Bearing all for 2000

The unrivalled emperor of self-promotion has scaled new heights with the production of a limited edition teddy bear cast in his own image.

Two thousand Branson Bears have been made by teddy bear manufacturer Merrythought and will only be available to Virgin Atlantic passengers.

Celebrating the millennium, the £85 bear has ‘shimmering silver-grey mohair and warm, white, velvet muzzle and paws’, with the number 2000 embroidered on his left foot.

But the only item sported by Branson is a purple ribbon, reminiscent of a tie. This is particularly bizarre since ties seem to be the only items of clothing never worn by the Virgin boss himself.