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LOS ANGELES - Star gazers were agog today over the impending arrival in Los Angeles of soccer idol David Beckham and his wife Victoria and their debut on the world's biggest celebrity stage.
Although far from a household name in the United States, the couple dubbed "Posh and
Becks" by the British media nevertheless look set to become one of Hollywood's hottest properties when Beckham starts a five-year contract in August with soccer team Los Angeles Galaxy.
"This is a big, big, big deal. The office here is atwitter this morning. We have had so many people volunteering just to be on Posh and Becks watch," said Ryan Patterson, supervising producer with syndicated celebrity TV show Access Hollywood.
Beckham's good looks and the trend-setting style of his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria "Posh Spice" Adams, are expected to fill more pages than his soccer skills in a town where parties are more talked about than penalties.
"I can't name a better-looking man on the planet. The 'guy candy' quotient in America just got upped a whole bunch," Ms. Patterson said.
The Beckhams will bring a breath of fresh air to a scene wearying of over-exposed stars such as Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.
Celebrity watchers said they could fill the gap left by couples like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, both of whom have shunned publicity in recent months to raise their young children.
"We are really excited about it. David and Victoria together could potentially become the hottest couple in Hollywood. There is a big void there," said Ken Baker, west coast editor of Us Weekly magazine.
"We will probably have to get extra staffing just to deal with them," Baker joked.
The Beckhams are already friends of Cruise and Holmes -- whose Italian wedding they attended last November -- and Victoria was spotted house hunting last summer in wealthy Malibu and Bel-Air. David already runs a soccer academy for young players in Los Angeles.
"Victoria has told friends she likes Los Angeles and likes being in Hollywood. She's been to The Ivy (restaurant), she's been to The Polo Lounge, she's been to fashion shows. She is familiar with the landscape and I think everyone will welcome them because they are fresh faces," said Baker.
Patterson said Americans who follow celebrities were fascinated with the couple. "There is a certain mystique to them. He is gorgeous, she is gorgeous, she is a style icon. They live this incredibly glamorous jet set life."
Despite the paparazzi, the Beckhams may find Los Angeles a welcome relief from the fish-bowl of their native Britain and from Madrid, their most recent home.
"In LA, paparazzi do chase stars but celebrities can get lost here a little more and blend because there are a lot of other big celebrities here too," said Baker.
- REUTERS
