Neil Sean's tongue-in-cheek celebrity tips

Neil Sean knows all about the red carpet lifestyle.

As an entertainment reporter for NBC News and Access Hollywood, Neil has interviewed some of the world’s biggest stars and he knows how to play the fame game.

Moving in VIP circles from London to LA, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Beyonce and Mariah Carey, Neil has come a long way from Mirfield, where he grew up.

But, while it looks like an exclusive club, he insists anyone can live the celebrity lifestyle. Keen to spread some gold-dust among us lesser mortals, he has produced this fun guide to gatecrashing A-list circles – for free.

From blagging free shoes to sweet-talking your way to a Hollywood smile, Neil offers tips on accessing all areas and building contacts.

No stone is left unturned, from stitching a “decent label” into your cheap suit to putting regular mints in a Harrods tin – should you ever find yourself passing round mints at a VIP party.

The book is also packed with money-saving tips from celebrities Neil has met, including Simon Cowell, Hilary Swank, Elaine Paige, Jennifer Lopez, Sienna Miller and Sir Michael Caine.

To grab a piece of the action, Neil says getting the right look is essential, and a good suit works wonders. Can’t afford a designer suit? Simply contact the head of marketing at a top gents outfitters, spin a line about landing a presenting slot on TV, and tell them their store has been recommended. “This never fails,” writes Neil. “So desperate are they for their suits to be seen by millions, they’ll soon have you whipped down for a fitting.”

To accessorise, Neil suggests rummaging in charity shops for goodies like “a good Cartier belt, vintage cufflinks, a Hermes scarf”. Good luck with that – all I find is old ladies’ cardigans and dog-eared paperbacks in my local charity shop.

According to Neil, claiming you’re a mystery shopper will grant you access to a posh hotel, and one of his top tips is to keep a constant supply of headed hotel notepaper for correspondence, since it implies you’re used to the high life.

When it comes to glitzy awards ceremonies, “always walk slowly into the Dorchester”. Neil continues: “If you see the likes of Nicole Kidman departing...make sure you get as close as possible then plant a kiss on their cheek. The paps will love it and it can be your calling card for things like free menu-testing at top restaurants.”

I’m not convinced by some tips – is it really so easy to get free shoes by simply becoming a shoe tester at a designer store, and will banks “want to be your friend” if you adopt a nonchalant air and ask about corporate hospitality offers?

And while a record company PRs may well supply free albums and concert invites, I don’t share Neil’s view that “they never ask you to show them what you’re doing with the stuff”. In my experience as an entertainment journalist, music PR people can be relentless pests for cuttings.

But, as a fun guide to shameless blagging, Neil’s book is a riot. All you need is some barefaced cheek and a nose for networking. Confidence, says Neil, is the key – and he has it in bucketloads.