UNITED KINGDOM: Hugh Hefner and his three girlfriends continue his 80th birthday celebrations in London

Record ID: 861937

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Hugh Hefner and his three girlfriends continue his 80th birthday celebrations in London
  • Date: 25th May 2006
  • Summary: BRIDGET MARQUARDT AND KENDRA WILKINSON SIGNING BOOKS (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) HUGH HEFNER, FOUNDER OF PLAYBOY MAGAZINE, SAYING: "But I endorse it (Viagra). It's the best legal recreational drug out there I think"
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2006 13:00
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  • Location: United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA8FN6WIG6G4Q18NXI82PDD0A1N
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  • Story Text: Self-proclaimed hedonist Hugh Hefner celebrated his 80th birthday in London on Tuesday (May 23) - or rather continued to celebrate it. The founder and owner of Playboy magazine turned 80 last April but shows no signs of moderating the lifestyle for which he is infamous.
    During the day the aging libertarian attended a book signing at Harvey Nichols' London store with his three girlfriends Kendra Wilkinson, Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt, who are all stars of the E! reality television show 'Girls of the Playboy Mansion'.
    Hefner said he felt becoming an octogenarian warranted the extended birthday festivities.
    "Well it started with a pajama and lingerie which was a grand one and we're going to be touring Europe for the next two weeks," he told Reuters at the book signing. "But I think the celebration will probably go on all year long."
    Reflecting on the past 80 years, Hefner said there is little he would do differently.
    "Well there are always bumps in the road that you wish you could change, but that's a very dangerous game because overall I'm a very lucky cat and I know it," he said.
    Despite Playboy being a "men's entertainment" magazine, it was women who made up the the vast majority of fans who turned out to the book signing. An unsurprised Hefner attributed the female following to the popularity of his girlfriend's reality TV show.
    The magazine mogul, who over the years has lived with an ever changing number of blond models several decades his junior, also claimed that since the publication's birth in 1953 Playboy had become more appealing to women.
    "I think it probably has to do with the Television show and these girls and I think it's a wonderful thing," he said, explaining the number of female fans at the book signing.. "In the last few years young women - a whole new generation - has embraced Playboy as a sign of personal empowerment and that gives me great satisfaction," he added.
    After the book signing the quartet attended another birthday party for Hefner at 'The Play Room' club, around the corner from Piccadilly Circus.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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