Doughty Street barrister a pawn in Clooney prank on Pitt

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By Judge John Hack on

Hollywood mega-star seems to think his human rights missus is a criminal law specialist, who will spring him from jail whenever he snaps his fingers

Brad

One would expect a website with the word ‘cheek’ in the masthead to have a dollop of sympathy for a 54-year-old man with a Peter Pan streak and a penchant for the odd practical joke.

So Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney bags Legal Cheek points for running a longstanding campaign of playing juvenile japes on fellow Beverley Hills shopper, Brad Pitt.

It’s also a fair to expect that Rodeo Drive royalty are not that clued up on the minutia of legal practice. But we can’t imagine that Mrs George Clooney, Amal (nee) Alamuddin, will be that chuffed with hubby for wheeling out references to her for cheap laughs — and then exhibiting a woeful misunderstanding of her professional life.

Clooney G will appear on BBC One’s chat-fest, the Graham Norton Show, tomorrow night. The London Evening Standard sneaked a preview and disclosed that the former most-eligible-bachelor-in-the-world teases the audience with a taster of his latest comedy wheeze lined up for old chum and fellow Ocean’s Elevener, Pitt.

“I’m not sure how it started, but we have done some terrible things to each other,” Clooney tells Norton, according to the Standard. He then continues: “I’m doing one now that I can’t tell you about but in a year you are going to hear I’ve been arrested — I’m not kidding because I think I’ve crossed the line.”

Oh no, the audience of middle-aged housewives undoubtedly gasps. Can their hero and fantasy dreamboat really be destined for a spot of porridge just for having a sense of humour?

Not to worry, assures a calm-as-cucumber Clooney, “It’s exciting. But I have a wife, she’s a barrister, I’ll be fine!”

Er … Well, George, if you check with ‘er indoors, she’ll explain that duty-lawyering down the cop shop is not really in her professional repertoire.

As her Doughty Street Chambers website profile explains: “Amal Clooney is a barrister who specialises in public international law, international criminal law and human rights.

“She represents clients before international courts including the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights and domestic courts in the UK and US.

“Alongside court work, she provides advice to governments and individuals on legal issues in her areas of expertise.”

But give Legal Cheek a ring, George — we’ll happily recommend some criminal law solicitors’ firms.