NICHOLAS CAGE EYES A TURNIP PRIZE

NICHOLAS CAGE: Enters sculpture for Turnip Prize

Saturday November 21,2009

DESPITE being involved in a million-dollar legal battle with his accountant over unpaid taxes, A-lister Nicolas Cage and his wife Alice still have plenty of time to indulge in a spot of arts and crafts.

The couple entered a homemade sculpture to the spoof art competition, the Turnip Prize, close to their home at Midford Castle near Bath.

Budding artists have to produce a work with the least possible amount of effort if they want to win the top prize, a turnip nailed to a block of wood.

Entitled Knickerless Cage, the creative couple presented a collection of naked Barbie dolls wrapped in wire mesh. Turnip Prize organiser Trevor Prideaux said: “This entry was left at my front door – someone knocked and walked away.

“When I looked out to see who it was I saw a very attractive oriental lady walking down my drive. When I asked her name she replied Alice.

“After making some inquiries it turned out Alice is Nic Cage’s partner.”

The Cages are not the only celebrities hoping to win the competition, which is run out of a pub in Wedmore, Somerset.

Organisers say One Show presenter Christine Bleakley has also submitted some work. Prideaux said: “Christine is a keen fan of the competition and the work is poor enough to qualify.”