On 28th April 2011, Labour MP Ed Balls was browsing the aisles of Asda as he hunted down the ingredients for a pulled pork BBQ. Then he decided to search his own name on Twitter.

Ad

Pulling out his Blackberry, he typed in "Ed Balls" - and pressed send.

What he didn't realise, of course, was that he'd accidentally tweeted his own name.

https://twitter.com/edballs/status/63623585020915713

The tweet became an instant phenomenon, and since then Ed Balls Day has been celebrated every year.

Why? Because why not.

But 2017 is a very special Ed Balls Day, because a) we're in the middle of an election campaign and Ed Balls is a former shadow chancellor, and b) this is the year the public fell in love with Ed Balls on Strictly Come Dancing.

https://twitter.com/mrjohnofarrell/status/857855684460896256
https://twitter.com/bbcstrictly/status/857835529127301121
https://twitter.com/BeckyyWells/status/857848122952884224

Ed Balls himself is happy to be in on the joke, even signing copies of his legendary tweet - and making a special cake for his wife.

https://twitter.com/HenryDimbleby/status/857860864245944320
https://twitter.com/edballs/status/725706293017743362

Ad

Now the question is: how will we explain Ed Balls Day to our grandchildren?

Ad
Ad

TBX promo on RT develop

mmediate Media Company Limited is a British multinational publishing house that produces a wide range of magazine titles, including Radio Times, BBC Top Gear, Good Food and many other
RT develop
Ad