Brands Battle Over Adventurous Ewan McGregor!!!!

In a dramatic development, outdoor companies are battling to be associated with motorbiking meeja luvvie Ewan McGregor who's been orf round the world with fellow two-wheeling but less well known thespian Charley Boorman. There's also an unheralded motorcycling cameraman, but you don't want to know about him.

Obviously if you or I decided to tear round the globe on bloody great BMWs, we might merit a small piece in our local rag, but Ewan and Charley being celebs like, they got to make a telly programme for Sky One, which screens at 9pm on Mondays.

Eaten Alive!

The guys at Then North Face thought they had the outdoor clothing and equipment side of things well wrapped up. Keith Byrne of TNF UK commented: " A trip like this for Ewan and Charley will be a real physical challenge but the guys will get a great sense of personal satisfaction. Providing The North Face Equipment and Footwear to Ewan and Charley was a must. It's great to see celebrities encouraging an adventure like this. As we say at The North Face; Never Stop Exploring!"

And it wasn't all easy for TNF either. According to a release, 'the brand had to come to the rescue a third of the way through the trip in Russia when Ewan lost his Conness GTX boots and called up to ask for a replacement pair to be sent out urgently.'

Shucks, that's what we call adventure. It all seemed to be going swimingly for TNF, then disaster struck. 'Russian advisers' warned the intrepid pair of the hideous dangers of being 'eaten alive by mosquitos'. Ewan spotted some Craghoppers Nosquito, insect-repellant clothing in a local outdoor shop and before you could say 'PR opportunity' the team were kitted out in Nosquito gear and those pesky mozzies missed out on a meal.

No doubt the guys in Berghaus PR will be gnashing their teeth in frustration - the brand also produces insect-repellant travel clothing. Anyway, if you want to watch Ewan and Charley racing about on bikes, 9 pm on Mondays, Sky One. And there's going to be a book too....

More about TNF at www.thenorthface.com. More about Craghoppers at www.craghoppers.com. More about the journey at www.longwayround.com