM PREMIER INN

ELTON JOHN AND DAVID FURNISH BECOME THE FIRST GAY COUPLE TO MAKE THE SHORTLIST FOR CELEBRITY DAD OF THE YEAR

26th MAY 2011 – Last Christmas brought a baby boy for one of the world’s most famous civil partnerships, Elton John and David Furnish. The couple have now won over the hearts of the nation and are in the running for Premier Inn’s Celebrity Dad of the Year 2011.

But can the new daddies beat the shortlist of 15 other high-profile dads to take the crown? The line up includes David Beckham who is currently awaiting the arrival of his fourth child and going head to head to be crowned top dad are comic personalities James Corden, Michael McIntyre and Jonathan Ross.

Peter Andre, the reigning champion of Celebrity Dad of the Year 2010 has once again made the shortlist so it will be interesting to see if Peter can be the first dad to win the title two years in a row.

Other celebrity dad favourites include celebrity reality TV stars Jeff Brazier and Gavin Henson who may have won over the public this year by demonstrating they could juggle parenthood whilst proving their dancing skills in sequin covered costumes.

Newcomers to the list this year include England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, who rushed across the Atlantic to be at the birth of his first born with ex-pop princess Jessica Taylor, and Rugby League star, Kris Smith, who announced the birth of his son with Danni Minogue last summer.

The dads in line for the Premier Inn Celebrity Dad of the Year award are (in no particular order):
1. David Furnish
2. Elton John
3. Wayne Rooney
4. David Beckham
5. Jeff Brazier
6. Gary Barlow
7. Kevin Pietersen
8. Rod Stewart
9. Frank Lampard
10. James Corden
11. Kris Smith
12. Michael McIntyre
13. Gavin Henson
14. Peter Andre
15. Jonathan Ross

The official Premier Inn Celebrity Dad of the Year award aims to reward the celebrity dad who has impressed the nation by balancing a hectic public life with the demands of parenting.

The public can register their votes from Friday 27th May 2011 at www.facebook.com/premierinn for who they would most like to see crowned with the coveted title in time for Father’s Day (Sunday, 19 June).

Britain has until midnight on Sunday 12th June 2011 to vote for its celebrity dad from the shortlisted top 15 by registering nominations at www.facebook.com/premierinn with the winner presented with their award at an exclusive presentation ceremony in London on 16th June 2011.

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For further information on the event, a photo call notice or celebrity interview requests please contact the team on 020 7693 6999 or email: premierinn@frankpr.it

Notes to editors:

Award-winning Premier Inn is the UK’s biggest hotel brand with over 600 budget hotels and more than 43,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland. Premier Inn bedrooms feature en-suite bathrooms, TV with Freeview, and WiFi internet access. All Premier Inns feature a bar and restaurant; situated inside the hotel or adjacent, offering a wide range of food choices.

In 2008 Premier Inn launched in Dubai and is now open in Bangalore, India. On a domestic front, Premier Inn aims to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London (within the M25) by 2012.

Premier Inn is currently offering rooms for just £29 (restrictions apply). Visit www.premierinn.com for full terms and conditions.

Premier Inn supports WaterAid, the international charity whose mission is to overcome poverty by enabling the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. Premier Inn, as part of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, aims to raise £1 million for WaterAid over the next two years. Details can be found at www.wateraid.org/whitbread.